Fox News’s War on Christmas 2
As you may have heard, Bill “I Can Shout Louder than You” O’Reilly is making a big fuss about stores whose employees say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” and is promoting a boycott of those stores.
What a made-up crock of lard. It’s amazing how some folks (right and left) can find hate where there is no hate.
And who worships in stores? Oh, wait, this is the USA. Most of us do worship in stores. We worship goods. But that’s another story.
Anyhoo, to honor this great American blowhard, I suggest we demand he boycott Fox News. Here’s their invitation to their Holiday party, courtesy of The Majority Report.
December 3, 2005 at 10:00 pm
For starters, I’d like to put in a plug for the Rick Warren view that we should worship at all times wherever we are, but that’s an aside from my main point.
I was making a small purchase at a store today and a cheerful young lady, seeing me look for the shortest line, invited me to her cash register. As we completed the transaction, it crossed my mind to wish her a Merry Christmas. But then I thought, “what if she accidentally says it back and her boss overhears her?” Losing someone’s job for them wasn’t my idea of holiday cheer. She told me to have a nice weekend. I said, “Yeah, you too.”
On the way to my car, it occured to me that it must really stink to work at one of these retailers, have a customer wish you a Merry Christmas, and want so badly to return the greeting but have to risk your job to do so.
I’ve no doubt that the managers who make these policies, driving home with their “Celebrate Diversity” bumperstickers at the end of the day, think they’re building a better America. The more self-censorship they bully people into, the closer they’ll be to the society they want. And they’ll think they’ve made their point!
December 4, 2005 at 6:43 pm
Some years ago, back in my railroad days, I was leaving work for a vacation I scheduled over the Christmas holidays. I said, “Merry Christmas” to many of my co-workers.
The director (a prize loser, but that’s another story) said, “You can’t say ‘Merry Christmas’ to (name withheld); he’s Jewish!”
And (name withheld) said, “Aren’t I allowed?”
I doubt the young lady you mentioned would have taken offense; at the same time, I think it’s worthwhile to remember that not everyone may worship like us.
On a more serious note, I have no problem with businesses recognizing that they may have employees who don’t celebrate Christmas because of their religions and therefore phrasing their invitations and congratulations in more neutral terms.
I do think it’s a little silly when employers tell their employees that that may not say, “Merry Christmas,” but being silly is not being illegal. Target, by the way, says,
More to the point, this is a made-up crusade on the part of the right-wing religionists. I defy anyone to walk down any street between now and Twelfth Night and not see ample evidence that Christmas is upon us.
Hope Bill O’Reilly enjoys his Holiday Party.