Thanksgiving is the only holiday left that we can call it what it is..

[Tilt]

Spades are spades IMO.................

Easter is a pagan (Norse) festival (rights of fertility) the festival date was converted to Christian use. The name  Easter is a derivation of the god concerned.

Christmas was similarly a pagan festival based around the winter equinox and was usually a method of emptying the larders of stuff that would have gone rotten other wise. Christians converted it to their belief system also.

Thanksgiving is a pure American/Christian festival IMO.

Christian Pilgrims thanking their God.


You are all Christian Pilgrims..................... ................ Right?


anyway have a good un  

[cpxxx]

Wow I never thought Thanksgiving day could be controversial in of all places; America'
Well Happy Thanksgiving anyway. I work in an American company, so they have turkey dinner and lots of other American style food in the cafeteria today. On top of that the cafeteria is decorated with the stars and stripes and lots of red, white and blue bunting.
We didn't get the day off though:( .

We don't object, so why should Americans?

I personally never heard of anyone here ranting on about how un PC any festival is. If I did I would soon tell them to shut up.

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by cpxxx
Wow I never thought Thanksgiving day could be controversial in of all places; America'
Well Happy Thanksgiving anyway. I work in an American company, so they have turkey dinner and lots of other American style food in the cafeteria today. On top of that the cafeteria is decorated with the stars and stripes and lots of red, white and blue bunting.
We didn't get the day off though:( .

We don't object, so why should Americans?

I personally never heard of anyone here ranting on about how un PC any festival is. If I did I would soon tell them to shut up.

Personally, I work closely with two Iranians who are Muslim and 6 folks from India, all Hindu. 2 "American" workers are of the Jewish faith, and then there are 4 that are outspoken atheists.  So that leaves me and one other fellow as the only people that say "Merry Christmas" to one another...otherwise we could face a meeting with our boss unexpectedly. Its just easier on one to say "Happy Holidays" and not mention Easter...

[Waffle]

Don't want to celebrate Christamas?
Don't celebrate Easter?
Don't do the Thanksgiving thing?


Well, while the rest of us are at home enjoying a NATIONALLY OBSERVED Holiday -

I hope you drag you arses in to WORK!

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Personally, I work closely with two Iranians who are Muslim and 6 folks from India, all Hindu. 2 "American" workers are of the Jewish faith, and then there are 4 that are outspoken atheists.  So that leaves me and one other fellow as the only people that say "Merry Christmas" to one another...otherwise we could face a meeting with our boss unexpectedly. Its just easier on one to say "Happy Holidays" and not mention Easter...

See now I would almost relish this sort of situation.

Absolutely I'd say "Merry Christmas"..to everyone.
Then when I got called into the bosses office I'd remind him about a little thing called religeious freedom that exists in this country.

by the same token I would also mention that during Hanukkah I was wishing those of the Jewish faith a "Happy Hanukkah" (trust me. I've yet to have met a Jew that objects to  being wished a "Happy Hanukkah")

I'd also mention that inasmuch as the outspoken athiests are allowed to be vocal about their faith, or lack thereof, and I am not allowed to say something as simple and welll meaning as wishing someone a "Merry Christmas" Which is representative of my faith.

That pretty much amounts to discrimination based on religion.
Which is illegal.

Then I would encourage him to rather then have a policy of rejecting various religions or sticking their heads in the sand and making beleive they dont exist. They instead recognize,respect and embrace all religions.

That a policy of all inclusion, rather then all exclusion is a better way to go and that while the athiests may be offended at being given this well wish.
I am offended at not being allowed to express this well intended religious sentiment which is well within my constitutional rights.

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
Personally, I work closely with two Iranians who are Muslim and 6 folks from India, all Hindu. 2 "American" workers are of the Jewish faith, and then there are 4 that are outspoken atheists.  So that leaves me and one other fellow as the only people that say "Merry Christmas" to one another...otherwise we could face a meeting with our boss unexpectedly. Its just easier on one to say "Happy Holidays" and not mention Easter...

On another note.

I get to do work for all kinds of people with all kinds of faiths.
One thing I've noticed that almost without exeption about Indians (from India) is they absolutely LOVE the idea of Christmas.

Allmost all with get a Christmas tree. Decorate their houses etc.
So when I see this I always ask if they are Christian even though I know the answer is usually "no" (usually Hindus)
then I ask about the tree and the decorations.
the answer is usually the same.

while they dont beleive in the Christan faith
They absolutely love the idea of having one day to give gifts to each other and especially to the kids, the idea of Santa Clause.
they have embraced that tradtition into their own lives
(1)- Because they dont want their kids to feel left out.
(2)- Because they love watching their kids faces on Christmas morning opening the gifts
(3)-Because its just plain fun!

I think they have the right idea.
They adapted and included these positive traditions into their own lives.
Much as the Christmas tree, the Yule Log, and the Christmas Wreath. None of which are originally Christian symbols have been included in ours.

[Ripsnort]

I tend to avoid political or religious confrontation at my workplace since my paycheck has almost doubled in 6 years since going salary... At least being PC pays well!

[Gunslinger]

I would venture to say just as many "non-religous" persons celebrate christmas as "religious" ones.

[Curval]

Heading to the sandwhich shop for my "heart-attack special" - Turkey covered in bacon, covered in melted swiss cheese on a white roll...covered in mayo.  I get them to add some pepper...hey, it's "kind of" like a veggie.

I will gobble it down and salute all you Americans by raising it to my computer upon my return.

Happy Thanksgiving guys.

[StSanta]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
I tend to avoid political or religious confrontation at my workplace since my paycheck has almost doubled in 6 years since going salary... At least being PC pays well!

If someone steps on ya, yer gonna stomp right back though, right?

I tend to be very busy at work and there's little time (and co-workers) to talk politics or religion with. I don't like being stepped on though and if things turn ugly I'm more than capable of being unreasonable enough to tell people to get the f*ck outta my life, and quitting my job.

One of the benefits of being single and having a modest life style (well, apart from the skydiving bit) is that it allows you to follow your convictions. The consequences are applied to you and not to your spouse or kids.

As far as thanksgiving goes - if it's a holiday and you get to do the stuff you really want, it's cool in my book.

[DREDIOCK]

Originally posted by Gunslinger
I would venture to say just as many "non-religous" persons celebrate christmas as "religious" ones.

I would readily agree.

I dont even know any athiests who dont celibrate Christmas LOL

[StSanta]

Hey, atheists (pet peeve, sorry) get time off from work. And can spend time with family and stuff.

I'd celebrate that for certain

[Ripsnort]

Originally posted by StSanta
If someone steps on ya, yer gonna stomp right back though, right?

 

My role as a Project Manager, I am usually doing the stomping My boss delegates his role to me when he goes out of town on business, or vacation. So, to prevent the 2nd level manager or the Director (3rd level) stomping on me, I come to meeting prepared with data. Its called "Humiliation prevention"

What I might funny is when my boss asks me to define someone's statement of work within our group (Where should we use this person?) because he doesn't understand the work we do, therefore he delegates to me.

[StSanta]

Originally posted by Ripsnort
My role as a Project Manager, I am usually doing the stomping My boss delegates his role to me when he goes out of town on business, or vacation. So, to prevent the 2nd level manager or the Director (3rd level) stomping on me, I come to meeting prepared with data. Its called "Humiliation prevention"

What I might funny is when my boss asks me to define someone's statement of work within our group (Where should we use this person?) because he doesn't understand the work we do, therefore he delegates to me.

Sooner or later, you're gonna be the stompee, not the stomper.

I respect you, but I am curious how you'd handle it. You have a wife and kids. And the classic American ego, which is not a bad thing.

I met this American guy in Russia, Tim Strauss. Big time freeflier, 8000 jumps, member of one of the best freefly teams in the world. Turns out we have a mutual friend. Classical American ego. Arrogant son-of-a-*****, but likeable as hell. His reaction pattern was immediate and very consequent. But he was a single guy, professional skydiver who can afford to tell others to go to hell.

What do family men, fathers do? Some I'd imagine let others stomp them because others depend on them. I don't feel you fall into this category. So watcha gonna do when it happens?

[Nilsen]

Anyone objecting to me saying merry christmas or whatever gets a laugh, a snort, a snicker or whatever. None of that PC crap has reached us yet, and if it did, nobody would care anyway. All the muslims (all three of them ) we know say merry christmas to us, and we to them. Its just something you say anyway, cause none of us are christians.

I say merry christmas to anyone i want, and nobody can do a damned thing about it.