[PublicAnimalNo9]

Jingle Bells
Jingle Bell Rock
Frosty the Snowman
I'll be home for Christmas
White Christmas
Good King Wenceslas(sp?)
Silver Bells
Santa Claus is Coming to Town

I could go on and on but c'mon, there's absolutely no shortage of Christmas songs that could be performed that have nothing to do with God, Jesus, Bethlehem or mangers.
So the only real "problem" I can see remaining is the name Christmas itself.

So, in that spirit, and since someone mentioned Easter, I have a new name for the Easter Holiday. We can call it Peaceter. A day to celebrate the concept of peace.
And if anyone had an issue with that, well we'd have a pretty good idea what they were about wouldn't we?

[eureka]

Interesting stuff! The further point is andy's; that our European cultures are also being attacked in the name of a false accommodation.

A few years ago there was a suggestion that Christmas would not be celebrated as such at my son-in-law's school. As the Union rep he went to the principal and told her that he would pull all the staff out if necessary.

[bootlegga]

Canadian_Mind wrote:

bootlegga wrote:

saturn_656 wrote:

Don't tell me you've bought into this, sure I'd expect it from Dragon-Dancer, but you...

I used to see it the way most of you do, but the years have changed my POV. Like it or not, Canada isn't just made up of the English and French anymore. There are Canadians from all sorts of cultures and while I agree that they should do what they can to fit in, we should also do what we can to make them feel comfortable. IMHO, it's a two way street - not my way or the highway.

Of course, IMO, their 'fest' should have a Christmas part, a Chanukah part and maybe a Kwanza part.

So you're basically saying you lost your spine as you got older?

People come to live here to be Canadian. Canada does, or I guess did, have it's own distinct culture and persona, whether Canadian believe it or not. Yes, a part of that culture is to embrace new cultures and integrate it within our own. However, we are going about it backwards.

Yes, this is the holiday season for those who celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, and apparently Kwanza (muslim?). But diluting it to the point where one says "Season's greetings" to another and still fears a lawsuit is stupid. Freedom of religion should entail that any person, business, government, public group, etc should be free to express their "holiday wishes" as they see fit, and no one has a right to sue or bitch because they aren't included. I should be able to walk down the street, say "Merry Christmas" to random people, and whomever is christian say it back, the Jews wish me a Happy Chanukah, etc. If I recognise someone as Jewish, then I may intentionally conform to their culture for their sake and wish them a "Happy Chanukah" instead of my usual "Merry Christmas," and if they recognise me as Christian, they'd say "Merry Christmas" back. Sometimes, just for the sake of it, my family or other neighbourhood families would celebrate Chanukah instead of Christmas. Christmas was basically ignored, but we traded the Christmas experience for another, enjoyed it, and embraced it. We didn't convert to Seasoners that tried to include all the traditions in our celebration, thus diluting everything into the dilapidated cultural soup it is now.

Nope, I'm saying I adapted to a new reality, not lost my spine.

I would expect that after returning to Canada from Afghanistan, you'd retire the desert camo and use the green pattern. Same thing here - Canada today isn't the Canada of 1950, no matter how much some of the complainers here would like it to be. From the tone here, a lot of people would appear to prefer Canada revert to the old 'Two Solitudes' of English/French & Protestant/Catholic Canada in constant conflict with one another. Well guess what, that's gone the way of the dodo and I personally think Canada is a better place with its multi-cultural make-up than it was with the old dichotomy.

It doesn't affect my Christmas one bit to say Season's Greetings or Happy Holidays to Jewish and Muslim colleagues at work.

I still have a Christmas tree at home, hand out Christmas cards and give/receive Christmas presents. Being sensitive of other people's feelings doesn't cost me anything and best of all, doesn't harm my work/personal relationships with people I know who don't celebrate Christmas. It's just like I don't care that 90% of the stores and restaurants in Chinatown are open on Christmas Day either. To each their own. Nope, being sensitive to other people (especially those in the minority) doesn't hurt me one iota - in fact, I'd argue it has positive benefits.

Frankly, I find it a tad hypocritical that some of the people here decrying this (being sensitive of minority opinions) are among those who demand minority rights for things they want (the long-gun registry is a prime example). After all, 66% of Canadians support the retention of the LGR (with a majority of people in EVERY province except Alberta), yet the minority has screamed and hollered and now it's going to disappear.

[andyt]

PublicAnimalNo9 wrote:

Jingle Bells
Jingle Bell Rock
Frosty the Snowman
I'll be home for Christmas
White Christmas
Good King Wenceslas(sp?)
Silver Bells
Santa Claus is Coming to Town

I could go on and on but c'mon, there's absolutely no shortage of Christmas songs that could be performed that have nothing to do with God, Jesus, Bethlehem or mangers.
So the only real "problem" I can see remaining is the name Christmas itself.

So, in that spirit, and since someone mentioned Easter, I have a new name for the Easter Holiday. We can call it Peaceter. A day to celebrate the concept of peace.
And if anyone had an issue with that, well we'd have a pretty good idea what they were about wouldn't we?

I have an issue with that. I always thought it was nice that we were celebrating Eostre. Much as I respect our Christian heritage, I think it's a real shame that we've forgotten so much of our pagan roots - we should be celebrating them too.

Plus the name peaceter sucks.

Oh, and:

Quote:

Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing

sounds pretty Christian to me. And all you righties on this forum, those last lines must just make you apoplectic with rage. Commie propaganda, right here in River City.

[PublicAnimalNo9]

I wasn't saying I was all for changing the name But I can foresee the day it happens and that's my name suggestion, PeaceterTM.

I was only suggesting that if someone had an issue with celebrating the concept of peace, we'd know what kind of person/people they really were.

See, I ain't buying the whole "someone might find the term 'Christmas' offensive".
I think it's just a bunch of overly-liberal pinheads presuming to speak for a group they are not part of, and who for some reason are anti-religion but only when it comes to western religion.

For years, I've lived in cities with a healthy mix of cultures. Chinese, Koreans, Vietnamese, Indians, Pakistanis, Iranians, Iraqis, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, Hindis and not only were they not offended by "Merry Christmas", more often than not, they were the first to say it.

[EyeBrock]

I used to get wound up about this crap. But now I think "Fuck it." My kids go to Catholic school so they can say 'Christmas' etc. If people say "Happy Holidays" to me I return with a cheerful "Merry Christmas". So what if the whole things been hijacked by business and the bleeding heart PC crowd.

Really, if people don't give a shite about Christmas, that's up to them. Me, I love Christmas. I even go to mass (sometimes). Christmas is about giving to those you love and if you 'aint into that, well I think you are missing out.

[ShepherdsDog]

And you don't start to.... smoulder? Oh yeah, Catholic already going to hell for being idolatrous polytheists....sorry forgot.

[EyeBrock]

ShepherdsDog wrote:

And you don't start to.... smoulder? Oh yeah, Catholic already going to hell for being idolatrous polytheists....sorry forgot.

My smouldering days finished after my last confession which was when I was 12 and when I decided that telling my sins to a guinness sodden cleric was a waste of my time....!

Merry Christmas you Proddy git!

[ShepherdsDog]

Merry Christmas back to you, from the Loyal Orange Lodge, you heathen Papist.

[EyeBrock]

ShepherdsDog wrote:

Merry Christmas back to you, from the Loyal Orange Lodge, you heathen Papist.

Awww, you are such a softy! Father Christmas bringing you any Nikon gear?

[ShepherdsDog]

have to check with mrs. claus

[EyeBrock]

You should see if she'll get you one of these.

http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/35mm-f14-afs.htm

[bootlegga]

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[HyperionTheEvil]

War on christmas?...indeed

The largest assault on christmas isnt a school board but companies who have effectively turned this time of year from being a time when we should have a heightened sense of humanity into the knock down, drag out stress-fest shopping spree that it is