I must admit it.I was raised in a small town. When the calendar showed us to be near the 25th of December, the festive wish, "Merry Christmas" fell trippingly from the lips, accompanied on its happy journey with a big smile and a happy heart. But, in stores, nowadays, it seems like "Merry Christmas" is as welcome as Kazaa's CEO at the RIAA headquarters. What gives?

Being a native born Texan, raised in rural east Texas, Christmas was always a happy time, when even the downtrodden and poor, tried to scrape together enough money to buy presents for the kids, or make something like a rocking horse, and wrap it up in the prettiest paper they could find, to bring a smile to the children on Christmas morn.

In that culture, we threw around big smiles and "Merry Christmas" as if it were going out of style.

When I got old enough to get out on my own, I moved to "the big city", and have lived in the metro areas of the state since then, until now, and find myself back in the sticks again.

But, a few years ago, I noticed something happening that, at first, I passed off to holiday stress or a bad case of Scroogitis that was going around, like a strain of flu in the winter season.

I noticed it first in a Target store. I smiled big as I was finishing the purchase of some Christmas gifts and wished the lady checking me out, a "Merry Christmas", with enough holiday cheer that the listener could also hear a silent "HO HO HO" at the end.

With a deadpan face, and not even looking at me, she said something like "You too.".

As I said, I was a bit confused at first, since my previous holiday wishes to people were reflected with an equally joyous, "MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU TOO", or the shortened, reflexive, "Merry Christmas"...as in "Have a Nice Day".

At the time, I just shrugged it off, making a mental note that there must be some Ebeneezer Humbug dominant genes in her ancestry.

Then, as if the Black Plague was resurfacing, I started noticing this lack of "Merry Christmas" spreading from store to store within a chain, and then to other stores. Everyone at Wal*Mart from the greeters to the checkers, to, shudder....the MANAGER, caught it (and since manager is so close to the spelling of "manger", you would think at least THEY would have a modicum of immunity from this new sour pestilence).

It started stimulating my interest. I started intentionally thrusting my "Merry Christmas" on everyone in every business I came to, hoping that a few people had a holiday immune system strong enough to protect them from this particularly noxious infection. Alas, it was like a superinfection. Even small town Wal*Marts, Targets, Sears, K-Marts, it had struck them all. I even directly asked checkers if they had been instructed not to wish people a merry Christmas. They had been so skillfully trained that I cannot recall how they artfully dodged answering me.

I do suspect that this is some sort of corporate directive that trickled from the top down, like slime, that covered those at the merchant-customer interface at all levels.

What bothers me is that, if a customer says, "Merry Christmas", they obviously are in that group that feels this is a proper wish, and would APPRECIATE the same thing back.

It's not like Target checkers or Wal*Mart checkers went bonkers and decided to print up pamphlets trying to convert all customers to Christianity, and were thrusting them into patron's hands at the consummation at every transaction.

Of course, the irony is that, the "You too", doesn't reinforce or celebrate the Christmas holiday, which is SOOOO important to the coffers of all these big box merchants.

It is NOT some nebulous holiday that Target, Wal-Mart, et al, that accounts for such a major portion of their annual income. It is one specific holiday, and that is Christmas!

In fact, you would think these money minded merchants would do everything they could to "holiday it up"...more than just forcing checkers to wear Santa caps for a couple of weeks (which, on the face of someone who looks so stressed they are about to become a "disgruntled employee", looks about as out of place, as Cary Sherman would at a rally to support filetrading of major label songs on P2P networks).

I think that wishing someone Merry Christmas has, over the years, become a holiday version of "Have a Nice Day", or "Take Care". It is much the same as "ceremonial deism" such as the invocation or prayer at the beginning of congressional meetings.

At any rate, most people wishing someone a Merry Christmas, are trying to be cordial, friendly, and promote a positive spirit during the holidays.

Even "Happy Holidays" would be much preferred as a retort, than the curmudgeonly comeback like "You too", which is like a blanket response equally appropriate to curses as well as blessings.

Perhaps, we need Blue Oyster Cult to come back and release a follow-up to "Don't Fear the Reaper", but update it to "Don't Fear Merry Christmas".

Target raised some ill feelings toward themselves this year by banning the Salvation Army bellringers, but Wal*Mart, in a masterful marketing act, threw their corporate arms wide open to the SA folks, even to the extent of matching their collections up to a million dollars.

So..whether you are atheist, agnostic, pagan, Jewish, Muslim, Taoist, Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah's Witness, Buddhist, Catholic, or whatever your religious or non-religious orientation, I want to wish each and every member of DMusic and Boycott-RIAA, a very Merry Christmas, and the Happiest New Year ever...and a big HO HO HO.

Thank you for participating and supporting our sites.

And for any Wal*Mart , K-Mart, or Target employees...a festive
"YOU TOO!" :)
~CodeWarrriorz Thoughts

Merry christmaqs Codey!!!

"Posted by CodeWarrior on December 26, 2004 at 7:22 AM"

Code: You are getting ahead of your self again.

Merry Christmas.

Joyeux Noel, tout le monde!

Merry Christmas to everybody here, and a Happy New Year, too!! Christian or not, tradition is still important. How you celebrate is your own business, but one of the most important ways I celebrate is to share the happiness of the season. (Kind of like I'm glad just to have survived another year, and now it's time to party!)

Today I'm baking homemade bread, cookies, pies, and candies--tomorrow turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy, etc. and feeding my personal family army of 16, give or take a few strays who seem to wander in. Then we all diet for the next year to make up for it!

Whatever you and your family & friends do, have a wonderful holiday!! Merry Christmas, everybody!

Merry Christmas to one and all. Drive safe, and watch out for the other guy.

Merry Christmas

Here's hoping everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Happy yule tide to all!

MERRY CHRISTMAS CodeWarrior!!!


and a Happy New Year too!

Couldn't just let you guys get off so easy on this one Here's a poem, with unknown author, but perfect for this crazy boycotting crew.

A Politically Correct Christmas Story

'Twas the night before Christmas and Santa's a wreck...How to live in a world that's politically correct?

His workers no longer would answer to "Elves".
"Vertically Challenged" they were calling themselves.
And labour conditions at the North Pole
were alleged by the union to stifle the soul.

Four reindeer had vanished, without much propriety, Released to the wilds by the Humane Society.
And equal employment had made it quite clear
That Santa had better not use just reindeer.
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid
Were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!

The runners had been removed from his sleigh;
The ruts were termed dangerous by the E.P.A.
And people had started to call for the cops
When they heard sled noises on their rooftops.
Second-hand smoke from his pipe had his workers quite frightened.

His fur trimmed red suit was called "Unenlightened."

And to show you the strangeness of life's ebbs and flows, Rudolf was suing over unauthorised use of his nose And had gone on Geraldo, in front of the nation, Demanding millions in over-due compensation.

So, half of the reindeer were gone; and his wife,
Who suddenly said she'd enough of this life,
Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz, Demanding from now on her title was Ms.

And as for the gifts, why, he'd never had a notion
That making a choice could cause so much commotion.Nothing of leather, nothing of fur,
Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her.

Nothing that might be construed to pollute.
Nothing to aim, Nothing to shoot.
Nothing that clamoured or made lots of noise.
Nothing for just girls, or just for the boys.
Nothing that claimed to be gender specific.
Nothing that's warlike or non-pacifistic.

No candy or sweets...they were bad for the tooth.
Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth.
And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden,
Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden.
For they raised the hackles of those psychological Who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.

No baseball, no football...someone could get hurt; Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt.
Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passe; And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.

So Santa just stood there, dishevelled, perplexed; He just could not figure out what to do next.He tried to be merry, tried to be gay,
But you've got to be careful with that word today.

His sack was quite empty, limp to the ground;
Nothing fully acceptable was to be found.
Something special was needed, a gift that he might Give to all without angering the left or the right.

A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision,
Each group of people, every religion;
Every ethnicity, every hue,
Everyone, everywhere...even you.
So here is that gift, it's price beyond worth...
May you and your loved ones, enjoy peace on Earth.
___________________________________
(And even THAT is dicey in todays world with a lot of families.)

Lord Bless & Merry Christmas Code, and to all who frequent this board. ~pepe~

That's great, pepe. I'll pass that along. Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, and
And may all of us at DMusic and Boycott-RIAA
have the HAP-HAP-HAPPIEST HOLIDAY EVER

Happy Holidays to all!! And Peace in the new year!!

Code, I'm with ya, bro.. a holiday greeting should be a candle of good cheer. Here's my story. A coupla days ago, I was at the grocery and saw someone I hadn't seen in a while. I chortled, "happy holidays!" with a smile and was met with a scowled face that lectured, "Merry Christmas, because Christ is the reason for the season!" Now, what am I, as a non-christian, to do with this greeting? I just shut up and walked away, knowing that that is probably the last conversation I'll have with that person. Sad.. he used to be a nice guy.
My lesson here is, goodness comes in many flavors and is to be savored as delivered. Season's Greetings to all.

Also, Salvation Army is very homophobic, which is patently insulting to many of my dear co-workers and friends.

And pepe.. without love and justice, there is no Peace. So let us band together to acheive these common goals.. above all, love.

Christmas is merely a plot to make us spend more money and put it back into the hands of the 10% who already own 90%.
I go through the motions every year, reluctantly. Maybe I'd find it more cheerful if it wasn't based on a religion which I don't believe in, or if it wasn't an obvious plot to make us empty our pockets out of guilt before the year ends [gotta boost those 4th quarter sales ]...

"I hate my family,
and I beg to be free
of the crap that christmas brings,
and excuse for selling things"
-Snog, "Hey, Christian God"

jez...your acting like it's the state's religion already.

Happy Consumer Spending Season everyone!
Merry Inventory Movement Month!

Now be a good little member of the obedient consumer culture and go stand in line at a mall and buy somebody something.

feel the joy?

"your acting like it's the state's religion already."

Participation is not mandatory. For even I, devil's advocate for the pagans, would like to wish all a Merry Christmas and/or Hannukah and/or [your celebration here].

"I was met with a scowled face that lectured, 'Merry Christmas', because Christ is the reason for the season!"

You know, I truly believe that this type of unnecessarily heavy-handed approach (by some Christians) turns off more people than they'll ever know.
That, and saying one thing and doing another.

"Goodness comes in many flavors and is to be savored as delivered."
Who could argue with that?

"Without love and justice, there is no Peace."

Another gem.

Merry Christmas!

At this time of Holiday madness and merry wishing I only have a few things to add. Prehaps a few observances...

In the wisdom of corporate profit taking, lots of jobs have been eliminated. Instead the computers do it all. Only computers don't put stock on the shelves, they don't greet folks coming in the door, they don't ring the merchandise up, and they don't have a happy smile different for each and every person.

Those that remain on the job are expected to be super-employees. So much so that they quite literally have no place to sit down for a pause, on the clock, to collect thoughts. No place to just stop for a moment and say to themselves, should I have done that responce to that customer? Wallyworld is one of those places you can come into and see a whole row of cash registers with no one manning them. The people that used to run them aren't there. Nor is help to be found to get that one item off the top of the shelf (as the sign will usually say) handy. Those that remain are underpaid and over worked and facing day after day with the same thing without varience.

It is enough to put the scrooge in anyone. It shows up everytime one of these over worked employees react with the buying public. Not something meant to be mean, just that there is no time for trivialities when the motto of the day is NEXT!

With these thoughts in mind if you see someone working tomorrow when they should be home with family, do wish them a Happy Holiday. They can't help it they got stuck with manning the cash register on the holiday. Just don't expect that Merry Christmas responce back when you utter the words.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all here at boycott-riaa and its sister sites. I truely hope you have the time to spend with family and friends and enjoy it.

wet1- Good observations. One complaint I had was , as I sincerely did wish Merry Christmas and was giving employees a smile, hoping to lighten/brighten their day a bit (because you are right about them being overworked), some, really DID want to say Merry Christmas back, but I could tell from their reaction, that someone in authority had given them the company line that they cannot...and this was what really bugged me the most, because it further robs both customer and checker/employee, out of the important human interaction you are talking about....

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone in the DMusic community from PhantomGhost

:-: Andrew

I can't believe it... I'm 10 minutes from the Mexican border in Deep South Texas and we're having a sleet storm and it's 29 d outside my house! It was 80 d Wednesday.

I'm dreaming of a White Christmas..but we'll probably be back to 80 by New Years.

Everybody enjoy your Christmas and stay safe and warm.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!!!! Now to go watch my favorite 2 christmas movies of all time. Ernest saves Christmas and Christmas Vacation

pinemikey....be safe my friend!

Yes, I agree, let us forget our who-labels and who-groups and extend a who-hand to every who- man and who-woman .
A happy who-holiday, from me to you.

And to all ... a good night. Merry Christmas, everybody, relax and enjoy. My husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and I really couldn't think of a thing to tell him...except world peace. More than the RIAA, I hate war and those who wage it. Not the soldiers, they are doing their damnedest in a horrible situation, but the men in suits who say "We must..." when anyone with half a brain knows there are other ways. To all of you here, around the world, I wish you all the best... politically correct or not, I'm a pagan at heart...so have a Merry Christmas!

Just like wet1 said, it all depends on the job, and how overworked it gets.

It also depends on the stupid, undeserving customer that would just love to ring the neck of the clerk behind the counter because they don't have the certain hot item that they're looking for. Oh sure, it's the clerk's fault that the silly customer decided to go shopping THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

Remember, there are some very ill-mannered people in this country, and their numbers are growing. As for one that works in the retail area, as ready and willing as we come in to work, we end the day feeling miserable, and not very Christmasie. The only thing that brings my hopes up is the fact that I'm going home to my family, and they'll have smiles on their faces and say "hi".

As far as myself, though, I always reply back. In fact, I found myself saying Happy Holidays to customers who wouldn't even respond to me. And yes, I say Happy Holidays, for, unfortunately, the fear of getting snapped at by an atheist or some other religous scrooge. Myself, being an atheist, have no problem in being festive. In fact, I still celebrate Christmas, just for the meaning of togetherness and goodwill and so forth, and for the fact that I was raised with it.

So to all of you, I say Merry Christmas, and happy holidays! Or, from my now all time favorite holiday commercial:

HAPPY CHRISTMAHANNAKWANZIKUH!

"HAPPY CHRISTMAHANNAKWANZIKUH!"

[Sigh] I suppose one of the expected trade-offs for fostering the ideals of tolerance and acceptance is we have to go the extra mile to be very inclusive and eclectic to avoid any perceived neglect or discrimination against the various segments of society.

(Oh, well. I guess we can manage.)
Happy everything to everybody!

Hey, 'Code, I thought you might enjoy this attempt at legalese humor.

A safe, inclusiveness-sensitive holiday greeting:

Please accept (with no obligation or recourse, either expressed or implied) my best wishes for an environmentally responsible, socially appropriate, politically correct, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of a holiday on or near the date of Earth's winter solstice, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious and/or secular persuasions of your choice, with all due respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, albeit inclusive of the choice not to engage in the practice of any religious or secular traditions if the latter is your preference.

Additionally, may you have a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally-accepted Western calendar year 2005 A.D. (and please ignore any religious connotation in the reference to “A.D.” if that is your preference), yet not without proper recognition for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose diverse contributions to society have helped make America multiculturally great. (Oops, please consider the adjective "great" in reference to America to be made without any implication that America is of relatively more significance than any other nation, country, kingdom, realm, emirate, sultanate, principality, or geopolitical state of any kind; and without implying that the United States of America is the only "America" in the Western Hemisphere, either, for that matter.)

And further, may such wishes be granted without regard to the race, creed, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, emotional or psychological stability, degree of mental acuity, political persuasion, or choice of computer platform, of the wishee.

Accepting this greeting is tantamount to signifying agreement of the terms contained herein which are subject to the most reliable legal interpretation available, with no implication as to the quality of such assurance as it may (or may not) correlate to the economic status of a potential seeker of such legal interpretation, whether he/she be the party of the first part or the party of the second part.

This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal at any time under any generally recognized protocol.
It is freely transferable with no anticipated alteration to the original greeting. However, it implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for the wishee herself/himself, or for others. This greeting is void where prohibited by law and is subject to all federal, state, and local taxes, restrictions, or other pertinent regulations; and further, it is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, and/or until the issuance of a subsequently equivalent holiday greeting, whichever comes first; and such warranty to the wishee is limited to reasonable restatement of the wish or issuance of a comparable replacement wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

Note: Any perceived entertainment value or lack therof derived from reading this comprehensive greeting is purely incidental and is not subject to consequential damages unless duly authorized regulations within the locale of the reader’s residence deem otherwise, in which case this restriction against consequential benefits or lack therof may not apply to you.

In the interest of fairness and completeness:
For a similar inclusiveness greeting, please be referred to:
http://www.x180.net/Blog/2002/12/09#Social/2002ChristmasGreeting
(unless, of course, you prefer to not be aware of any similar inclusiveness greeting, in which case you may pursue your prerogative to totally ignore the indicated webpage that was suggested above)

Thank you for your time. (Howbeit, in the event that you choose not to accept this offer of gratitude for the use of your time, please note that there is no anticipated compensation to be accrued from the use of your time in this matter in any way whatsoever.)

Somewhat Final Disclaimer: Assurances. Please be assured that the information in this document is as current as can feasibly be known at the time of its preparation, and that the printing and/or copying of same was not done with tax-supported public resources (notwithstanding the realization that you as the reader may reserve the right to question such assurances if that is your nature, custom, or preference).

And now, please consider this document to be hereby concluded. (Unless it is your preference to add to it or make changes to it in some way, given the potentially disputable fact that there is no known copyright infringement or penalty to be associated with your choosing to exercise such an option.)

Epilogue: This document was most likely not designed to detract from the real meaning of Christmas or to cast aspersions on any kosher celebrations; but if you prefer to believe otherwise, your opinion deserves to be respected (unless you feel that your opinion DOESN'T deserve to be respected and are thus willing to allow your self-esteem to be dealt a devastating blow thereby).

Merry Christmas everyone!

Happy Holidays may your new year be filled with much GOOD chaos!

LOL....love it Diogenes2!

Now....gotta open presents.......see the dedication...I check the site even before opening Christmas presents!


Merry Christmas to everyone...and stay safe and warm...and let's kick butt in 2005!
~Code

Glædelig Jul og Godt Nytår

"Christmas is merely a plot to make us spend more money and put it back into the hands of the 10% who already own 90%."

No it isn't, you fool. Christmas has been around longer than any US corporation. You simply live in a culture where nothing is sacred and christmas is over-marketed. Anything for money. Have you done anything to stop it? Have you boycotted christmas? Protested at all? Then it's your fault. Stop acting like you're on to something, because you're not. Some of you think the entire planet consists of our fucked up society.

Gee, Sherm. Lighten up. It's Christmas already. No one stopped it.

I had two big surprises this morning.

One was a child that, immediately after shredding a mountain of wrapping paper, decided that she really needed to pick up all that wrapping paper and dispose of it properly before she could possibly enjoy any of the presents. This behavior came from a child who has not cleaned her room in two years.

The other big surprise it that Cat (the cat, duh) celebrates the holidays, too.

Unfortunately, Cat is evidently a pagan. It sacrificed some sort of winged creature in front of the Christmas tree and left the headless corpse as a gift, in the midst of a pile of feathers.

So the first thing we heard this morning when our kid woke up was, "EEEWWWWWW!!!"

But hey, it's the thought that counts.

I want to express my thoughts to the many soldiers sailors and airmen who are away from families today defending America. Although a lot of us do not support wars and political decisions made we still have people willing to give so others may enjoy the freedoms we bennefit. Being an ex cold war submarnier I know how lonely it gets under the north Atlantic miles from know where. So I wish all the families and men of the armed forces of this great nation a Very Merry Christmas, and a big thank-you for what you are doing, may God bless you and your families and that he would keep watch over every one of you

Obviously you've never had a militant non-Christian complain to YOUR manager because you dared to assume that person was Christian.

Merry Christmas, Happy Channukah, Good Kwanzaa, Blessed Yule, Merry Linuxmas and a happy Gnu year. And to the athiests out there, have a nice day.

george, i'm lightened. i woke up at 6am today under my own power with no alarm, and it is currently 30 degrees outside.. not 12, like it has been. merry christmas.

and to all you non-christians out there: merry christmas. if you politely tell me "oh, I'm jewish" then I'll wish you a happy Hannukah, and I'll still mean it. Just don't be a [word i'm not allowed to say on christmas].

Here's something to those people who say Santa Claus has no place at Christmas.
http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/quiz/quiz.aspx?QuizID=143&qpt=results&qpt=results&qpt=results


Saint Nicholas was born around 280 AD near Myra in modern-day Turkey. He is said to have given away all of his wealth and devoted his life to helping the poor often by anonymously leaving small gifts for those in need. Admired for his kindness and piety, he became known as the patron saint of children and sailors (among many others). The legend of St. Nicholas spread, and by the Renaissance, he was the most popular saint in Europe. In Holland, where he was called "Sint Nikolaas" or "Sinter Klaas," he developed into a Christmas gift-giver. Dutch immigrants brought the tradition to America, where his name eventually became the familiar "Santa Claus."

Seems like a pretty nice guy, probably someone who would be a good bud for jesus, huh?

What people miss out in their complaints that Christmas is too religious or not religious enough is that the tradition of giving is important to all religions and to non-religions as well. It is a basic necessary human function in a successful society. It doesn't always work but that doesn't mean we should chuck it in a dumpster of self pitying cynicism. Give more than you recieve and you can be your very own Santa Claus.

George...something you said about the cat reminded me of something that happened last night. We were over at my wife's parent's house celebrating, and my wife happened to go outside. It was around 23 here last night, and as she was standing there, some asshole drove by and tossed a very young, defenseless kitten out of the car...it scraped its little chin and nose, and was scared to death. My wife snagged it up and brought it hurriedly into the house. It was a beautiful black and white kitten, very tiny. It was shivering from fear and from the cold. Luckily, we had some wet food we had in our car that we bought for our four cats at home. He ate it like he hadn't eaten in his whole life.

We are finding a home for it (we would take him, but we have four in our small place, and one more wouldn't be fair for our cats..but if no one else takes him, I suppose we will then have FIVE cats).

To me, these assholes that tossed the baby out, have no sense of Christmas or decency, and after all...Christmas is giving...not taking. It was so fortunate that we were there, because were we not, the poor little thing might not have lasted the night.

Anyway, Christmas is not just wrapping and unwrapping presents to me, it SHOULD be a sense of caring and sharing you exhibit the whole year.

I don't know. If I had to be kind, heartwarming and decent all year, my head would explode.

Again.

Gee CodeWarrior, did you think your wife was just standing there for nothing? God sure has you folks pegged out!

My husband doesn't want to get another dog, after we just lost our 17 year old Spaniel last year. He says it's too hard on me when we lose them..well, thats true, but that still doesn't mean I couldn't love a new puppy again ...something to antagonize the cats with , so I'm waiting on the Lord to see what He will send me....just need to be patient....of course, as you noticed, they arrive when you least expect them

Get another one, Pepe, you have lots of love. We lost a golden retriever who was 15 years old. I've always been a cat person, but when Max had to be put to sleep, I never thought it would hurt so much. Now we have another one, and they're just like kids--obnoxious, demanding, noisy, and very bossy. And I love him as much as I did our Max. A Christmas puppy is special--go find one. And I hope you had a great Christmas!!

Thanks ShadowMom.

Hope your enjoying your Christmas as well...it's been very awesome here, had the kids home and it actually has been snowing for two days, so it's kind of winter postcard pretty.

I'd love to get a new puppy, or maybe even adopt an older housetrained dog....my husband just feels the closer he gets to retirement, the more we'll be travelling. And dogs mean care just as you said, like children..I can see his side of course, but then I see lots of folks travel with their pets...soooo...I'm thinking one these days he'll break down..I want it to be a mutual pleasure (Did that sound right????)

Profits are the reason for the season.

Merry Holiday Shopping Season all.
-Fobix
(an obedient soul-dead conformist member of the US consumer culture)

"Profits are the reason for the season."


yes indeed..Fobix.. PROHFETS sent by God are the reason we know the season!
AMEN brother ......everybody have a blessed new year!!!!!!

"Profits are the reason for the season."

"yes indeed..Fobix.. PROHFETS sent by God are the reason we know the season!"

actually, it's jesus. he wasn't a prophet. he was the magic baby who formed from only his mother's chromosomes, but instead of being severely disabled, he was man's savior.

Really now. Even those of us who were raised, went to school and church with conservative Catholic upbringings think the term "Political Correctness" is more overused than the actual charge itself.

It's sound and fury signifying nothing. Given that there are so many festivities, religious and non-religious, tied to the month of December, it’s just common sense to wish your fellow man a "Happy Holidays." It’s sincere and definitely won’t kill you.

As some one who lives in one of the most culturally and religious diverse areas in the city of Toronto, I can attest to the fact that no one is REALLY demanding Christians to learn to say "Happy Diwali, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Hannukah" or what have you during this season. That’s just silly, and I’m sure most of you know it.

The suggestion, facetious or not, that non-Christians or multi-Christian denominations expect you say "HAPPY CHRISTMAHANNAKWANZIKUH," is simply a very lazy over-exaggeration and has become an unimaginative expression of what is supposedly a critique of political correctness.

In a time when "Christmas" has more significane to commercialism than to faith and human relation, I'm personally surpirsed this is even an issue. I’ll never understand how non-Christians who perceive exclusion get accused of PC bellyaching for essentially expressing the SAME feelings of "exclusion" that Christmas celebrators [falsely] feel for being asked to consider "Happy Holidays" in our increasingly diverse society.

...But whatever. Happy Holidays to you and yours, and a Happy New Year.

EazyRidress82

"The suggestion, facetious or not, that non-Christians or multi-Christian denominations expect you say "HAPPY CHRISTMAHANNAKWANZIKUH," is simply a very lazy over-exaggeration"

No, it's very clever sarcasm that accurately represents the trouble that our culture is in.

For those in the UK I hope you are all buying the new Band Aid single. Not because it is worth the CD it is pressed onto (It's not. It's a load of dirty dishwater). Not because it has a bunch of crap pop artists on it (Although I don't mind 'The Darkness' too much. But the rest can go to hell).
But simply because all proceeds go to a worthy cause and not 1 penny goes into any record company coffers.

At last a crap pop record worth buying (Again)!

Well I don't know about all of you, but I had a very merry Christmas. And to those of you who might be offended by it being a Christian holiday then I truely feel sorry for you. All year round America is celebrating some sort of Christian or other religious holiday/celebration, so you need to learn how to take Christmas as it is along with w/e is celebrated during the year or you need to learn how to get over it.

One of the main reasons why those people aren't that enthusiastic about Christmas, is because every year more and more places are open on Christmas. Gas stations, pharmacies, and grocery stores are open on Christmas here. Places like Wal-Mart and Target probably will be open on Christmas in a few years too if not already. That's why I purposefully do not go to any of those places on Christmas.

"The suggestion, facetious or not, that non-Christians or multi-Christian denominations expect you say "HAPPY CHRISTMAHANNAKWANZIKUH," is simply a very lazy over-exaggeration"

"No, it's very clever sarcasm that accurately represents the trouble that our culture is in."

What th--... yes and no. That's from a freakin' Virgin Mobile commercial. Second, yes, it's a very nice sattire or sarcasm, what have you, of what society has become, with people being afraid of saying merry christmas, hannukah, kwanza, or whatever.

It's a shame people seem to get offended by a greeting that is only intended to convey a good feeling. But I really don't think people who are offended by it are even reading this site. They're over reading at the ACLU's web site. Everybody here is pretty easy to get along with....cough...right?

StealthRainFox

Digital Rights Management and

Firefox in the Matrix

http://geocities.com/stealthrainfox

NOFXPUNKer,

Well said, and I agree. It's something I don't understand. I'm not religious, nor do I even believe in god. But when a stranger wishes me a Merry Christmas, it makes me happy. I don't see it as an appropriate time to tell him how insensitive he is. For two reasons:

1. I'm in the minority
2. That doesn't even matter. It's the spirit of the season that is what matters and that's it.

Thats ok Sherm, God believes in you!

if he's up there, i guess i'm thankful

Merry belated bah humbug to you all!

Pardon me.. but i figured i might put my word in on all this.

Holiday cheer is all fine and good, but i'm getting tired of people's and companie's choice not to be as christmasy as usual being blamed on the "evil lword people".

I'm getting tired of hearing about this fake conspiracy invented by bill oreilley and their other extremist company designed to defame liberals and jews.

At the same time, It's important for all you christmas bashers on this thread to separate the evil of marketing companies from a traditional holiday.

If anything, marketing has gotten out of control to a point where it is violating the constitution. People should be marching on the largest marketing firms with loaded guns and flaming torches to cast them from the highest floors of their skyscrapers IMHO for the desecration of absolutely everything the human spirit stands for.

Calculating disgusting slimy people.

lol, I love you awehr, but might as well give it up. Even with visitations by such influential folks as Ghandi, Jesus, Mohammad, John Lennon, and etc., we humans are STILL gonna be "animals" in our behaviour. Our only hope for change is gonna come from within. We need to STOP "praying to god(s)" or "wishing on stars" and etc. or whatever... We all need to all change our ways and transform from within.

...just be good to each other.

(THAT is step #1)

I was going to hug my mom on christmas, but I was afraid somebody was spying on us and the PC police was going to come flying through the windows and blow us away.

indy - yes!

Best wishes for the future and seasons greetings to one and all (except for the likes of mpaa and riaa) from down under.

Regards
Kim

Gee, Sherm, you're such a softie...and best to you, too, kimdownuder.

i'm a softie? happy christmas shadowmom.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, etc etc and Happy Festivus for the rest of us!

http://www.karber.net/seinfeld/festivus/default.htm

I been watchin way too much Seinfeld!