There are no “valid excuses” because there is no need to “excuse” anything.
Rather, the OP is a bit of blithering that seems to be a hangover from the mendacious “War on Christmas” that was bruted about by a couple of idiots a few years ago.
If anyone chooses to wish anyone else a “happy” time, the only legitimate response is to be appreciative of the good wishes, with, perhaps, a response to return such good will on the original speaker.
The OP does not even make the minimum requirements for good curmudgeonly output, being nothing more than kvetching.
If they’re not offended, then why is it supposed to be a problem? How, by ignoring the religious distinction and importance of any of these holidays, are you showing respect to any of them? I already knew you’re a great, big, puckered, festering asshole, but apparently you’re a great, big, puckered, festering, retarded asshole as well.
I would agree if such people actually existed. I have never encountered a non-Christian who actually got offended at being wished a “Merry Christmas.” To the extent that “Happy Holidays” made it into anyone’s lexicon, it was generally from places like the (Fundamentalist Christian dominated) hierarchy of Wal*Mart who told their employees to be more neutral to avoid giving an offense that had not actually been taken.
Actually, I have seen a lesser version of this. Back when O’Reilly and the other Liars were promoting their “War on Christmas” schtick, I did see several people respond to a cashier wishing them a “Happy Holiday” with a snarled, “It is supposed to be Merry Christmas.” I never saw anyone yank their shopping bag away from the clerk or go on to hurl imprecations at the clerk.
Who’s going to tell Andy Williams? Or should we string him up for being a godless, heathen, anti-American Scrooge for singing such a dastardly song that we can blame for starting this whole war on Christmas?
Good grief. People shouldn’t get their panties all in a wad when someone says something nice to them, for crying out loud. Isn’t this the holiday season (the holiday season)? Where Santa Claus has got a toy for every good girl and good little boy?
Next you’ll be ranting about some Obama-tax-on-Christmas-trees that is neither a tax, nor an Obama idea, nor happening at all this year (even though the entire checkoff notion [not TAX] was proposed as a marketing fund by the Christmas tree industry itself [not the government]). Good lord, I hate me some Fox News sometimes …
Similarly, a generous spirit would not be the least bit offended at being greeted with a holiday greeting commonly used by the religious majority of the nation in which he resides. All the “Happy Holidays” greeting says is that you don’t really care about or respect his holy day.
If I’m not sure what holiday(s) you’re celebrating around this time of year, you’ll get a “Happy holidays,” from me. Even if I am sure, you’ll probably get the same. There’s nothing that says
Catholics can’t have a good week during Hanukkah.
If you’re going to get offended about how I wish you good times, you get a “I hope you’re lonely and miserable year round.”
Well, in the case of the stores and malls, Christmas is pretty much the only real reason for the shopping season, and not to acknowledge it is rather rude. If I ran a business heavily dependent on seasonal spending around Passover, it would be pretty stupid and rude to hang generic “Season’s Greetings” signs around my store. Refusing to acknowledge the reason they’re patronizing my store is very likely to offend at least some of them.
Meh. And I recall reading about a Jew who sued to have Christmas trees removed from an airport.
Granted, it’s a massively trivial issue. But to genuinely respect another’s religion, you must acknowledge his religion, which a generic greeting doesn’t do. The only thing here that really bugs me are the dopes who think using “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” is supposed to get them extra points for sensitivity or something.
On the one hand, the OP is a blithering moron. On the other hand, I hear Bing Crosby drivel through his coma inducing version of “Happy Holiday” (recorded in 1942, so obviously the anti Christian forces were thinking ahead) several times a day at work, and if banning the phrase would get rid of the song I’d be tempted to vote for it.
Aw, you beat me to it. I like “Happy Holidays” because I’m offended at the idea that I must choose to celebrate only one holiday when I can instead erect a Festivus pole, air my grievances, spin a dreidel and gorge on bad chocolate, give out Christmas presents, and light some Kwanzaa candles.
Merry Christmas doesn’t really seem to capture the spirit of a true orgy of celebration.
No he doesn’t. He shows up starting in September when the stores start hawking Christmas crap, and persists until New Year’s at least. And given that our modern version of Santa is an amalgamation of various pagan dieties, a 4th-century saint, and a 20th-century advertising campaign, he could be saying anything from “Blessed Yule” to “Buy Coca-Cola.”
Except, of course for 8 days of Hanukkah and 7 days of Kwanza, which are also gift giving occasions happening at the same time. So glad that you are remembering to include thanking thier retail support.
Common enough that I could probably use my cell camera to record a handful of these incidents in one outing. And if they don’t behave in a hostile manner to the clerk, they will turn to the next person in line to voice complaints about taking Christ out of Christmas.
When did American Christians turn into such pussies that the phrase “Happy Holidays” gets them all in a tizzy? If I were Christian, I’d think long and hard about how being butthurt about the phrase makes me look like a ginormous douche.
Conversely, to respect another’s religion, you have to KNOW what his religion is.
By saying “Happy Holidays” I am saying “I hope you enjoy the season, and I’m not enough of a jerk to just straight up assume that you are a Christian like those complete douchebags LonesomePolecat and mac_bolan00.”
But since it seems so important to you to be “genuinely respected” for what you are, I’ll wish you a Happy Self-Important Racist Douchebagmas.
Neither Hannukah or Kwaanza have much of an impact on retail sales, except perhaps for a few local stores. Christmas spending, on the other hand, is important or even critical for many businesses. (And hardly anybody actually celebrates Kwaanza, anyway.)
So glad that you are remembering to include thanking thier retail support.