I dont get it. If people are there for a Christmas show then I would pressume they are celebrating Christmas and wont be offended, the why take the word out? The sad and scary thing about this article is that the teachers took the word out all on there own wich to me says that people are now submitting with out even being asked to submit, it is a voluntary action now, truly pathetic.
"Silver Bells is one of four Christmas songs being performed by the choir of 70 students, although it's the only song that has been altered, said principal Paula Marinigh.
The other songs in the musical program are Candles of Hanukkah, Candles of Christmas; Pere Noel and It's Christmas generally reflect the feelings about the holiday season, as well as the themes of Hanukkah and Christmas, she said.
"The choir teachers are trying to be as inclusive as they can be because not everybody is celebrating either Christmas or Hanukkah," Ms. Marinigh said."
Seriously Joanne, don't try and distort facts that are easily checked. There are plenty of ways to incite the masses without having to deceive them.
Perhaps we should demand that Muslims remove any references to Allah and Mohammed during Ramadan because it might be offensive to Jews. Not to mention that the obligatory fasting may offend people recovering from anorexia. Or maybe Kwanzaa should be outlawed because after all, it's just a phony holiday invented by a convicted criminal during the American civil rights movement in the 60's.
See how far THAT will get you.
Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ. It's NOT the "Holiday Season" nor a "winter event". If you don't like it, tough poop, stay at the office while the rest of us enjoy the time off to celebrate.
Wonder how upset teachers and others would be if the did not get paid for Christmas Day. Perhaps it can be taken off the list of statutory holidays and save employers megatons of money.
"We've already lost the words 'Mother', 'Father', Husband' and 'Wife' in our politically-correct, secular society."
I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but what in the world are you talking about? Are you off your meds?
How do you figure that we've 'lost' those words? I'm pretty sure I've heard/read all of them used in the, let's see, past 30 seconds.
'Enough is enough.'
Indeed. Enough with the fake war on Christmas already. IT DOESN'T EXIST. Nobody wants to eliminate Christmas. As the story you referred to so clearly illustrates.
Anyone heard of anyone who objected to Xmas choosing to work on the "Christmas Holidays"? I haven't.
They get our Christmas holidays, but I've never been allowed to take the religious holidays off of any other religion.
Perhaps we should demand back - we get your religious days off if you get our religious days off - or - you work Xmas and we'll work on the other religious holidays.
It's actually worse than just dropping "Christmas". What they dropped was "Christmas Day". Christmas Day is the legal name for December 25. See, e.g., The Retail Business Holidays Act in Ontario. If "Christmas Day" must still go, then so also must Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - all of which are named after ancient Nordic gods. And, "holiday" is just a slight corruption of "holy day". Is nothing sacred?
Anyone heard of anyone who objected to Xmas choosing to work on the "Christmas Holidays"? I haven't. I don't know about "objecting" people, but lots of people who don't celebrate Christmas work on Christmas Day.
I'm sure that's not good enough for you though, you would like them to work at straight time, right? Even though it is a statutory holiday.
Yes, you could also make them work straight time on Sundays, right? Next we'll have to determine who get paid double time on Sunday and who doesn't. That would be determined by some agency that determines what religion you are, and whether you are pious enough to merit double time (but not pious enough to refuse unconditionally). I believe Iran has such a religious police. Or we could go back in our own traditions and revive the Inquisition.
"I'm referring to legal documents such as birth and marriage certificates.
The politically-correct terms are 'parent' now, and 'spouse'."
So...because government forms are taking into consideration the changing realities of family life in Canada, you've decided that the words father, mother, wife and husband have been lost?
C'mon now, I know you read the papers and watch TV. Without even looking, I'll bet that those 4 words appear literally dozens of times in today's edition of whichever newspaper you choose to read.
I can't help but think that you've come to a conclusion and now you're running around trying to find facts to support it.
I don't want to tell you how to live your life, but it seems to me that it would be wiser to clear your mind of pre-conceived notions (hard as that is for ALL of us), and let the facts lead you to a conclusion, not the other way around.
BTW: Don't you think that the fact that a public school is holding a Christmas pageant is a 'victory' in this supposed war on Christmas?
I guess some people are never happy with anything...
When I worked at the hospitals, the Jewish and Muslim residents always worked Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, etc, and the Christians worked Eid, Yom Kippur, etc.
Are you guys willing to sing Kwanzaa songs during the holidays, then?
It's not just a xtian holiday anymore. It's become a consumption holiday, complete with a secular Christ-figure: old Saint Nick. At least Santa Claus shows up once a year, which is more than I can say for the son of god.
Why not celebrate your religion privately? We expect everyone else to do the same.
Simple solution, all parents attending who object should just sing out loud and clear, CHRISTMAS TIME in the city. Silver Bells is one of my most favorite tunes ever since I heard Bob Hope sing it many years ago. If parents sit quietly they have lost this and future battles.
But surely we should drop all references to "city sidwalks" after all not everyone lives in the city nor walks on sidewalks. I'm saying this not in defence of Christmsa I'm saying this in defence of honesty. If you are going to sing a well known song use the words the author wrote. If you want to change the words then write your own song. If you want to celebrate Christmas then celebrate if not then don't but please have the courage of your convictions and be honest about it.
The word Christmas has the word "Christ" at the very beginning of the word. It is the word "Christ" that people object to because this is a reference to the Savior of mankind. He is the way that God provided to save mankind but this rankles most atheists and unbelievers so they would like to see the word holiday replace the word Christmas.
To those who respect what God has done to save mankind they feel comfortable with the Word Christmas. I feel very comfortable with the word "Christ" in the word and I look for it and approve of it and I will feel this way forever!
speaking as a non-religious person, i though the idea of being tolerant of other people's religions was to also respect all religions.
I would no more suggest calling kwanzaa something else or omitting the work entirely than i would to suggest we take the word christmas out of a christmas song or carol. I hate when people shorten it to "xmas" or say "happy holidays" or "season's greetings". it's christmas.
and culture and language are not static...they ebb and flow and change just like anything else. new words come into vogue...old words fall by the wayside when not used.
it's ok to accomodate, as long as we don't lose our traditions and culture and heritage in the process.
JDave left a comment, but I can't let it pass due to an excess of name-calling. Naughty JDave.
However, here is some of his comment:
Alberta Girl:
Wal-Mart greeters ARE allowed to wish people a merry Christmas.
Public School Christmas Concerts are holiday pageants because Jews and Muslims have holidays round this time too, and they're part of the school's community.
Christmas songs are being sung in public performances INCLUDING at Elmdale Public School.
And can you name a single individual who wants the word Christmas eliminated? Just one single person?
i wonder if jdave knows the difference between christmas songs and christmas carols.
my kids school will sing frost the snowman until they are blue in the face, but forget about them singing silent night.
just the fact that there is "xmas" suggests there is a facet of the population that would be happier that christmas is totally secularized to the point that it renders the holiday meaningless.
please, tell me why in our need to be accomodating, that is it imparative that we devalue one (christian) holiday? Why cant we accomodate ALL and also keep the religious meaning of christmas intact???
It's like reverse discrimination between the genders- we do not get equality by boosting one group (women) over the other down (men). We get it by making sure women have the same opportunities as men.
As for wishing a merry christmas in retail, I can speak from experience. Walmart is allowed to say merry chrsitmas, but only because there was such fallout from consumers who prtosted the move with their wallet. I worked for a huge specialty retail organization that SPECIFICALLY told us we could not, in any way, say merry christmas to our customers, even when they wished it to us.
Saying merry christmas is not akin to cursing. There is a current that is trying to make christmas out to be a bad word. and that is sad.
38 comments:
Politically Correct means all other traditions should be respected except Christianity.
A festivus for the rest of us!!
This is ridiculous. Plain and simple.
oh man, this just gets me boiling. Thanks for h'up (cross-posted to my blog too :)
I dont get it. If people are there for a Christmas show then I would pressume they are celebrating Christmas and wont be offended, the why take the word out? The sad and scary thing about this article is that the teachers took the word out all on there own wich to me says that people are now submitting with out even being asked to submit, it is a voluntary action now, truly pathetic.
You forgot to mention this part:
"Silver Bells is one of four Christmas songs being performed by the choir of 70 students, although it's the only song that has been altered, said principal Paula Marinigh.
The other songs in the musical program are Candles of Hanukkah, Candles of Christmas; Pere Noel and It's Christmas generally reflect the feelings about the holiday season, as well as the themes of Hanukkah and Christmas, she said.
"The choir teachers are trying to be as inclusive as they can be because not everybody is celebrating either Christmas or Hanukkah," Ms. Marinigh said."
Seriously Joanne, don't try and distort facts that are easily checked. There are plenty of ways to incite the masses without having to deceive them.
God, It's no wonder nobody takes you seriously.
And Merry Christmas, by the way.
What a stupid thing to do. Anyone who doesn't want to celebrate Christmas can forgo thier time off and go into work instead.
Hi Joanne,
Perhaps we should demand that Muslims remove any references to Allah and Mohammed during Ramadan because it might be offensive to Jews. Not to mention that the obligatory fasting may offend people recovering from anorexia. Or maybe Kwanzaa should be outlawed because after all, it's just a phony holiday invented by a convicted criminal during the American civil rights movement in the 60's.
See how far THAT will get you.
Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ. It's NOT the "Holiday Season" nor a "winter event". If you don't like it, tough poop, stay at the office while the rest of us enjoy the time off to celebrate.
Eskimo
There are plenty of ways to incite the masses without having to deceive them.
jdave, you'll note they saved the truth for the eleventh paragraph.
Since the people you are referring to as being incited are wearing boots this time of year, they would not be able to count past 10. So it worked!
Hohohohoho!
Maybe we should just be wishing each other "Happy Over-Consumption Day".
Wonder how upset teachers and others would be if the did not get paid for Christmas Day.
Perhaps it can be taken off the list of statutory holidays and save employers megatons of money.
Yeah, well, not everybody celebrates a lot of occasions. What's their point?
This is what happens when noble ideas fall into the hands of those of limited imagination, not to mention lack of backbone.
It's Christmas. I wish people could get over it and enjoy the fun.
Merry Christmas, everyone, from someone who has no religion at all.
Have a good one, I plan to. Off to get my tree today.
Jdave, if they wanted a more generic song, why not pick something like 'Jingle Bells' or something? Why change the lyrics of a traditional favourite?
Language is important. We've already lost the words 'Mother', 'Father', Husband' and 'Wife' in our politically-correct, secular society.
Enough is enough.
We've already lost the words 'Mother', 'Father', Husband' and 'Wife' in our politically-correct, secular society.
Really?
Baloney!
"We've already lost the words 'Mother', 'Father', Husband' and 'Wife' in our politically-correct, secular society."
I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but what in the world are you talking about? Are you off your meds?
How do you figure that we've 'lost' those words? I'm pretty sure I've heard/read all of them used in the, let's see, past 30 seconds.
'Enough is enough.'
Indeed. Enough with the fake war on Christmas already. IT DOESN'T EXIST. Nobody wants to eliminate Christmas. As the story you referred to so clearly illustrates.
I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but what in the world are you talking about?
I'm referring to legal documents such as birth and marriage certificates.
The politically-correct terms are 'parent' now, and 'spouse'.
Anyone heard of anyone who objected to Xmas choosing to work on the "Christmas Holidays"? I haven't.
They get our Christmas holidays, but I've never been allowed to take the religious holidays off of any other religion.
Perhaps we should demand back - we get your religious days off if you get our religious days off - or - you work Xmas and we'll work on the other religious holidays.
....all in the act of fairness
It's actually worse than just dropping "Christmas". What they dropped was "Christmas Day". Christmas Day is the legal name for December 25. See, e.g., The Retail Business Holidays Act in Ontario. If "Christmas Day" must still go, then so also must Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday - all of which are named after ancient Nordic gods. And, "holiday" is just a slight corruption of "holy day". Is nothing sacred?
Anyone heard of anyone who objected to Xmas choosing to work on the "Christmas Holidays"? I haven't.
I don't know about "objecting" people, but lots of people who don't celebrate Christmas work on Christmas Day.
I'm sure that's not good enough for you though, you would like them to work at straight time, right? Even though it is a statutory holiday.
Yes, you could also make them work straight time on Sundays, right? Next we'll have to determine who get paid double time on Sunday and who doesn't. That would be determined by some agency that determines what religion you are, and whether you are pious enough to merit double time (but not pious enough to refuse unconditionally). I believe Iran has such a religious police. Or we could go back in our own traditions and revive the Inquisition.
"I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but what in the world are you talking about? Are you off your meds?"
You fail.
This is hilarious.
Silver bells isn't even a carol! It was written in 1951. Maybe you should go after the copyright angle, it's still in copyright.
The funniest part is it was written by two Jewish guys.
Hohohohohohoho!
"I'm referring to legal documents such as birth and marriage certificates.
The politically-correct terms are 'parent' now, and 'spouse'."
So...because government forms are taking into consideration the changing realities of family life in Canada, you've decided that the words father, mother, wife and husband have been lost?
C'mon now, I know you read the papers and watch TV. Without even looking, I'll bet that those 4 words appear literally dozens of times in today's edition of whichever newspaper you choose to read.
I can't help but think that you've come to a conclusion and now you're running around trying to find facts to support it.
I don't want to tell you how to live your life, but it seems to me that it would be wiser to clear your mind of pre-conceived notions (hard as that is for ALL of us), and let the facts lead you to a conclusion, not the other way around.
BTW: Don't you think that the fact that a public school is holding a Christmas pageant is a 'victory' in this supposed war on Christmas?
I guess some people are never happy with anything...
Liberal Supporter:
Brilliant...you just made my day!
Hohohohohohoho!
I find that quite offensive".
;)
When I worked at the hospitals, the Jewish and Muslim residents always worked Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, etc, and the Christians worked Eid, Yom Kippur, etc.
No big deal.
Are you guys willing to sing Kwanzaa songs during the holidays, then?
It's not just a xtian holiday anymore. It's become a consumption holiday, complete with a secular Christ-figure: old Saint Nick. At least Santa Claus shows up once a year, which is more than I can say for the son of god.
Why not celebrate your religion privately? We expect everyone else to do the same.
Simple solution, all parents attending who object should just sing out loud and clear, CHRISTMAS TIME in the city. Silver Bells is one of my most favorite tunes ever since I heard Bob Hope sing it many years ago.
If parents sit quietly they have lost this and future battles.
Toleration
But surely we should drop all references to "city sidwalks" after all not everyone lives in the city nor walks on sidewalks. I'm saying this not in defence of Christmsa I'm saying this in defence of honesty. If you are going to sing a well known song use the words the author wrote. If you want to change the words then write your own song. If you want to celebrate Christmas then celebrate if not then don't but please have the courage of your convictions and be honest about it.
OMMAG - lol! Thanks for the laugh.
But surely we should drop all references to "city sidwalks" after all not everyone lives in the city nor walks on sidewalks.
Good point. I'm sure that's grounds for a Human Rights complaint.
If parents sit quietly they have lost this and future battles.
Wow, this potboiler is still going on?
Hohohohohoho!
I can't use Hahaha this time of year, it would be unfairly promoting Turtles.
Um - isn't the whole reason we are having concerts, buying gifts, cooking turkey because of this particular day.
Isn't this day called "Christmas"??
If we didn't have this day "Christmas", would we be doing all this - or would we just be going to work like every other day.
How can you take the name of the day out of the day and still do all the celebrations????
I would bet that those decrying the word "christmas" still have a tree, and presents, and turkey and a day off work!!!
"Nobody wants to eliminate Christmas."
Really.....that is not how it appears.
Walmart greeters and store clerks not "allowed" to say Merry Christmas
School Christmas Concerts now become Holiday Pagents
Christmas Hymns not being allowed to be sung in public performances
I would say there is a movement afoot by the politically correct left wing nut cases in this world to elimate Christmas - not the day - just the word.
But if you don't have the word - you can't have the day?
Can't have it both ways.
And yes jdave and ls - the movement to eliminate other words in our language in the afoot - any references to "man" in a word has been changed
Example - chairman has become chairperson even though Chairman is a word and does not denote gender, yet the feminists have demanded it be changed.
The same thing is happening with "christmas".
So you can poo poo it all you want, the fact is it is taking place and by your comments, I would say that you have no problem with this.
Typical....
By the way - Happy Next Tuesday!!
The word Christmas has the word "Christ" at the very beginning of the word. It is the word "Christ" that people object to because this is a reference to the Savior of mankind.
He is the way that God provided to save mankind but this rankles most atheists and unbelievers so they would like to see the word holiday replace the word Christmas.
To those who respect what God has done to save mankind they feel comfortable with the Word Christmas. I feel very comfortable with the word "Christ" in the word and I look for it and approve of it and I will feel this way forever!
Merry "Christ"mas everyone!
speaking as a non-religious person, i though the idea of being tolerant of other people's religions was to also respect all religions.
I would no more suggest calling kwanzaa something else or omitting the work entirely than i would to suggest we take the word christmas out of a christmas song or carol. I hate when people shorten it to "xmas" or say "happy holidays" or "season's greetings". it's christmas.
and culture and language are not static...they ebb and flow and change just like anything else. new words come into vogue...old words fall by the wayside when not used.
it's ok to accomodate, as long as we don't lose our traditions and culture and heritage in the process.
Well said Tori
JDave left a comment, but I can't let it pass due to an excess of name-calling. Naughty JDave.
However, here is some of his comment:
Alberta Girl:
Wal-Mart greeters ARE allowed to wish people a merry Christmas.
Public School Christmas Concerts are holiday pageants because Jews and Muslims have holidays round this time too, and they're part of the school's community.
Christmas songs are being sung in public performances INCLUDING at Elmdale Public School.
And can you name a single individual who wants the word Christmas eliminated? Just one single person?
...And Merry Christmas.
i wonder if jdave knows the difference between christmas songs and christmas carols.
my kids school will sing frost the snowman until they are blue in the face, but forget about them singing silent night.
just the fact that there is "xmas" suggests there is a facet of the population that would be happier that christmas is totally secularized to the point that it renders the holiday meaningless.
please, tell me why in our need to be accomodating, that is it imparative that we devalue one (christian) holiday? Why cant we accomodate ALL and also keep the religious meaning of christmas intact???
It's like reverse discrimination between the genders- we do not get equality by boosting one group (women) over the other down (men). We get it by making sure women have the same opportunities as men.
As for wishing a merry christmas in retail, I can speak from experience. Walmart is allowed to say merry chrsitmas, but only because there was such fallout from consumers who prtosted the move with their wallet. I worked for a huge specialty retail organization that SPECIFICALLY told us we could not, in any way, say merry christmas to our customers, even when they wished it to us.
Saying merry christmas is not akin to cursing. There is a current that is trying to make christmas out to be a bad word. and that is sad.
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