Originally Posted By DAR Interesting article and correct on many points. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/20/roland.martin/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/ 20/roland.martin/index.html</a>
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan Regarding "Xmas" -- here is some more infor from www.thestraightdope.com... >>Dear Straight Dope: Every December one hears of the need to "put 'Christ' back in Christmas", but never a word about "putting 'X' back in Xmas." So just how did the term "Xmas" come to be used in place of "Christmas"? --D. Galvin, Phoenix, AZ SDSTAFF Mac replies: Well, that letter may look like an "X" and walk like an "X" and quack like an "X," but it isn't an "X." That's the Greek letter "chi" which is pronounced about like "ch" was in Old English ... which is to say, about how it's pronounced in German today, or in a few imported words, like "Christ" or "Christmas," for example. "X" (as in chi) was used as an abbreviation for Christ from early times, perhaps initially as a camouflage for the religion. It was the first letter of the word Christos (meaning "the anointed one," e.g., the Messiah) and fortuitously was cross-shaped, so there seemed to be some symbolism or double meaning. It's been used as a scholarly and not-so-scholarly abbreviation since.<< So, there you go.
Originally Posted By Kar2oonMan oops... the correct URL is: <a href="http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mxmas.html" target="_blank">http://www.straightdope.com/ma ilbag/mxmas.html</a>
Originally Posted By Shooba So this guy calls people who (presumably) want the holiday season to be more inclusive "politically correct idiots" and is then offended by the term "Happy Holidays", which is actually derived from Happly Holy Days and inlcudes Christmas anyway. What a jerk. I've never been offended by Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays or Season's Greetings, and the people who are offended by the latter terms are as silly as anyone offended by Merry Christmas. Of course, then he makes the very good points about the real meaning of Christmas. Why does he care what terminology some people use? Interestingly, places like Wal*Mart, which have nothing to do with the real meaning of Christmas, usually come under the most fire for saying Happy Holidays. I've never ever met anyone who is actually offended by the term Christmas. I think this is all just fabricated outrage. Having said that, we need to remember that Diversity is about adding to and expanding on culture. Pushing Christmas out completely is not a good thing, nor is being angry that the holiday season has come to encompass more that just the traditional meaning.
Originally Posted By woody >>derived from Happly Holy Days and inlcudes Christmas anyway<< Not really if you understand what he is saying especially from the "Xmas" story. It disguises the word Christ. That is offensive to some. "Holidays" disguishes "Christmas" in this context. To you, Bah Humbug.
Originally Posted By Goofyernmost People also seem to forget the "freedom of religion" part as well. I should be free to practice my religion in whatever form it is and not be altered by someone that doesn't believe the same thing. I can, to some extent, get behind not displaying obvious religious ideas on public supported property, but, Christmas is very real to me and when someone tells me that I cannot celebrate it, I get more than annoyed, I get angry. No one is forced to participate, so the key phrase should be MYOB. The only real favor that PC could do for us is to force the elimination of the constant barrage of Christmas Carols on the radio. That I could back.
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden <<SDSTAFF Mac replies: Well, that letter may look like an "X" and walk like an "X" and quack like an "X," but it isn't an "X." That's the Greek letter "chi" which is pronounced about like "ch" was in Old English ... which is to say, about how it's pronounced in German today, or in a few imported words, like "Christ" or "Christmas," for example. "X" (as in chi) was used as an abbreviation for Christ from early times, perhaps initially as a camouflage for the religion. It was the first letter of the word Christos (meaning "the anointed one," e.g., the Messiah) and fortuitously was cross-shaped, so there seemed to be some symbolism or double meaning. It's been used as a scholarly and not-so-scholarly abbreviation since.<< So, there you go.>> If you've ever been on Celebrity Cruise Lines you'll notice their logo is an X which appears on all their ships. It stands for the name of the Greek shipping family, Chandris who originally owned the line.
Originally Posted By Shooba >>Christmas is very real to me and when someone tells me that I cannot celebrate it, I get more than annoyed, I get angry.<< I'm curious, how does one stop you from celebrating Christmas?
Originally Posted By Maxxdadd "If you've ever been on Celebrity Cruise Lines you'll notice their logo is an X which appears on all their ships. It stands for the name of the Greek shipping family, Chandris who originally owned the line." OMG. No wonder I was so embarassed. I assumed it was an X rated cruise, and went jogging on deck naked. No wonder they dropped me off in a Jamaica jail cell.
Originally Posted By alexbook >>>>Christmas is very real to me and when someone tells me that I cannot celebrate it, I get more than annoyed, I get angry.<< I'm curious, how does one stop you from celebrating Christmas?<< Good question. Anybody got a good answer?
Originally Posted By utahjosh Yeah, nobody is stopping anyone from celebrating Christmas. I'm sure the issue he/she has is the slow removal of traditional Christmas from our culture and public square.
Originally Posted By alexbook ^--Perhaps, but it's been bugging me. I've been hearing statements like that since the 1970's, and I've never really understood them. My view is that the government shouldn't be spending my taxes on religious displays (e.g., Christmas trees). How does that stop anyone from celebrating the holiday any way they want to? Unless they feel that their celebration of the holiday requires government sanction to be "real"?
Originally Posted By Sara Tonin Then you'd have to take out all those paid holidays the government grants to it's employees...I'd not be in favor of that.
Originally Posted By Maxxdadd I like it when City Governments buys Christmas trees. They are pretty. And I like it when malls deck the halls. Its all about marketing. Make Christmas Shopping more festive. It has worked for years, and will continue to do so. I am thinking we are going to see less and less political correctness when it comes to merchandising. Its just too good for business to pass up.
Originally Posted By melekalikimaka Honestly, there seem to be WAY more people (over)reacting that "people are trying to take away Christmas!" than there are people who are seriously trying to take it away.
Originally Posted By jdub I agree with mele. (of course, I always DO--she says if I don't, she'll beat me up!) Additionally, I would like to say I am against government funding of spray flocking. It's tacky, is all.
Originally Posted By Mr X I accidentally read the title as "Don't take Jesus out to Christmas". All I could think was "gee, it IS his birthday, ain't it? why can't you take him out to celebrate!?".
Originally Posted By jdub Just not to Red Lobster or Benihana. He thinks they're both tackier than a flocked xmas tree.
