America Feck Yeh!

Bluefoam

I didn't know where to put this one... got my fingers burnt by posting in AH recently. This is no way meant to troll America etc... But I do believe they have lost their way and are embarrassed by their identity or lack there of.

The most recent shooting incident (it just rolls of the tongue these days), has raised the issue to me... they keep referring to a holiday party! At first I had to second guess, did they mean a party on a cruise ship, or a welcome party at an island resort... No, they meant a Christmas party, but for some reason they cannot say it on American TV.

I live in the Middle East and there are all sorts of religions here, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Buddhists etc... and we all take part in the celebrations of others whether it be Diwali, Eid, Christmas etc... no one is embarrassed by their culture. So why can't Americans just celebrate like anyone else, and not hide behind 'holiday celebrations', or Xmas...

Another interesting note, allot of American tourists still travel with Canadian badges sown onto their cloths & luggage so that people don't realise they are American...

I believe this lack of conviction in their own culture, whatever religious background, is a key component in their self destructive behaviour.

JustShon

Part of it is the lawsuit culture. Companies absolutely cannot say "Happy Christmas" lest they wind up in court for religious discrimination. So they say "Happy Holidays" instead. This has further filtered into society because all the advertisements, billboards and signs in shops are saying "Happy Holidays" not "Happy Christmas." That's my take on it anyway.

Bluefoam

JustShon wrote: »

Part of it is the lawsuit culture. Companies absolutely cannot say "Happy Christmas" lest they wind up in court for religious discrimination. So they say "Happy Holidays" instead. This has further filtered into society because all the advertisements, billboards and signs in shops are saying "Happy Holidays" not "Happy Christmas." That's my take on it anyway.

So what if they say Happy Diwali?

JustShon

Bluefoam wrote: »

So what if they say Happy Diwali?

I'm sure you'd get Christians suing the hell out of them for it.

Look at the backlash Starbucks got for NOT putting the word Christmas on their cups. Imagine if they put something like Happy Diwali, there'd be riots.

looksee

I think the demand for tolerance has got twisted so tightly around that it is resulting in intolerance. It really is very hard to see how wishing someone a 'happy Christmas' is going to cause offence. It might be irrelevant, so, ignore it. If a firm chooses to say 'happy hanukkah' fine, those who wish to be greeted are greeted, and the rest ignore it. How is mere mention of someone else's religion offensive? You would need to be a very sensitive flower to be offended - and I say that as an atheist.

JustShon

looksee wrote: »

I think the demand for tolerance has got twisted so tightly around that it is resulting in intolerance. It really is very hard to see how wishing someone a 'happy Christmas' is going to cause offence. It might be irrelevant, so, ignore it. If a firm chooses to say 'happy hanukkah' fine, those who wish to be greeted are greeted, and the rest ignore it. How is mere mention of someone else's religion offensive? You would need to be a very sensitive flower to be offended - and I say that as an atheist.

I agree entirely. I'm sure the vast majority of non-Christian Americans would have no problem with being wished a happy Christmas but you're always going to get some git who tried to sue.

They might not necessarily even be offended but might see it as an opportunity to make a quick buck "Hey that person said Happy Christmas but I'm actually *insert faith* I wonder if I can get free stuff / some money by pretending to be offended?"

I might be a little annoyed if I were wearing traditional religious clothing of a non-Christian faith and someone verbally wished me a happy Christmas but that would be more from a "Are you feckin' stupid?" point of view than anything else.

The Randy Riverbeast

You would think it wouldn't matter but look at the reaction to saying happy holidays.

JustShon

The Randy Riverbeast wrote: »

You would think it wouldn't matter but look at the reaction to saying happy holidays.

People will whinge no matter what you say but at least you can't be sued for Happy Holidays.

ancapailldorcha

Your fingers being burnt in After Hours does not constitute grounds to post here unless it's a political discussion. Closed.