Ditto - I despise christmas these days, and prefer to spend the day by myself and rarely send cards, but I think I'll make up a load of cards with that image in them and send them to a few people
ohh! that would be SO awesome! I'm sure lots of people will get angry, though. (people tend to get angry if you say you don't like Christmas for some reason... )
If you want people to appreciate a Christian viewpoint, then first set a proper example. Telling people to sod off back to their own countries isn't exactly a Christian ideal. Feel free to debate the issue, but at least use reasonable arguments. Don't fall back on petty insults and nationalistic pride. The words "Merry Christmas" might not be hanging from the storefront, but it hasn't changed the way I celebrate the holidays at all. In fact, once I'm in my own home I can celebrate any way I choose. Why not compromise? I'll continue to say Merry Christmas, but I won't get offended if someone says Happy Holidays. Everybody wins. Seems simple enough to me. -monkey
Not letting children sit on someone's knee is a bit much, but performing CRB checks on people working with children is a good idea imho. And yes, it's definately MERRY Xmas, not HAPPY anything until New-Year's.
QTF but 'xmas' is a pet hate of mine its Christmas not crossmas. (it also was originally Christmass, Christ mass)
I think we are about three posts away from meeting Godwin's Law... In any case, first off: no ethnic denomination in this country takes offence to "Merry Christmas". Muslims regard Jesus Christ as a prophet, so the celebration of his birth is seen as quite valid and significant. I get Christmas cards from my Muslim colleagues. Sikhs (I have been told by one) embrace all religious festivals and celebrate Christmas too (and it neatly coincides with their Gupurb celebration). The Hindus consider Christmas equivalent to their Galungan celebration so it's all good. The Buddhists are easy-going and think any party is cool. The "political correctness" comes from council officials with more self-importance than sense --and an irrational fear of being sued. And the main *******isation of Christmas comes from the commercial sector --and people seem only too happy to buy into that (literally). You may feel offended, iwog and seebul, but when is the last time you attended a church mass or nativity scene? Or were you too busy shopping for presents?
The problem with a reasonable argument is that while you may not find something to be reasonable, I might find it to be reasonable. and I do agree with what my girlfriend said. If you come to my country, and my holidays offend you, dont complain. I dont complain about yours becaue they dont hurt me. and I cant see how christmas can hurt you(except in the pocketbook) so dont complain about it. (and when I say *you* I dont mean you the reader, but someone who has come here from a place that doesn't celebrate the things that I celebrate)
But nobody does complain. Apart from a few mock-outraged tabloids who exaggerate the wonky policies of a bunch of dim council officials who misinterpret "political correctness". And they do that because they know that stirring up nationalist feelings sells papers. As I said before, the only people that are threatening the spirit of Christmas are the mainstream British public themselves. Santa is a remix of the pagan winter celebration around the Norse god Odin and has nothing to do with Christianity in the first place, and I bet you that the most outraged white Brits couldn't sing/recite a single Christmas carol off the top of their heads to save their "Christian" asses.
Christmas is not a Christian thing anymore, it's just Christmas, you cook some turkey, eat loads of stuff so you gain a stone, receive and give presents, have a bloody good time with the family, get time off work/college, and have a fair few drinks. Isn't that what Christmas is all about? Why do things have to be so damn complicated in the world today, it actually does my head in. Edit: And if your interested in all this PC nonsense, check this guy out, he is pretty bang on with the majority of the stuff he says. http://www.liveleak.com/user/patcondell
Nexxo destroys another thread with his undeniable logic. Personally I hate Christmas. And I mean REALLY hate it.
Maybe where you live thats true. but not here in Canada. Its no longer correct to say Merry Christmas. We now are supposed to say "happy holidays" because people complained that they do not celebrate christmas, so they dont want to hear about it. and there are other people who complained that because they celebrate a different holoday, that they dont want to hear about christmas either.
As i said i myself am not Christian (if you want to know i am an atheist who has been confirmed and brought up Christian but believes organised religion has caused more problems than it has solved). And i hate the fact that as an Englishman you feel obliged to buy presents for people even though you do not recognise the importance. And the last time I attended Church was this Easter due to my mother's wishes. I do not resent the place i recognise as my church, as it is a fairly liberal place as Churches go, but i do resent may of the Christian teachings. I will have you know I can recite "Good King Wenceslas" ad ver bate em but once again I do not consider myself to be Christian as I have made a decision to reject organised religion.(I consider myself an educated spiritualist) @chrisb2e9: I feel sorry for you as Canada should be a predominantly Christian country due to the fact both the English and French are Christian. But I have to raise the question, what do you see yourself as? Do you feel that notational pride as a Christian country should be exorcised? @woof82: Why do you hate Christmas? Is it the obligatory purchasing of presents or is it the religious iconitation being forced down your throat. @major: I agree with you Christmas to me is an excuse to be with my family, have a good meal and humour my mother and GF by attending church on the 25th. (I love the fact that they both pray for my soul even though I believe I am right) I apologise if any of my posts in this thread have offended anyone but I feel that it is an English right to celebrate Christmas, even if many people only see the commercial capital celebration, as it is an integral part of our culture and who we are.
Jesus was born in a stable because the inns were all full. The inns were all full because it was Christmas holiday.
It's the same as "them" the generic group of people that never stand up and be counted, but like to make their voices heard. I believe that Christmas is a christian holiday, so we celebrate (as students) the Earths Birthday on the 1st January each year.
