Attack on Christmas

Originally posted by NuclearPaul
Christmas was attacked and seized a long time ago by the corporations. The main idea of it now is "if you love somebody, you won't mind getting into debt to make them happy".

And santa used to be green and white until Coca-Cola hijacked the image and gave him an outfit in finest corporate colours

I've worked as a community-legal-advocate on and off over the years with people who would come into the office with plastic bags full of final-demand letters and bailiff notices in feb/march from spending like there was no New Year...was often enough to make you want to either cry or take 'direct action' (a-la Tyler Durden in Fight Club)

I fully intend to be in the soup kitchens this year...doing what I can with the skills I have for my fellow citizens

...I urge you all to Deny Consumerism and get into the giving of your time/skills/company rather than overpriced plastic 'baubles' made by a grossly underpaid and undervalued poor soul in a Far-Eastern sweatshop

Give in spirit...not in wallet!

Christmas now is assailed by commercialism and political correctness...and a few pushing their own agendas

In the uk ( predominantly a christian country ) this is now being changed by the above...

As a Brit this is part of MY HERITAGE !! My countries history and I find it very sad.

My faith follows the Pagan path...but Christmas was a bloody good idea ....the one time in the year that people would care for their fellow man....that was the belief..

Its the political crap that really hacks me off...been a lot of places in the uk they have stopped the Christmas lights ,,,changed Christmas to " The holiday season" because some idiot says " It might offend"

Sick of this crap....

reply to post by citizen smith


I agree this is sad indeed but your missing the point as otherwise stated in the thread and couldnt one argue like gamblers people who spend suffer from addiction therefore it would be just another day for them christmas or not

reply to post by shuck


exactly mate and prepare to be labeled a intolerent bigot for not cowtowing your belief structure and or morals~

There are a number of pagan and Christian holidays that coincide which have been discussed in depth on this forum.

I was merely stating - and trying to stay on topic - that I don't think Christians own the rights to December 25th. No one does, really, but every year we all have to listen to their rants on how "Christmas is under attack," ad nauseam.

If I were a Christian celebrating Christmas, I could do it at home, my church, my prayer closet, my heart, or standing in line at Wal-Mart on black Friday, regardless of whether the greeter tells me "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays."

Christmas has lost any valuable meaning it may have had. In my younger years, of course I liked Christmas. My family was never well off financially so presents were not the main issue, which is not true today. It used to be about family, peace on earth etc, and now it is nothing more than a way for retailers to make some quick cash before the year ends.

I personally despise the Christmas season now. Perhaps it is because it starts being shoved down your throat even before Halloween these days. Every year it is earlier and earlier. If the spirit had not been lost to consumerism, it might still have some value left, but alas, it is too late.

If Christians are offended that Christmas is being attacked, maybe they should not attack other holidays that don't suit there beliefs. I don't agree that we should all stop saying Merry Christmas to say happy holidays. People these days are simply looking for an excuse to complain about something. I don't get offended if someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, happy holidays, Happy Hanukkah, whatever. Suck it up people. Your feelings and opinions are no more important than anyone else's.

reply to post by befoiled


your right it is off topic because no one is arguing whether the christians "own" christmas and is it a rant when i have to listen to you or other likeminded individuals disagree with mine or anyone elses opinion that christmas is under attack?

reply to post by Kronik98

Your off topic sir this thread is NOT about the commericialism of christmas and i dare you sir to site 1 or 2 sources of christians attacking another religions holiday. and many many christians i know including me honour Hanukah because christ was a jew. for anyone else reading this thread please try to stay on topic.

reply to post by zeroeffect


If you are looking for a forum where you can post and get nothing but agreement, you are in the wrong place. I'd suggest a Christian site but then you would probably find differing opinions there as well.

You say, "Christmas is under attack!" I say, "Happy Holidays and pass another rum n' eggnog." Our beliefs and our ability to practice our faiths are not threatened by mere discourse, are they?

reply to post by befoiled


I was under the assumption that ATS encouraged open polite debate and conversation which is what this thread is about,whether i agree with you or not and vice versa, i am however citing facts that keeps this thread on topic. are you implying that because i am christian i should not have posted this thread?

[edit on 2-12-2007 by zeroeffect]

Originally posted by zeroeffect
I was under the assumption that ATS encouraged open polite debate and conversation which is what this thread is about,whether i agree with you or not and vice versa, i am however siting facts that keeps this thread on topic. are you implying that because i am christian i should not have posted this thread?

No, I was merely disagreeing with your claim that "Christmas is under attack." I'm glad you started this thread actually.

In order to make a case for my belief that Christmas is NOT under attack, I began by questioning the origins of the holiday. I further make the assertion that by promoting Christmas over (rather than alongside of) other religious and cultural holidays it is, in fact, forcing Christianity upon people which is an act of religious tyranny.

I maintain that by saying "Happy Holidays" I am not attacking Christmas, but rather respecting whatever beliefs you or anyone else may have. It's that whole, "Peace on earth and goodwill toward men" line we hear so much of this time of year.

If you are shopping at your favorite department store for presents and they have a happy holidays sign hanging out front, does that really mean Christmas is under attack? Really? Is your holiday so important that you must necessarily exclude other who have different beliefs?

I have not seen one instance of Christmas being attacked. You seem to be confusing the desire of people to include everyone in the spirit of the season with some sort of sinister conspiracy fantasy.

reply to post by befoiled


again this isnt about department stores nor spending it is about the slow and steady attack on christianity that is majorly noted during christmas time. the happy holidays is one of the many examples out there and i believe a few other people cited other examples. while i respect your opinion i am going to stand in respectful disagreence.

Has anyone mentioned political correctness?

People aren't attacking Christmas any more than they're attacking any other holiday. The media is just trying to create equality between the holidays, so they don't offend anyone.

And who cares what the media says? Don't people wish other people 'Merry Christmas', put up nativity scenes and Christmas trees, and sing Christmas carols just the same? In fact, people in general still consider "holiday season" Christmas season.

People get way too upset over everything and it's hard to create a balance because no matter what a group of people will be upset. Just go with the flow, like befoiled said and stop complaining!

Originally posted by pstiffy
It's called "The Holiday Season" because it is..There is much more going on than Christmas

I celebrate Christmas, and I don't feel oppressed. My family and many of my friends celebrate Christmas too, and no grinch appears to steal it away. Christmas is the most widely celebrated holiday in the United States. Christmas-celebraters are in the majority. Why pick on the people who celebrate other holidays or are just not Christians?

I get a set of cards that say "Merry Christmas" and send them to all the Christians who would be offended by a more generic greeting. Then I get another set that says "happy holidays" for my friends of other faiths, or no faith. I go out of my way to please everybody. Personally, I'm happy if someone remembers me at Christmas/holiday time and I'm not picky about the greeting. So shoot me.

I think we should have a new "official holiday" around the time of x-mas, hanukkah, eid, diwali (excuse my spelling) and it shall be called.

Coexistmas

Can't we just all be friends?

(I really don't want any answers to that question!)

MonKey

Originally posted by ChiKeyMonKey
Coexistmas

I second that motion!

reply to post by zeroeffect


1: nobody is boycotting over the use of "merry christmas"
2: the use of "happy holidays" was voluntary
3: there wasn't even a murmur over walmart switching back to "merry christmas"

reply to post by NuclearPaul


It's only been attacked if you let it be attacked.

I learned this lesson watching, oddly enough, How the Grinch stole Christmas, when I was a kid.

Christmas isn't about things, it's about whats within each of us. It's about the turning of the seasons, the return of light from darkness, etc...

Whether its a pagan change of the seasons, or the birth of the Saviour, or however you celebrate it. Materialism has little place in it, the corporations can't force you to do it...only you can do that.