Polarizing poll at SN!

[litia2005.livejournal.com]

I was wasting time browsing the SN site and saw this poll (Today's Poll):

Should the word “Christmas” be taken out of all things pertaining to “Christmas” and replaced with the word “Holiday”?

Given that there are many kinds of holidays around the same time, and that there are people from many religions (including atheists) in Somerville, isn't it obvious that referring to this period as "Christmas" would exclude many people? What am I missing? Glad that "YES" is winning, but not by much.

Comments

[jesseh.livejournal.com]

"All things"? That seems extreme. My church, for one, is still celebrating Christmas. All things government-sponsored, sure.

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

This. Holidays is all encompassing but Christmas may certainly still be appropriate in a lot of cases. This poll is just designed to make people mad.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

What you're missing is that this entire debate is between two groups of people who don't realize that getting butthurt over what a clerk tells them in a shop instead of "Have a Nice Day" is a First World Problem.

[litia2005.livejournal.com]

I'm afraid you are right...

[yakshaver.livejournal.com]

This.

[lonelyholiday.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the thing that bothers me most is that people are offended over someone SAYING SOMETHING NICE TO THEM. Getting angry at good wishes from a stranger because they use the wrong words. WTF.

[infinitemorning.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that I, myself, have felt the icy grip of fear upon my heart every time I dare to utter a generic "Happy Holidays" at my seasonal job, but a quick check on Web MD has indicated that this may be indicative of heart problems and I should take a little aspirin every day, so no worries there.

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm.... I think I could argue that it is deeper than that... The traditional prerogative of the aristocrat to set how lesser types address him, and chop off their heads if they do not obey.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

Right, but since we don't live in the Middle Ages, that's not really a concern.

[achinhibitor.livejournal.com]

Oh, but people still want to lord over others! And what better way than to demand, as a matter of right to be greeted in the way one dictates!

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I'm not a Christian. But guess what? I celebrate Christmas. Christmas is Dec. 25. That's the day I get off of work. That is also the day pretty much everyone I know and also who I don't know celbrate as the main winter holiday .

It's just a word people. I'm not even Christian, and yet I haven't got a problem with calling it Christmas.
Sheesh.

Besides, "Merry holiday" doesn't even make any sense.

[scarletdulcinea.livejournal.com]

"Happy Holidays."

[litia2005.livejournal.com]

Cool avatar! What painting is it from?

[scarletdulcinea.livejournal.com]

Mark Ryden, The Last Rabbit: http://www.markryden.com/paintings/bunnies/rabbit.html

[litia2005.livejournal.com]

Neat! I'll check out her other paintings.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Ah, but that's not what they said. If you say "Happy Christmas," that works, sure, but most people in the US don't say "Happy Christmas," they say "Merry Christmas." And the poll says, Should the word “Christmas” be taken out of all things pertaining to “Christmas” and replaced with the word “Holiday”?

So, following that parameter, Merry Holiday. Which doesn't make sense.

[moria923.livejournal.com]

Of course it makes sense! You're simply wishing someone a merry holiday. "Merry" is a perfectly good adjective to describe a holiday or any other day on which merrymaking happens. We're just not used to hearing it that way.

If a group is doing something specifically related to one of the holidays -- for instance, a church having a Christmas fair or a Jewish group having a Chanukah fair, or for that matter, an eclectic group hosting an "all winter holidays" party -- by all means, I think it's appropriate for them to unapologetically state what they're celebrating. Far from being offended, I'm likely to take it as an invitation to check out a tradition not my own, if it's a public event.

OTOH, if it's a city- or otherwise government-sponsored display or event, then it should probably steer clear of any language that could be interpreted as favoring a particular ethnic or religious tradition.

[ron_newman]

"Happy Christmas" is one of my favorite songs at this time of year.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/yN4Uu0OlmTg

The Iraq War is over.

[if someone here knows how to embed YouTube video in a comment, please let me know]

[thespian.livejournal.com]

when on the regular youtube page for the video, click on SHARE, then EMBED, and it will give you the code to do so:



Cut and past it and Livejournal will change that to their embed code automatically.

[ron_newman]

Thanks. I tried doing exactly that and got a big blank box instead of the embed. You did something different but i'm not sure what.

Keep the Christ in Christmas

[alterfer.livejournal.com]

If we lose the Christ in Christmas, next we'll be losing the Thor from Thursday. It's a slippery slope.

Re: Keep the Christ in Christmas

[ron_newman]

+5

Re: Keep the Christ in Christmas

[withinmywill.livejournal.com]

I think this is hilarious.

Re: Keep the Christ in Christmas

[docorion.livejournal.com]

Comment win! Here, have an internets.

Re: Keep the Christ in Christmas

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Not to mention the Woden in Wednesday, and the Saturn in Saturday...

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

Oh the other hand, changing nothing about the celebration except the word "Christmas" can feel very culturally appropriative.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

It could be argued that's how we ended up with the celebration being called "Christmas" in the first place (http://www.history.com/topics/christmas#a0)...

[zdenka]

I think the question is just too broad. What sort of things? Under what circumstances? On the one hand, I appreciate acknowledgement that many people are not Christian/don't celebrate Christian holidays. On the other hand, it's not like changing a word is going to change the fact that this is a majority-Christian culture and signs of Christmas are going to be all over the place whether you want 'em or not. I just try to keep a sense of humor, give people some leeway for good intentions, and ignore the parts I don't like.

[molyflogs.livejournal.com]

I don't see anything wrong with using the word Christmas. It is, after all, Christmas. Is it the most inclusive language? No, obviously not. But I've honestly never actually met anyone who was offended by being told "Merry Christmas" when they don't celebrate it.

There's nothing wrong with being more inclusive and saying "Happy Holidays!". I make it a point to make sure my holiday cards aren't Christmas specific because I send them to folks who celebrate Hanukkah and Yule, as well. It never fails that this will piss off my parents. Every year, I get a call from them about that.

In fact, I think the only people who actually seem to care are the ones who don't like the inclusive language, and think the season is only about them.

[balsamicdragon.livejournal.com]

Why on earth would you do this for "things pertaining to Christmas?" Of course, if you mean "things pertaining to Christmas, Hannukah, Yule, or whatever other winter holiday you may be celebrating" then sure, Holiday is a nice shortcut.

My only pet peeve surrounding the winter holidays is when people (specifically retailers) assume that Hannukah always takes place during Christmas and ends when Christmas is over. Thus, I have seen menorahs put up after Hannukah is over and/or taken down before it has ended. If you are going to be inclusive, do it right, dammit!

[ron_newman]

It's a stupid poll question. I'm Jewish and I voted "No". Of course Christmas should be called Christmas.

"Holidays" is a more generic and inclusive plural term that also includes the Winter Solstice, Chanukah, and New Year's, but it is not a synonym for "Christmas".

The poll question makes as much sense as the News's stupid editorial on the same subject.

[litia2005.livejournal.com]

I had not seen that... I think it provides some context for the silly poll. Probably the same person did both!

[ron_newman]

And probably also these two equally stupid articles a year ago:

http://www.thesomervillenews.com/archives/10694

http://www.thesomervillenews.com/archives/10698

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's a stupid poll. If the majority result was "No", the idiots would take it to mean that most people feel pretty much the exact *opposite* of what you just said. Whoever wrote the question was either trying to be confusing or is just a moron.

Either way, the only winning move is not to play.

[squirrelitude]

I haven't been too impressed with SN in my few interactions with their articles.

[litia2005.livejournal.com]

They have rather poor moderators... People post all sort of ignorant, false and inflammatory stuff there and nobody blocks it... What do you expect from a rag that exists only to advertise the (failing) real estate business of the owners?

[ron_newman]

Remember this?

A few weeks ago, I got this e-mail from the newspaper's editor about it:

I was wondering if you could take my name off of your complaint from last July regarding Brandon Wilson's problem on the boards. I did what I could, repeatedly begging my publisher to remove the comment, but he would not budge for a long period of time. It is not my responsibility to take comments off the board, and I am the only name mentioned in your blog. I ask for the sake of fairness you either remove the page, as it implies poor reflections of my character, or take my name out of it.

I told him that since he did not allege that I had said anything false or erroneous, I was not willing to remove his name from the post. I told him he was welcome to post a comment giving his side of the story, but he claimed he was "unable" to do that. I then offered to post for him anything he wanted to say. So far he hasn't replied to that offer.

[litia2005.livejournal.com]

Wow... What the...?...

Happy Gluten Free Baking week!

[turil.livejournal.com]

Here's a possible egalitarian solution:

Only wish someone a happy/merry Christmas, New Years, Hanuka, Kwanza, Solstice, Saturnalia, Thursday, whatever, on the actual day/s of the holiday.

That's sensible, respectful, and more fun because you get more holidays. And if you want to be all celebratory every single day, I'm sure you can find something here to be cheery about: http://www.brownielocks.com/DECEMBER-2011.html

Oh, and happy Wright Brothers Day, too.

[teko.livejournal.com]

Agreed with other folks: this is a stupid poll meant to create argument and be divisive for no reason.

No, "Christmas" shouldn't be replaced with "Holiday" in 'all things'. How foolish an idea.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

I'm Christian and I actually don't need strangers and people in retail establishments to remind me of one of the two biggest holidays in my religion. IT IS ASTONISHING BUT I CAN MANAGE TO REMEMBER THAT IT IS CHRISTMAS FOR ME BASED ON, YOU KNOW, THE REMINDERS I GET AT MY ACTUAL CHURCH.

That said, some things are "holiday" things and some things are "Christmas" things and some things are "Hanukkah" things and some things are "New Year's" things and some things are "Kwanzaa" things and some things are "solstice" things and some years the "Diwali" things coincide with all of the above, etc., etc.

Letting everyone do their own thing is the point, isn't it? I don't want to force anyone else to celebrate Christmas with me, because I think that's silly (also, the midnight service is SOOO LONG) but.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I just bring my iPod to evening services. At least until I can convince the organist to crank some Slayer.