Happy Merry Bah-humbug Christmas Holidays!
Many Demand Only "Merry Christmas", Others Only Demand "Happy Holidays", and I say Bah-humbug To Both Side!
I never get tired of this image.
A article like this
is time in the making (I imagine that this article will get me in
trouble in certain circles). This pigeon has to stop eating the bird
seed and question how did this even become a thing? The point where one
enters into rant mode and sounds like that annoying neighbor that just
does nothing but grumbling about nonsense shenanigans. One scratches
there head wondering how important topics, like racially motivated
crimes, gun violence, education, economic inequality, etc. become
irrelevant footnotes to the pointless debate of what people greet during
the Holidays. When one echoes the response phrase "Put Christ Back In
Christmas", blood starts to ooze out of the years of those that have a
strong distaste to catch phrases used so often that they've become a
empty clichés. The verbal equivalent of nails going across a
chalkboard.
Those who make this a platform should be concerned by how they greet others during this time of year, and not concerned with what others do. Do some have way too much time on there hand to make a trivial distraction into a defining issue. A platform that takes away from those issues of actual importance. Why is this birdbrain even wasting time on this article. Maybe I have too much time on my hands!
Granted, this only happens around this time of year (thank God). The point that I'm trying to make is that one should just use the Christmas Greeting that they're comfortable with, without feeling the weight of conformist breathing down there necks. The Holiday Season means different things to different people. One should say Merry Christmas without any confrontation and vice-versa. Someone should say Happy Holidays without be swarmed by those that can quote Kirk Cameron movies like the back of there hand. This is the point where I can proudly proclaim "Bah-humbug" to the masses! As a Libertarian would declare: "If you don't like the phrase, then just don't say it".
People who demand others to focus on Jesus during the holidays loose focus of him when they make pointless banter about Christmas greetings instead of....focusing of Jesus. There is also nothing wrong with saying Happy Holidays either. Both are perfectly acceptable to those comfortable with using them. Why is this even a thing....
The nonsense that people feel that "Merry Christmas" is going away is just exactly that: nonsense. We will now take a little trip down memory lane to the very distant past of Winter 2007. This was the first year that I've bell-rang for the Salvation Army. I've used both greetings concurrently. On one hand, I've never gotten flak for saying "Merry Christmas". This debunks the myth that those that use that phrase are "under assault" as shouted by Conservative Christian bloggers using sensationalist headlines meant to be click-bait to serve advertisers. However, when I said "Happy Holidays", I gotten a lot of flak. I've actually never seen people get more bent out of shape. As mentioned earlier, I don't have a objection to "Happy Holidays", but yet, many have gone mental when that phrased had been used. This is why I primarily avoided this phrase when bellringing. It almost feels like those that say "Happy Holidays" are the ones under assault.
In my own personal opinion, I think that one of the reasons why Conservative Christians claim that the phrase "Merry Christmas" is "under assault". There is a alternate saying that can be used. The fact that there is competition for mind-share when several believe that there should be only one exclusive meaning during this time of year is why some have nurtured this perceived threat. "Happy Holidays" is non-offensive. Both can peacefully co-exist. One phrase doesn't have to be destroyed for the other to succeeded. Several are incorporating the us-vs.-them mentality in a topic where there is no confrontation.
Those who make this a platform should be concerned by how they greet others during this time of year, and not concerned with what others do. Do some have way too much time on there hand to make a trivial distraction into a defining issue. A platform that takes away from those issues of actual importance. Why is this birdbrain even wasting time on this article. Maybe I have too much time on my hands!
Granted, this only happens around this time of year (thank God). The point that I'm trying to make is that one should just use the Christmas Greeting that they're comfortable with, without feeling the weight of conformist breathing down there necks. The Holiday Season means different things to different people. One should say Merry Christmas without any confrontation and vice-versa. Someone should say Happy Holidays without be swarmed by those that can quote Kirk Cameron movies like the back of there hand. This is the point where I can proudly proclaim "Bah-humbug" to the masses! As a Libertarian would declare: "If you don't like the phrase, then just don't say it".
People who demand others to focus on Jesus during the holidays loose focus of him when they make pointless banter about Christmas greetings instead of....focusing of Jesus. There is also nothing wrong with saying Happy Holidays either. Both are perfectly acceptable to those comfortable with using them. Why is this even a thing....
The nonsense that people feel that "Merry Christmas" is going away is just exactly that: nonsense. We will now take a little trip down memory lane to the very distant past of Winter 2007. This was the first year that I've bell-rang for the Salvation Army. I've used both greetings concurrently. On one hand, I've never gotten flak for saying "Merry Christmas". This debunks the myth that those that use that phrase are "under assault" as shouted by Conservative Christian bloggers using sensationalist headlines meant to be click-bait to serve advertisers. However, when I said "Happy Holidays", I gotten a lot of flak. I've actually never seen people get more bent out of shape. As mentioned earlier, I don't have a objection to "Happy Holidays", but yet, many have gone mental when that phrased had been used. This is why I primarily avoided this phrase when bellringing. It almost feels like those that say "Happy Holidays" are the ones under assault.
In my own personal opinion, I think that one of the reasons why Conservative Christians claim that the phrase "Merry Christmas" is "under assault". There is a alternate saying that can be used. The fact that there is competition for mind-share when several believe that there should be only one exclusive meaning during this time of year is why some have nurtured this perceived threat. "Happy Holidays" is non-offensive. Both can peacefully co-exist. One phrase doesn't have to be destroyed for the other to succeeded. Several are incorporating the us-vs.-them mentality in a topic where there is no confrontation.
Christ Is Already In Christmas
As one can probably
come to the conclusion by this point, I hold a very strong disdain for
the phrase "Put Christ Back In Christmas" for a couple of reasons. The
most prominent is that if your a practicing Christian, then Christ is ALREADY in Christmas. If you're devout in your belief, then you don't need to "put Christ into Christmas", because you ALREADY believe
that he is the center for the Holidays. This alone highlights why the
phrase is very obnoxious. One have to leave it to others that take the
beauty of Christ and reduce it to rubbish catch phrases that are then
over-used to the point of loosing what little meaning they had.
Yet, promoting the phrase "Christ Is Already In Christmas" risk turning that response catch phrase into a cliche. In all honestly though, I hope this image doesn't turn into a empty catch phrase used by people who don't understand the context of why this image existed. With that said, most would be tempted to add that "Share If You Agree" tripe to it. I consider that a guilt trip, which I don't want to imply. As a result, there is no obligation to share this image. If you want to, cool! If you don't, that cool too! I want to give people the choice of whether one wants to share this or not due to there own free will.)
The image above was edited in the GIMP Photo Editor. The core Nativity image was uploaded to Open Clip Art by Philip Barrington. I applied by own gradient edit over the background and added the text. The image editing process took about 8-10 minutes. That ought to tell you how quick this edit/modification was.
Getting back to the main article, another huge complaint of the phrase "Put Christ Back In Christmas" is that it implies corporate ownership over the meaning of the Holiday Season. There isn't a law that forces people to celebrate Christmas in a exclusive regard. The reason for this time of year isn't exclusive to the celebration of the birth of Jesus. This time of year can have different meanings for different people. What carries weight for one will be a typical day to another. Those that make a issue out of this topic demand that this time of year can only carry one exclusive meaning for everybody, and alternate meanings and views aren't tolerated. There are multiple ways that one chooses to celebrate the Holidays, if one chooses that of course.
Yet, promoting the phrase "Christ Is Already In Christmas" risk turning that response catch phrase into a cliche. In all honestly though, I hope this image doesn't turn into a empty catch phrase used by people who don't understand the context of why this image existed. With that said, most would be tempted to add that "Share If You Agree" tripe to it. I consider that a guilt trip, which I don't want to imply. As a result, there is no obligation to share this image. If you want to, cool! If you don't, that cool too! I want to give people the choice of whether one wants to share this or not due to there own free will.)
The image above was edited in the GIMP Photo Editor. The core Nativity image was uploaded to Open Clip Art by Philip Barrington. I applied by own gradient edit over the background and added the text. The image editing process took about 8-10 minutes. That ought to tell you how quick this edit/modification was.
Getting back to the main article, another huge complaint of the phrase "Put Christ Back In Christmas" is that it implies corporate ownership over the meaning of the Holiday Season. There isn't a law that forces people to celebrate Christmas in a exclusive regard. The reason for this time of year isn't exclusive to the celebration of the birth of Jesus. This time of year can have different meanings for different people. What carries weight for one will be a typical day to another. Those that make a issue out of this topic demand that this time of year can only carry one exclusive meaning for everybody, and alternate meanings and views aren't tolerated. There are multiple ways that one chooses to celebrate the Holidays, if one chooses that of course.
Different Meanings For Different People
For some, painful
events have occurred during this time of year. As a result, many will
ignore the pageantry and banter because if acknowledged, it would
dwelling on those painful memories. It would much healthier for someone
to not partake in the commotion of the Holidays and remain content
rather than ramming a Christmas Tree into his/her house and forcing them
to remember painful memories, while creating new ones in the process.
There are many that don't partake in the Christmas display for that reason listed above, and do you know what: There is nothing wrong with that! However, a whole demographic of people have been taught that if you're not a active participant of the Christmas Season, then there is something wrong with you! You're messed up if you don't embrace all the pomp that the holidays offer! If you just don't want to partake in Christmas activities for any reason, then too bad! You're going to get Christmas shoved in your face, whether you want it or not!
One can't make the assumption that those that are doing there shopping rounds are buying exclusively for there Christmas trees. Many affiliated Atheist, Agnostic, or non-practicing/non-religious people are just making their shopping rounds and crossing off the items on the grocery list. Those that identify as Buddhist, Hindu, Muslims, etc. are just "out and about" as well. In our civic country of ours, we are a diverse melting pot of different cultures and beliefs! Even many practicing Christians who view this time of year as a showy formality might not just be in the mood for Holiday antics, like yours truly. Do you know what? There is nothing wrong with that either!
I do a lot of Christmas-related work during this time. However, for me, Christmas starts on December 24 and ends on the 26th. All the work that's done during this time of year is just work that's Christmas-related. As a result, December 22nd is not part of the season for me, but it's just another Saturday, nothing more. My birthday is just a another workday following the same routine for the past 10-11 years now. Am I sad or discontent for that? Of course not. I have no issue with this and comfortable with it. I'm content with my reaction to the holidays. I just take issue when someone tells me that me outlook is "wrong" because they don't conform to someone's narrow interpretation of what the Christmas Season is suppose to be by there standards. The Holidays means different things to different people, as previously noted.
There are many that don't partake in the Christmas display for that reason listed above, and do you know what: There is nothing wrong with that! However, a whole demographic of people have been taught that if you're not a active participant of the Christmas Season, then there is something wrong with you! You're messed up if you don't embrace all the pomp that the holidays offer! If you just don't want to partake in Christmas activities for any reason, then too bad! You're going to get Christmas shoved in your face, whether you want it or not!
One can't make the assumption that those that are doing there shopping rounds are buying exclusively for there Christmas trees. Many affiliated Atheist, Agnostic, or non-practicing/non-religious people are just making their shopping rounds and crossing off the items on the grocery list. Those that identify as Buddhist, Hindu, Muslims, etc. are just "out and about" as well. In our civic country of ours, we are a diverse melting pot of different cultures and beliefs! Even many practicing Christians who view this time of year as a showy formality might not just be in the mood for Holiday antics, like yours truly. Do you know what? There is nothing wrong with that either!
I do a lot of Christmas-related work during this time. However, for me, Christmas starts on December 24 and ends on the 26th. All the work that's done during this time of year is just work that's Christmas-related. As a result, December 22nd is not part of the season for me, but it's just another Saturday, nothing more. My birthday is just a another workday following the same routine for the past 10-11 years now. Am I sad or discontent for that? Of course not. I have no issue with this and comfortable with it. I'm content with my reaction to the holidays. I just take issue when someone tells me that me outlook is "wrong" because they don't conform to someone's narrow interpretation of what the Christmas Season is suppose to be by there standards. The Holidays means different things to different people, as previously noted.
Conclusion
Don't let others
(including me) ruin your holiday season. Celebrate the season the way
you intend, not not worry about what others do (which is sort of a
contradiction with this article). This isn't going to be a cheerful
Holiday if one makes arguments and pointless banter where none exist.
If one gets Holiday enjoyment from all the decorating of the house and tree, parties, and all the festivals and other Christmas activities, then more power to you. If one's idea of the Holidays is watching the SNL Christmas Special, and then following it up with Die Hard (which IS a Christmas movie), then invite me to your house! If one wants to listen to 70's rock instead of Christmas music, then turn up the speakers! If one wants to treat Christmas as a extension of Halloween and watch the Nightmare Before Christmas and then Nightmare on Elm Street, then I will get rid of the milk and cookies, and leave a Jack-o-lantern full of candy! If one views the Holidays as another typical workday, then I can relate to you too. Enjoy the Holidays, and any day in general, how YOU want to enjoy them.
Merry Christmas
Happy Holidays
and Bah-humbug to you all! (And Hit The Road And Get Off My Lawn!)
If one gets Holiday enjoyment from all the decorating of the house and tree, parties, and all the festivals and other Christmas activities, then more power to you. If one's idea of the Holidays is watching the SNL Christmas Special, and then following it up with Die Hard (which IS a Christmas movie), then invite me to your house! If one wants to listen to 70's rock instead of Christmas music, then turn up the speakers! If one wants to treat Christmas as a extension of Halloween and watch the Nightmare Before Christmas and then Nightmare on Elm Street, then I will get rid of the milk and cookies, and leave a Jack-o-lantern full of candy! If one views the Holidays as another typical workday, then I can relate to you too. Enjoy the Holidays, and any day in general, how YOU want to enjoy them.
Merry Christmas
Happy Holidays
and Bah-humbug to you all! (And Hit The Road And Get Off My Lawn!)
Disclaimer:
What I've typed does sound extreme harsh. It's just I have a very strong disdain for catch phrases in general, especially within the religious context. It's one of my pet peeves. Slogans and catch phrases don't provide anything insightful, and leads to unoriginal thought. When religious slogans and catch-phrases are used in sermons, they just exist to arouse crowd response, and not promote deep thought. It can lead to lazy writing and use (and over-use) as a result. Silly catch-phrases are counter-productive which don't add value. What little value that is there is lost to the point that a saying becomes a cliché.
What I've typed does sound extreme harsh. It's just I have a very strong disdain for catch phrases in general, especially within the religious context. It's one of my pet peeves. Slogans and catch phrases don't provide anything insightful, and leads to unoriginal thought. When religious slogans and catch-phrases are used in sermons, they just exist to arouse crowd response, and not promote deep thought. It can lead to lazy writing and use (and over-use) as a result. Silly catch-phrases are counter-productive which don't add value. What little value that is there is lost to the point that a saying becomes a cliché.
Articles of Interest
The Nativity Clip Art Image : https://openclipart.org/detail/266101/nativity
The Nativity Clip Art Image : https://openclipart.org/detail/266101/nativity
Why Putting Christ in Christmas is Ridiculous - https://lovedlikethechurch.com/2013/12/05/why-putting-christ-in-christmas-is-ridiculous/
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