Merry Christmas!

[frustrated1]

or not? How much longer will we be able to celebrate Christmas? I don't mean the Santa commercial, spend 'til you drop and your visa smokes version. I mean the real Christmas. The religious holiday celebrating Christ's birth, the reason people get the "stat" in the first place. Remember that? Remember grandma reading the Christmas story from Luke?

When this country we call home was founded it was formed on Christian principles. For years we were touted as "the melting pot". I fear we are becoming a melted pot. Pretty much useless. In our great quest to become everything for everyone and to respect everyone and never hurt anyones feelings we're fast becoming nothing to anyone. We work so hard to appease all the lobbyists and minority groups and that's fine. I'm not saying to disrespect anyone, there needs to be some recognition. But we've got about six tails succesfully wagging the same dog now so that the majority just isn't.

I'll stop the rant. But here's what set me off and is food for thought. One of the local banks here in nowhere, Alta. instructed the tellers they were no longer "allowed" to say "Merry Christmas", they were to use "happy holidays" or some other greeting. Seems "Merry Christmas" has a religious conotation which could offend some people. Right here in downtown rural Alberta. Not San Fran north. Right here. Seems to me Christmas is the reason you have a few days off and the last time I checked it did have religious conotations. And it will continue to have such, at least in our house.

MERRY CHRISTMAS! (and I do mean that)

[Cattleman]

I agree very much with your post frustrated. I have lots to say about this issue, but my biggest problem is the, "commercialization" of Christmas, where everyone is running around and, "stressed out" doing all the "required" shopping for everyone. They have missed the point of Christmas. Christmas is to celebrate Jesus' birth and to celebrate it with friends and family....here is a hint for these people, how about being nice and helpful to everyone all year long, and then try and build some special moments over the holidays.

[PureCountry]

I share your feelings gentlemen. Every year at this time I get disgusted when we go shopping in Edmonton, Red Deer or Camrose. Kids will knock you over, old women will tell you to watch out, and bumping into the wrong group could get you mugged or jumped. I'm at the point where I'm going to start making all my gifts. If I can't weld it or carve it, they can go without.
Which leads me to another issue - giving. It's nice to give this time of year, but I think our reasons need reviewing. We shouldn't be giving all these expensive toys to our children thinking we're doing them a damn bit of good. I told my folks and the wife told hers - cut back on the toys. One toy for each kid is enough. If they really have to get them more than that, then the other purchases are to be clothes and such.
My mom and dad used to tell me how for Christmas they would get a 'Jap' orange, maybe some hard candy, and wool socks or a new pair of boots. And that was a very special Christmas for them. Not blinking, flashing, beeping, howling, honking Fisher-Price Whatsa-ma-Doodles! Or battery-powered Jeeps they can drive down the lane, Super Nintendos they can zone into and zone the family out.
It's a crazy, crazy world we've made for ourselves. And if we don't make the difference with our kids, who'll make the difference with our futures?

[PureCountry]

purecountry, it isn't just during Christmas shopping that you see rude kids in malls !!! I see some every time I go out to a restaurant, go shopping or just plain go for a walk in a city or town. I agree that Christmas has gotten way out of hand, but I don't think we can blame too many gifts for a complete lack of respect and manners in SOME kids. The blame for that lies squarely with the parents.
I do think that most grandparents want to give their grandkids what they could likely not afford to give their kdis. We have one little four year old in our family and he literally had a truck loaded with gifts from all sides of the family, grandparent, great grandparents, uncles aunts etc. Most of us gave him clothes that his mom and dad said he needed and we all bought him at least one toy. Personally, I opt to buy very good kids books for the little people, ones that challenge their mind even at the tender age of four. Next year, I plan on dontating to the Tree of Life at our local health care centre in memory of family that we have lost, I will make a donation on behalf of each of the adult members of my family, and just buy gifts for the younger people.