Happy Holidays, Holiday tree no problem but come on...

[reeddi]

Ok, I have heard all the press about the holiday tree and happy holidays. I even had a discussion about this with my devotion group last week. I don't have a problem with either thing, it is being inclusive of the other holidays. I didn't see it as anyone trying to stamp out christianity or anything.
I tell you the above to show that I am not "one of those christians" that gets their panties in a bunch over everything. (not that there is anything wrong with that - I just don't let it get to me)

Then Monday night happened and now I am concerned. My daughter's school had their Holiday Program. They sang 14 songs and in those songs they sang 2 about Kwanza (sp), two about Hannakah (sp) and one about Feliz Navidad (but not the I want to wish you a merry christmas one) the rest were secular (not about any holiday really)... again no issue yet. Now say it with me - not a SINGLE song about Christmas - not even we wish you a merry christmas. Last year was completely secular with no christmas, hannakah, or kwanza songs which was not an issue either. I thought it was interesting that in trying to be INCLUSIVE they became EXLCUSIVE of a group. Yes, I would have said the same thing if they had done Christmas stuff and nothing else. I am pretty fair-minded about that.

I still don't have a problem with Happy Holidays or the holiday tree (we all know it represents Christmas anyway).

In the thread about the Holiday tree there was a comment about teaching kids about other religious holidays and exposing those that may not know. I agree with that - but when you are not truly exposing ALL choices then you are not being PC, you are being exclusive. What about the children that have no exposure to the Christian holiday? I say cover them all equally or don't cover any at all.

No I don't think that everyone is against Christianity and yes I understand that Christianity has been in the forefront for awhile. I really am for education in all areas but let it truly be in ALL areas.

I know this will get flamed and I know that this will go off topic just like all the others - but seriously even my Atheist friend says " Man, I see your point on this one."

 

[akhenaten]

one about Feliz Navidad (but not the I want to wish you a merry christmas one) the rest were secular (not about any holiday really)... again no issue yet. Now say it with me - not a SINGLE song about Christmas - not even we wish you a merry christmas. ."

Not flaming ...just pointing out that Feliz Navidad is Merry Christmas.....

Someone will have to give the exact translation but...Feliz is "happy" and Navidad is (i believe) "Nativity".......

 

[C.Ann]

The whole thing just makes me tired....

There are so many truly important issues in this country that need to be dealt with and every year - at this time of year - this kind of stuff comes to the forefront.. And it gets worse every single year.. The "PC" stuff is so far over the top it's ridiculous.. I don't know what the "answer" is, but I do know that energy is wasted that could be better applied to truly important issues..

 

[Mackey Mouse]

In that song, I believe there is a line that goes..

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart..

I hear ya, Reedi, I just wanted to point that out before someone else did it. And years ago in the 50's, I think Perry Como sang it, it was Happy Holidays....maybe the movement started then to make Christmas less of a religious holiday and we were not paying attention. Also, there is no place like Home for the Holidays.. another one..and those are old songs.

 

[cardaway]

about Kwanza (sp), two about Hannakah (sp)

That's 4 out of 14 that would not have anything to do with Christmas.

I really doubt the other 10 songs were completely secular. IMO this is the common problem, people getting the facts wrong.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I am not sure, maybe I read this wrong, but I assumed that the OP was attending her daughter's concert and then posted about it. So I guess I am assuming that she knew what songs were sung.. unless I missed something.

 

[Laura]

In that song, I believe there is a line that goes..

I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart..

The OP said it wasn't that song. But Feliz Navidad is still Spanish for Merry Christmas.

 

[Mackey Mouse]

I see that now.. yikes it was not the one about Merry Christmas... then which was it?? an edited to be politically correct Feliz Navidad??? I do not get it.

 

[cheerful chickadee]

were any of the other 10 songs popular Christmas songs we hear on the radio during this time of year? or were they all new creations or newly made songs?

 

[akhenaten]

I see that now.. yikes it was not the one about Merry Christmas... then which was it?? an edited to be politically correct Feliz Navidad??? I do not get it.

Feliz Navidad MEANS MERRY CHRISTMAS IN SPANISH!!! You don't need any other words but those and it is a CHristmas song!!!!!!

 

[nativetxn]

Why are you yelling, akhenaten? I'm from Texas and I know what Feliz Navidad means but not all Americans speak Spanish. So we can wish someone a "Merry Christmas" as long as we don't say it in English?

Katholyn

 

[Nancy]

I am very tired of the whole PC thing. I work in a grocery store and we are told not to wish people Merry Christmas. It is Happy Holidays. Now I can see it if you have no idea what the perosn celebrates, but if I have a customer buying CHRISTMAS stuff, I am wishing them a Merry Christmas. Next thing we know, stores won't be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, it will be closed on Holiday Eve and Holiday Day.

We sang very specific religious songs in chorus and concerts when I was in school. I know I sang "Silent Night" and I sang the Latin version of "O Come Let Us Adore Him", now they can't even sing "Oh Christmas Tree." I think if they are singing Kwanzaa songs and Hanukah (sp?) songs, then they should sing a Christmas one too. Our schools now do the other songs (Han. and Kwan.) but stick to songs like Let It Snow and Rudolph for their other songs.

 

[C.Ann]

Why are you yelling, akhenaten? Katholyn

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I was wondering the same thing..

 

[akhenaten]

Why are you yelling, akhenaten? I'm from Texas and I know what Feliz Navidad means but not all Americans speak Spanish. So we can wish someone a "Merry Christmas" as long as we don't say it in English?

Katholyn

Not at all....I was just frustrated because it was the third time it was pointed out that Feliz Navidad is Merry Christamas.....
and the point of the OP was that there was NOT one christmas song....

Political Correctness may go too far at times...but frankly I would not care if all ads for stores stopped mentioning Christmas...and if it was never mentioned in the schools again...
from a religious standpoint my children would still be taught about the real meaning of Christmas and it might be easier to do with out all of the commercialism.....a more pure celbration of the true meaning...
The only thing I would feel badly about..if it was taken out of the schools would be the fun that would be missed....

 

[akhenaten]

I also want to add that if we can all accept that writing in all caps is yelling
( a concept that did not exhist not too long ago)
Then the retailers and marketing folks can hope that by labeling Christmas trees- holiday trees and Christmas gifts- holiday gifts they can (little by little) get non Christians to celebrate the winter holiday....
it is simply commercialism .........

 

[reeddi]

Ok OP here. Yes I know that the Feliz Navidad is a christmas celebration but it was a PC version of a song that metioned holiday (in Spanish) not christmas itself. As a matter of fact, I pointed that very thing out to my husband before the program started and he had mentioned the lack of Christmas songs.
No the other songs weren't songs from the radio, I don't have the program in front of me (one was like Reindeers on the move, Sallom (sp))- but Seriously not one WORD about christmas.

I am not mad .. just concerned that it had turned into the exclusion of anything Christmas.

C.Ann - I do agree that there are far better things to worry about it. I just wanted to see what others saw in this case.

 

[BelleMcNally]

While I agree that there probably SHOULD have been Christmas songs if there were songs about everything else, I think it's valid to bring up the point that, if you live in America, you will be exposed to Christman, whether you like it or not. There are HUGE sections of Christmas cards and about six or seven Hanukkah cards. It is nearly impossible for children (or anyone else for that matter) to escape Christian symbolism and dominance this time of year. Of course, this country has a Christian majority, and from a completely commercial stand-point, perhaps that's as it should be--most of the consumers are Christian, why not cater to them? etc. (Note: this is not my philosophy)
If groups didn't go out of their way to bring up Kwanzaa, most of the nation could easily go through a Holiday season without ever hearing anything about it. Think about it--most everyone could name at least ONE Christmas song...and I can't even think of the name of a Kwanzaa song. It's a protection of minority interests--something a lot of democratic social philosophers saw as a necessary part of democracy.

Again, not saying they shouldn't have included ALL holidays, just bringing up the point that EVERYONE will be exposed to Christmas this December, and without a plan to include Kwanzaa, Hanukkah and the like, many people might not have experienced them at all.

 

[castleview]

That's a shame. Our towns high school did a beautiful concert that featured O Holy Night and several other Christmas songs. Don't mean to hijack this thread, but as I noted on the holiday tree thread, how come the blue Northeast (I live in CT) hasn't seen this stuff?

Either way, that's a shame about your child's show. Hopefully, someone will point out the irony. Merry Christmas!

 

[Laura]

I also want to add that if we can all accept that writing in all caps is yelling
( a concept that did not exhist not too long ago)
Then the retailers and marketing folks can hope that by labeling Christmas trees- holiday trees and Christmas gifts- holiday gifts they can (little by little) get non Christians to celebrate the winter holiday....
it is simply commercialism .........

It is commercialism. Honestly, if I were still Christian, I'd be thrilled to have the word "Christmas" removed from all December (and November, and October) sales ads in stores.

 

[C.Ann]

C.Ann - I do agree that there are far better things to worry about it. I just wanted to see what others saw in this case.

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Hope you don't think I was being critical of your thread or your questions.. Just voicing my opinion "in general" about this stuff..