Don't tell me to have a Merry Christmas!

Why not just say Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings?
Or maybe Happy Chirstmakwanzaka? Christmakwanzaramaka? lol

I know people obviously don't mean to be malicious when they say Merry Christmas to everyone, and it's just a greeting, so I'm honestly not that aggravated by it, but I do just find it a bit annoying when people question why some of us wouldn't want to be told to have a Merry Christmas and why we would rather go to "Holiday Parties" instead of "Christmas Parties" and things like that.

We live in a multicultural place so I think it's time we started respecting more of those multiple cultures and stopped expecting that they all want to be told to have a Merry Christmas. Is that so much to ask? (Let me know in the comments section... like I even need to bother encouraging that. lol)

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I keep seeing friends write on their Facebook walls that they don't understand why some people get offended at being wished a Merry Christmas. And usually a bunch of their friends pipe in with similar sentiments about how everyone is too worried about being politically correct and they're going to just keep saying it and everyone can basically just suck it up and deal with it... because it doesn't bother them, so why should it bother anyone else.

If I told you that it bothered me whenever you called me a sissy fairy would you continue to do so? Probably, but only because you actually did intend to offend me. If you didn't though, you'd hopefully stop because I told you that I didn't like it, right?

So, why is that when some people say it bothers them to be told to have a Merry Christmas because they don't celebrate it, that so many people think, oh that's just ridiculous - I've always said it so I'm just going to continue to because it doesn't bother me or my circle of friends. And obviously everyone thinks the same way we do, or should.

It doesn't make any sense to me. Why don't you do a survey within every religious minority group in the country and ask them if they like being told to have a Merry Christmas. You'd get a very different answer than asking the people in your inner circle. Which, I hate to break to you, isn't the entire world and are actually people who are more likely to agree with you on your opinions... I mean, that's usually why you're friends. I don't typically choose to hang around people who don't share my core values and beliefs.

Look, if only like 10% of people took offense to being wished a Merry Christmas, that would be one in ten people. You might say Merry Christmas to 10 people during the day. That would mean you're offending one person a day. Is that ok? Is that Christmas spirit -- offending just a few people? Cause if so, that's kinda f'd up.

It's just as easy to say Happy Holidays as it is to say Merry Christmas, and you cover all your bases. It's generic enough to work for everyone and doesn't assume that they celebrate one religious holiday or another. I'm not saying you can't say it to your friends and family and anyone you know who celebrates Christmas, but you wouldn't go around telling everyone Happy Birthday on your birthday would you? People would probably think you're special. And not in the way you might hope.




And I know that to some of you, Christmas isn't about religion anymore. It's about family, and presents, and being nice to people. Well, guess what -- it's not nice to offend people. And let's face it, Christmas is about Jesus Christ. You can say that it isn't anymore to you, but again -- news flash, the rest of the world is not you. Look up the definition of Christmas. It's about Jesus, in the context of being the Lord, which some religions don't agree with.

I've also heard the argument from people who say Merry Christmas that they wouldn't mind it if someone said Happy Hanukkah to them or Happy Kwanza or whatever else it might be. But that's just silly. If someone said Happy Hanukkah to you, it would almost be comical. You'd probably laugh because it would just be unusual and kind of a bizarre thing to say. Because it's not a standard thing that everyone thinks you celebrate and that is constantly told to you throughout the day and all over the media and in the stores,etc. And again, even if wouldn't offend you, that wouldn't really be an excuse. Because not everyone is you.

Just because you may not mean to offend someone when you say Merry Christmas, doesn't mean that it won't. That's not an Ok reason to keep doing it once you've been told that some people actually do get offended by it. You shouldn't just go around doing something because you don't intend it to bother anyone or because you don't think it should bother anyone.

So at this time of year, wish me a happy holidays or seasons greetings if you don't know what I celebrate! :-)

Category:

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[buba123100]

That's why I say Merry Christmahanaquanzaka

[JoshRimer]

@buba123100 And I hope you had a very Merry Christmahanaquanzaka! ;-)

[olimario]

I guess I just don't get why people are offended. It's hard for me to comprehend.

If I was in a country where 99% of the people celebrated Hanukkah and somebody told me "Happy Hanukkah" I'd take it as a sign of good will even though I don't celebrate Hanukkah.

It's the intent behind such a greeting that should be appreciated and welcomed.

[JoshRimer]

@olimario It's just about not having your religion/beliefs acknowledged or respected. It's hard to explain if you aren't a minority, what it feels like to be one. I don't actually take offense to being told Merry Christmas myself because I get that it's not meant to be malicious, but I still find it a bit ignorant to assume I celebrate that holiday.

[Downfacingdog]

You are a satan worshiping cock smoker. Enjoy your freedom.

[JoshRimer]

@Downfacingdog I don't worship Satan and I don't smoke cocks. But I do enjoy my freedom of speech, thanks.

[JamesMitchellTV]

I hope... you.... have a nice weekend.

And I can kinda see what you mean (except I love having things shoved down my throat)

....... wait... what?

[meowman145]

Merry Christmas

[gjarucki]

Hey,

some people don't observe Independence Day on July 4th or Thanksgiving, but Americans always wish non-Americans living in the States (like myself) happy Independence Day weekend or happy Thanksgiving.

Doesn't mean I am bitching about it...

I love almost all of your videos but this one is ridiculous

[Dilandau88]

Welcome to Canada. We celebrate Christmas here. Get over it or get out.

[Dragonwing841]

okay...having this be my into into all thing Josh was actually pretty awesome... i couldn't agree with you more... mind you for completely different reasons (aka not liking family holidays) but whateves... thank you for stating this in a simple but elegant way that even "danny douchbag" can understand...LOL

[ShinyGlitterDoll]

@JoshRimer you shouldn't even acknoweldge someone that stupid.

[ShinyGlitterDoll]

I never say Merry Christmas because its meaningless and corny!

[gigolokoloco]

Did u have a Merry Christmas? lmao

[BobBobbert100]

Just get over it. I'm a Christian and I don't celebrate Halloween, but when people tell me Happy Halloween I smile and thank them. People are trying to be kind to you, and instead of shoving their kindness back in their face you can accept it and be glad there are people out there who actually kind enough to say it to you.

[zehredness]

In my experience we usually say "Merry Christmas" sparingly and with extreme caution. I live in NYC and since it's so diverse I just say "Happy Holidays" first and go from there.

[ctjf83]

@JoshRimer Oh, I'm sure they would!

[jamllo]

I hope you had a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!