What culture? Since when is Christianity a culture?
Why be uneasy or uncomfortable? “Merry Christmas” is just social lubricant. Doesn’t necessarily mean anything more than “Hi, how are you?”, or “Goodbye”.
He’s not talking about the first time. He’s talking about a situation where somebody says, “Thanks, but I’m Jewish,” but then the other person coninues to press with the Christmas language anyway.
I think this is pretty open-and-shut. I sometimes make offhand comments about illness (i.e. “Get herpes and die”). Would I say these things knowing that someone actually had herpes? Or was otherwise offended by allusions to it? No, I would not. That would be insensitive.
Just be sensitive. If you know someone doesn’t want to be wished a Merry Christmas then make an effort not to, you know? Conversely, if you’re so uptight about it that you flip out on the first mention of Christmas (not saying that the poster in question was behaving this way) then get a grip–people are just trying to be nice most of the time.
Still don’t know why this is such a big deal to so many people.
Why ? You’ve just finished telling us almost nobody is offended by Christmas cards. The Christmas card/greeting is an expression coming from my cultural heritage. Any abridgement of that expression would be indicative of me believing something is wrong with my culture.
That’s a different scenario than a “bah humbug” type or a “professional victim being offended” type. Once or twice, OK, write it up to a well meaning gesture. Do it repeatedly, when you know the person is getting annoyed, it starts to look like you’re deliberately trying to “push buttons”.
Do we need to get into a debate about Christmas ? Your country may be predominantly Christian, but last I heard the rest of us who celebrate Christmas are nowhere so inclined.
Well that’s real white of you.
Oh please. Some of my friends were hippies. If I refrain offering you cannabis all the time, does that mean I believe something is severely wrong with that culture? I’ve played in a few bands. If I turn my amp off at 10 pm out of deference to the neighborhood, does that mean I believe something is wrong with making music? I’m a stem cell researcher. If I tell you prenatal human embryos are balls of cells and that I can harvest them as I damn well please every opportunity that I get does that mean I think my line of work is unethical and bad? There’s participating in your culture and then there’s being an ass. It’s not hard to do the former without doing the latter.
Funny thing, related to that. I work for a translation company. I client wanted advertisements saying “Happy Holidays” translated into a number of languages. . . And they were upset when we sent them things back like “Feliz Navidad” and “Joyeux Noël”. I had a lot of trouble explaining that this is an American thing-- you just don’t say “Happy Holidays”. The Holiday is Christmas-- we’re talking about Catholic countries. And yes, it really is OK to say Merry Christmas in the UK and Ireland.
I have this conversation with some client every December, without fail.
Well have a happy new tax year then.
Did I say something wrong in that quote ?
This is utter nonsense. Apparently respect for others isn’t part of your culture.
I have less respect for those who don’t respect my culture and are offended by it. Go ahead, give me a greeting in your culture, what ever it is, that you believe is not offensive.
What the hell culture are you talking about?
Canadian culture.
So you believe that by ignoring someone who has respectfully stated that they are not of your culture, and repeatedly pushing your customs on them when they do not wish to participate in them, that *you *are the wronged party?
The Southern US, where I am from, has a culinairy tradition that is very pig-centric. Should Jews and Muslims then eat everything they are presented with, lest they offend the delicate sensibilities of the people offering them pork chops, cracklin bread, and greens flavored with lard?
That’s what you think. Oh, in your presence they seem to, I’m sure. But, believe me when I tell you that behind your back–they mock you. Oh, yes, eyes are rolled; I’d bet money on it. And I say this as a hard-core atheist who doesn’t celebrate Christmas.
Serious question: Why are you telling someone “Merry Christmas”? Stop for a moment please, and ask yourself that. When you wish someone “Merry Christmas”, why do you do so?
Is it to wish good will towards them? Or is it to make you feel happy?
Which do you think is more in line with the spirit of Christmas?
Orbifold, still stunned that people are missing Telemark’s perfectly sensible point.
I’m not offended by your culture, I’m just not part of it.
If you wish me Merry Christmas that’s fine. But once I tell you that I’m not Christian and I don’t celebrate Christmas and it makes me feel a bit uneasy, why would you want to continue doing that? Does it really matter to you why it makes me feel uneasy?