coercion

[Steve]

---  "susanmcgee48176" <Schlobin at ...> wrote:
>
> What I object to about boycotts of stores that require their
> employees to say happy holidays rather than Merry Christmas
> (in an effort to be more inclusive....is that it's trying to
> force people to participate in a religious holiday, (or any
> kind of holiday).
> 
> Those employees who do not celebrate Christmas - they should
> be forced to say "merry christmas?" People who do not 
> celebrate should be forced to listen to "merry christmas" 
> in the stores?
> 

bboyminn:

You almost had me, but I think you took it one step too far.
True, if you do not celebrate Christmas you should not be 
force to extend a Christmas-specific greeting to people. But,
the end of the calendar year is a general time of celebration
for everyone. So, it is, the entire month of December a
holiday season. Do you really think the non-Christians are
going to refuse a week off work 'for the holidays' because
the claim they don't celebrate the holidays? I don't think so.


As to the last part, which I object too, 'people who do not
celebrate should be forced to listen to 'Merry Christmas' in
the store?'. Well, yes, somebody, if fact a majority of people
are celebrating Christmas and a Christmas greeting between
then IS appropriate. Why should the entire country be forced
to conform to the beliefs of a few? 

I mean if I go into a Chinese restaurant on Chinese New Year
and they are celebrating, should I make them stop because I
don't celebrate Chinese New Year? Should I refuse to pay the
'special' Chinese New Year prices that are part of the
celebrations? Should I refuse the free eggroll and special
Chinese New Year foods, not because I don't like them, but
because I refuse to celebrate the holiday? I don't think so. 

It is one thing for you to choose to not celebrate certain
holidays, but you really don't have a right to force other
people to stop, and you don't have a right to be immune
or sheltered from knowing a celebrations in going on. That
celebration is a vast vast majority of people exercising 
their rights as member of a free and opened country.

As a minority, you are free not to celebrate, but you are
not free to stop others from doing so. So, yes, you do have
to endure the Christmas Carols, and wishes of Merry Christmas,
because even if you aren't celebrating I am, and whether you
like it or not, I do wish you the happiness and blessings of
the season, even if you are unwilling to take them. 


> Susan continues:
>
> What we did in our shelter was similar to what they did in
> a school mentioned...we had decorations and information 
> about all holidays, and education about them posted as well.
> We tried to provide support for those who were not 
> celebrating any holidays...one of our commons areas  was 
>"decoration free"...it was all about compromise and trying to
> have respect for all peoples and all beliefs...
> 
> Susan
>

bboyminn:

This in my opinion is far far more sensible approach. I think
as the USA becomes more diverse, we as the majority citizens
need to make an effort to be more inclusive of the minority
citizens. So, as a community we should make some effort to
acknowledge, and to a certain extent celebrate, all religious
and non-religious holidays of all represented cultures.

Plus, there is the educational aspect of it. Too many Americans
see themselves as the center of the universe, which usually 
gets them into trouble when they travel to foreign countries.
We need to realize that we are part of a grand diversity,
we piece just as valid and important as the other. 

The more we know, the more we grow.

Steve/bboyminn