Chanukah vent - stupid grocery store

[DawnCt1]

Just curious - have you also taught your DD about why Chanukah is celebrated? I think it is wonderful if you are doing so and educating her about the history that goes along with the holiday. This is the single best way to foster tolerance, understanding and acceptance of those who are different from ourselves.

Christians who really paid attention in Sunday School know that Chanukah and Passover are very much a part of their heritage so I disagree that it is presenting something "different". Its just something that Christians don't celebrate because we celebrate Christmas but it is acknowledged.

 

[disneysteve]

Christians who really paid attention in Sunday School know that Chanukah and Passover are very much a part of their heritage so I disagree that it is presenting something "different". Its just something that Christians don't celebrate because we celebrate Christmas but it is acknowledged.

That's interesting. Since I'm not Christian and never attended Sunday school, I wasn't aware of that. I'm curious, though, why Chanukah would be addressed in a Christian school setting as it doesn't appear until long after the Old Testament time period, unlike Passover which takes place in Exodus.

 

[DawnCt1]

I can recall a discussion on our local talk radio station about how Christmas is becoming so politically incorrect. Well, it turned out in the end the consensus of the callers and the guests was that all of this "holiday tree" and "The Holiday That Shall Not Be Named" nonsense was all a result of overzealous politicians trying to gain favour and not actually people who complained or were insulted about Christmas. Certainly in our multi-cultural societies nobody would be offended at mention of "Christmas"!

But what do you know, this thread tells me otherwise. Huh.

I do agree that there are plenty of secularists that would love to dilute Christmas to just another secular holiday, but I don't think that its a movement that comes from people of faith, regardless of what faith but from people for whom faith doesn't really have a place in their lives. I don't think most Jews, for example, resent Christmas but I think a lot of secularists and atheists do.

 

[DawnCt1]

That's interesting. Since I'm not Christian and never attended Sunday school, I wasn't aware of that. I'm curious, though, why Chanukah would be addressed in a Christian school setting as it doesn't appear until long after the Old Testament time period, unlike Passover which takes place in Exodus.

Because we learned all of the stories in the Bible and although I couldn't tell you where it was presented, it was presented as a miracle of God, and it was part of our Christian education.

 

[JennyMominRI]

As far as that goes, I'm about the least PC person, as long as the good sentiment is there. I don't really care what greeting is said to me as long as it is meant respectfully. I think a "holiday" tree is one of the most studid things I've ever heard of. I like learning about all different cultures and religions. But to knowingly wish someone "happy whatever", when you know they don't celebrate that whatever, is a bit insensitive. And I'll give that worker the benefit of the doubt and assume they didn't mean anything bad by their Christmas wish, but maybe next time they'll give it a little more thought.

And yep, the Old Testament is most certainly important to Christians, too.

CHanukah is from the book of Maccabees and is usually not included in the Christian OT

 

[ford family]

I do agree that there are plenty of secularists that would love to dilute Christmas to just another secular holiday, but I don't think that its a movement that comes from people of faith, regardless of what faith but from people for whom faith doesn't really have a place in their lives. I don't think most Jews, for example, resent Christmas but I think a lot of secularists and atheists do.

I think you are wrong.
Most of the atheists and agnostics I know love Christmas as a time for families to get together and enjoy good food and good company and for giving gifts as a token of our love for each other. If others choose to go to church or whatever, then good luck to them, its a free country.
And as for why Hannukah is celebrated? Who cares! We don't celebrate it, we don't know anybody who celebrates it. It is irrelevant to our lives. If it is important to you then have a great time. All this "my mumbo jumbo is as important as your mumbo jumbo" is very, very boring.

ford family

 

[punkin]

I don't get offended by people wishing me a merry christmas, but Dawn's posts oon this thread do offend me.

 

[eclectics]

And as for why Hannukah is celebrated? Who cares! We don't celebrate it, we don't know anybody who celebrates it. It is irrelevant to our lives. If it is important to you then have a great time. All this "my mumbo jumbo is as important as your mumbo jumbo" is very, very boring.

ford family

Who cares? The Jews care very much and even though I am not Jewish I am quite offended by your comment.

 

[flminivanmama]

wow - some very very rude comments are being posted on this thread. I feel like I'm seeing some true colors here & frankly I'm a little surprised....

 

[DawnCt1]

I think you are wrong.
Most of the atheists and agnostics I know love Christmas as a time for families to get together and enjoy good food and good company and for giving gifts as a token of our love for each other. If others choose to go to church or whatever, then good luck to them, its a free country.

Then who is it that is taking the towns and cities to court, trying to ban Creche's from public property? My guess is that it isn't people of faith. People of faith generally respect other's traditions and are tolerant of the exercize there of.

 

[JennyMominRI]

Then who is it that is taking the towns and cities to court, trying to ban Creche's from public property? My guess is that it isn't people of faith. People of faith generally respect other's traditions and are tolerant of the exercize there of.

I know lots of Christians who don't think Christmas displays belong on government property.I also know many jews who feel the same about Menorahs(Actually they are Hannukias ) on public property

 

[ford family]

Who cares? The Jews care very much and even though I am not Jewish I am quite offended by your comment.

Its their holiday? Precisely. So why should anybody else need to know or have to care about it?
And if all you have to be offended about is somebody you don't know not caring about a faith you don't follow then I suggest you need to get out more.

ford family

 

[AnaheimGirl]

I do agree that there are plenty of secularists that would love to dilute Christmas to just another secular holiday, but I don't think that its a movement that comes from people of faith, regardless of what faith but from people for whom faith doesn't really have a place in their lives. I don't think most Jews, for example, resent Christmas but I think a lot of secularists and atheists do.

That's interesting. My experience is just the opposite. The most religious Christians I know are the ones who are most likely to realize that Christmas means nothing to people of other faiths, and so they are the most likely to send out cards that say "Happy Holidays", and use that term with people whose religion is unknown.

As far as who is trying to get religious symbols off of public property... sure, I don't think I've ever heard of anyone but an atheist doing that, but among my circle of acquaintances, almost all believe in separation of church and state and those atheists have the support of both my secular and religious friends. (That is, except the one who thinks the Teletubbies and SpongeBob are evil.)

 

[DawnCt1]

I know lots of Christians who don't think Christmas displays belong on government property.I also know many jews who feel the same about Menorahs(Actually they are Hannukias ) on public property

And they tend to be of the "more liberal persuasion" and I don't think represent most people of faith.

 

[JennyMominRI]

And they tend to be of the "more liberal persuasion" and I don't think represent most people of faith.

They represent most Jews,as more than 80% of Jews in this country are democrats...

 

[ford family]

Then who is it that is taking the towns and cities to court, trying to ban Creche's from public property? My guess is that it isn't people of faith. People of faith generally respect other's traditions and are tolerant of the exercize there of.

Sadly, I think it is misguided people who are taking offence on behalf of other people who they mistakenly believe might be or ought to be offended.
An example here would be people who want Merry Christmas changed to Happy Holidays because they think it might offend a Hindu or a Muslim even though, when asked, these people are not offended at all.

ford family

 

[JennyMominRI]

Sadly, I think it is misguided people who are taking offence on behalf of other people who they mistakenly believe might be or ought to be offended.
An example here would be people who want Merry Christmas changed to Happy Holidays because they think it might offend a Hindu or a Muslim even though, when asked, these people are not offended at all.

ford family

Generally speaking,I don't care..You can't tell I practice Judaism by looking at me.. I love a Merry Christmas..Now yesterday a salesperson asked me if I needed help and I said I was looking for a Hannukah gift.When I was done she said Happy Hannukah..It would have been pretty silly of her to say Merry Christmas at that point.
99% of the time Merry Christmas is fine.. If I see someone in a yarmulke,I'm probbably not going to say Merry Christmas.

 

[DawnCt1]

Sadly, I think it is misguided people who are taking offence on behalf of other people who they mistakenly believe might be or ought to be offended.
An example here would be people who want Merry Christmas changed to Happy Holidays because they think it might offend a Hindu or a Muslim even though, when asked, these people are not offended at all.

ford family

I absolutely agree with that. I am tired of censoring every word that comes out of my mouth "just in case".

 

[DawnCt1]

That's interesting. My experience is just the opposite. The most religious Christians I know are the ones who are most likely to realize that Christmas means nothing to people of other faiths, and so they are the most likely to send out cards that say "Happy Holidays", and use that term with people whose religion is unknown.

As far as who is trying to get religious symbols off of public property... sure, I don't think I've ever heard of anyone but an atheist doing that, but among my circle of acquaintances, almost all believe in separation of church and state and those atheists have the support of both my secular and religious friends. (That is, except the one who thinks the Teletubbies and SpongeBob are evil.)

That may be true on the "left coast" but most of the Christmas cards I have recieved this year say "Merry Christmas" and 75% of them have a religious message celebrating the birth of Christ.

 

[eclectics]

Its their holiday? Precisely. So why should anybody else need to know or have to care about it?
And if all you have to be offended about is somebody you don't know not caring about a faith you don't follow then I suggest you need to get out more.

ford family

I get out plenty, thank you, sometimes with my many Jewish friends, which is why your insensitivity offended me. Perhaps if YOU got out more and mingled with others different from yourself you might find the inclination to practice tolerence toward other peoples feelings.