I think maybe I'm missing the fanatical point...
I've read a few things about the controversy of the season and been thinking. There's the school debate, which according to the papers must be either a) a three-hour long Christian service and hellfire lecture that must be attended by every K-12 student or b) a total ban on the words 'Christmans' or 'Jesus' ever being spoken aloud in a state school. (I imagine that the history and social sciences teachers may be permitted to mime the naughty words when required.) I don't quite get it. It's a state school, yes, no enforced Christianity IS an assumption in that entirely secular and government funded institution. No, that doesn't mean that mentioning the existence of organised religion and religious holidays is forcing Jesus on kids. Like sex and drugs, they're gonna find out eventually and if you want them to find out your way you'll have to get in quick.
Mostly I'm confused by the level of outrage over whether retail employees should be saying merry christmas or happy holidays. Call me crazy, but I don't think the teenager selling me my shit cares whether it's my grandmother's Christmas present, my mother's solstice gift or something I'm giving my dad just to piss him off because he believes in none of these things and is very determined to avoid them as much as possible. Why do people think it's a huge deal that they get the well-wish of their choice by every underwhelmed and overtired cashier?
I shopped yesterday, bought some stuff. The nice young man taking my electronic money handed me my receipt, smiled at me and said 'have a great afternoon'. A sentiment I was happy to return and something I certainly did my best to actually do.
Why the drama? Why the sudden tizz over what on earth retailers can say to their customers that won't offend somebody to the point of physical violence? Did we just invent shopping yesterday or something? Because I thought we'd had it figured out for years. It's become almost annoying in its constant, generally insincere presence.
Have a nice day.
No religion, no de-Jesusification of a religious holiday, no sharp edges we might cut ourselves on.
Enjoy your meal/movie/evening. How complicated is it, really?
I haven't said 'merry christmas' to a single caller who didn't say it to me first, and I haven't had any of them complain. Most have seemed quite happy with a variation on 'thanks for calling', 'enjoy the rest of your afternoon' or 'good luck with getting that ticket sorted out'. The exact same things I say the rest of the year.
Mostly I'm confused by the level of outrage over whether retail employees should be saying merry christmas or happy holidays. Call me crazy, but I don't think the teenager selling me my shit cares whether it's my grandmother's Christmas present, my mother's solstice gift or something I'm giving my dad just to piss him off because he believes in none of these things and is very determined to avoid them as much as possible. Why do people think it's a huge deal that they get the well-wish of their choice by every underwhelmed and overtired cashier?
I shopped yesterday, bought some stuff. The nice young man taking my electronic money handed me my receipt, smiled at me and said 'have a great afternoon'. A sentiment I was happy to return and something I certainly did my best to actually do.
Why the drama? Why the sudden tizz over what on earth retailers can say to their customers that won't offend somebody to the point of physical violence? Did we just invent shopping yesterday or something? Because I thought we'd had it figured out for years. It's become almost annoying in its constant, generally insincere presence.
Have a nice day.
No religion, no de-Jesusification of a religious holiday, no sharp edges we might cut ourselves on.
Enjoy your meal/movie/evening. How complicated is it, really?
I haven't said 'merry christmas' to a single caller who didn't say it to me first, and I haven't had any of them complain. Most have seemed quite happy with a variation on 'thanks for calling', 'enjoy the rest of your afternoon' or 'good luck with getting that ticket sorted out'. The exact same things I say the rest of the year.