"merry christmas" in america

Why do people get offended when they are told merry christmas?

because some of us are jewish or pagan

In a society that is supposed to be accepting of all cultures, religions, and people it is often offensive to those who respect and support the idea of an individual's cultural identity when people assume that their beliefs are superior. By wishing people Merry Christmas those who do not celebrate Christmas may feel left out or imposed upon.

It usually is only a gesture of kindness in which someone can reply with the greeting of their beliefs (such as Happy Hanukkah) or simply Happy Holidays. It really is all about civil rights.

Hmm, but I'm a Christian and I like being given good wishes for Diwali, Hanukha, Eid etc. Festivals are special even if you don't share the belief behind them.

Personally, I think you're going to find a lot more animosity in the United States if you kindly ask someone to respect the fact that not everyone is Christian than if you told them Merry Christmas. For some reason, the Christians in this country howl bloody murder every time they feel they're religion is being censored.

Consider prayer in schools. For years, the vocal Christian minority has used the fact that students are not allowed to pray in public schools as an example of how their religion is under attack from all sides by a secular government. The fact that students ARE allowed to pray in schools and always have been really doesn't seem to affect their ability to get angry, however.

im not trying to be mean when I say this, but it shouldn offend anybody, christmas, its a name of a holiday, its a christmans tre, not a holiday tree, if it was a holiday we would put them up for all holidays but we dont we put them up for christmas, I dont know why people do to be honost I guess to always start somethin, I mean christmas, the christ part of it isn pronounced like sayin jesus christ, its pronounced way different, and jewish shouldn have anythin to do wit it, jewish people are God's people, so why would merry christmas offend you???, im so tired of people nit-pickin everythin, and why is all of a sudden a big deal??? even as three years ago, it was normal and now, you'll be shot dead for it, I think people needs to grow up and stop nit-pickin everythin, I understand there is different religions but we christians shouldn have to change just so others can be happy...we have a right to our religion and we have a right to promote or whatever our religion just as the mormons, muslims and whoever else

Not everyone celebrates Christmas. There are other holidays other than Christmas that different religions celebrate. That's why when I'm not sure what religion someone is it's good to say Happy Holidays that way you are still being kind but not offending anyone.

They don't want to celebrate or recognize the birth of Christ the Lord.

Because they don't know the Lord

Merry Christmas... It's a holiday for us. Not everyone celebrates the birth of our Savior. I make a point to say Happy Holidays when I don't know what another person's religion is. I find it starts less arguments and lets me focus on what the holiday is about. Rather than starting an argument and fighting about the birth of my Savior.

If I went around and said Happy Independence Day in England and France and Germany etc. either they wouldn't understand, wouldn't care, or would get offended. It all depends on the person. It's not everyone that gets offended. You do have to understand that.

For instance, I grew up Wiccan, my father is still Wiccan but I am now Christian. He has not once gotten offended because I celebrate Christamas, likewise, when he celebrates Samhain (did I spell that right?) I don't complain. I let him have his holiday. It's freedom of all religions, not just the Wiccan religion, or the Jews, or the Mormons, or the Catholics, or the Muslims. I won't sit here all day typing all of them because I don't know them all.

People need to just say back Happy Holidays or Happy Chanukah, or whatever their greeting for the holidays is. It doesn't matter.

Because of differences in religons.
I know some Jewish people and witnesses get offended.

There is the more generic Happy Holidays. Even this assumes religion because it implies that certain days are holy. Seasons Greetings.

In general when a believer wishes me Merry Christmas in return I wish them happy Saturnalia, Sol Invictus, or winter Solstice.

I do celebrate Christmas though. I just stick with the positive aspects of the day, not having to go to work (usually anyway), spending time with my family, exchanging presents, etc. Y'know all the fun things the Pagans did long before Christains hijacked the holiday.

Fillet - um - how bout new years, so not religious.

Whilst a little of this filters through in the UK, on the whole we all celebrate everyones' festivals - celebrating our differences, instead of getting scared of them?

HAPPY HOLIDAY MAY BE A LESS OFFENSIVE WAY TO SAY IT

Honestly, I think very few people _do_ get offended by the term - it's mostly just the PC police. I don't believe in either the religion it's currently about or the pagan festival it used to be, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the holiday.

Probably because Christs name is included... he is the stumbling stone for many people. His name is offensive, to those who resist him. The push is to say,
Happy Holidays... and they have just about gotten it done.

Have you noticed how all the cards have pretty much removed his name???

Well, I like to send charity cards with some kind of Christian picture/message on. The card you send tells you about the sender, not the receiver, so I personally don't think I have any friends who are offended - they know I am a Christian, so what?

And arachnid, I agree with you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!, sorry just had to do that, you cant do anythin, everythin offends people, if you dont want to offend people , we might as a well sit around and do nothin, b/c I dont like sayin happy holidays, and I wont say it, I will say merry christmas as long as I live, and it offends oh well, hapy holidays offend me b/c you are takin the reason out of it and it offends me...oh but wait that doesn matter b/c its quite obvious that all other religion and belifs are more important than christians, my friends who isn christians it sure dont bother them at all, and even the chick I know that is athiest, it sure dont bother her, yea' I know not all celebrates it, but just b/c you dont, dont make it rough on the ones that do, and no christians didnt hijack the holiday the people that complains bout it highjacked, just b/c we want to say merry christmas we highjacked--GROW UP...talkin bout offensive that is...if ya dont celebratre it IGNORE IT AND GO ON YOUR OWN WAY!!!

I'm an American atheist and I don't get offended. People can have whatever holidays and greetings they want. It's no skin off my teeth. Just don't be offended if I say happy holidays right back at ya. That's what I hear the Religious Right getting in an uproar about. Tolerance means we each get to say what we want and go in peace. Isn't that what the season is supposed to be about for Christians anyway?

Silverwings - The name of your Lord, Jesus Christ is not offensive to me.
What is offensive to me is the fact that you discount other religions entirely.

If we don't want to hear Merry Christmas, it must be because we hate jesus, that his name is offensive to us...

It couldn't possibly be because some do not celebrate Christmas, for personal reasons.

I am jewish, and could not care less what people say during the holidays.

I have VERY religious, spiritual in-laws (father-in-law is a preacher). I find a HUGE selection of Christmas cards that mention Jesus, Mary and Joseph each year. That have beautifully illustrated nativity scenes...Last year I sent them a lovely card with a pop-up nativity scene. It was displayed on their mantle.

Funny that you have a hard time...But I guess EACH of us is able to find what we seek...