Comments on: Merry Whatever and a Happy New Year http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/ musings, thoughts, and writings of Barbara W. Klaser Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:39:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5.3-beta1 Comment on Merry Whatever and a Happy New Year by: James http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1382 Wed, 21 Dec 2005 17:05:48 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1382 I'm thinking that Virgin Mobile has an elegantly silly solution to this non-problem: just cram 'em all together. So, Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah, everyone! I’m thinking that Virgin Mobile has an elegantly silly solution to this non-problem: just cram ‘em all together.

So, Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah, everyone!

]]> Comment on Merry Whatever and a Happy New Year by: Reenie http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1380 Wed, 21 Dec 2005 14:51:53 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1380 This particular blog spoke a great message. It was so well written. Besides, I love words like ‘cranky.’ I have equally enjoyed the responses. Sadly, the goodwill of the season has nearly evaporated with all the pettiness. And all the finger pointing at any religious group no matter how personally offensive, loudly smacks my senses with revulsion – the finger pointer unwittingly joins the bitter extremist. It’s disheartening. I also enjoyed the Belief-O-Matic quiz. My first three were the same as yours, Barbara. This particular blog spoke a great message. It was so well written. Besides, I love words like ‘cranky.’ I have equally enjoyed the responses. Sadly, the goodwill of the season has nearly evaporated with all the pettiness. And all the finger pointing at any religious group no matter how personally offensive, loudly smacks my senses with revulsion – the finger pointer unwittingly joins the bitter extremist. It’s disheartening.

I also enjoyed the Belief-O-Matic quiz. My first three were the same as yours, Barbara.

]]> Comment on Merry Whatever and a Happy New Year by: blogdog http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1379 Wed, 21 Dec 2005 14:49:15 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1379 There is no "war on Christmas," though there really ought to be a war on stupidity. That's just hype, a complete fabrication designed to pull an already fragmented population even farther apart. Anyone with an IQ above room temperature could figure out that "Happy Holidays" is simply quicker and easier to say than "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year," or insert your favorite combination of December-based holidays here. In my house, we celebrate Festivus! There is no “war on Christmas,” though there really ought to be a war on stupidity. That’s just hype, a complete fabrication designed to pull an already fragmented population even farther apart. Anyone with an IQ above room temperature could figure out that “Happy Holidays” is simply quicker and easier to say than “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,” or insert your favorite combination of December-based holidays here. In my house, we celebrate Festivus!

]]> Comment on Merry Whatever and a Happy New Year by: Eric Mayer http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1377 Wed, 21 Dec 2005 05:13:38 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1377 People have been saying Happy Holidays for as long as I can remember without people getting up in arms. It's a polite gesture to the many many non-Christians who participate in the non-religious aspects of the holiday season -- which seem to outnumber the religious ones actually! They could be raising a ruckus about jobs/businesses/entertainment etc all being disrupted -- for everyone -- on behalf of a religion not everyone shares. Instead most are happy to share in the holiday spirit. I'm beginning to think fundamentalists Christians are the sourest, most narrow-mided and hate filled people this side of fundamentalist muslims. People have been saying Happy Holidays for as long as I can remember without people getting up in arms. It’s a polite gesture to the many many non-Christians who participate in the non-religious aspects of the holiday season — which seem to outnumber the religious ones actually! They could be raising a ruckus about jobs/businesses/entertainment etc all being disrupted — for everyone — on behalf of a religion not everyone shares. Instead most are happy to share in the holiday spirit. I’m beginning to think fundamentalists Christians are the sourest, most narrow-mided and hate filled people this side of fundamentalist muslims.

]]> Comment on Merry Whatever and a Happy New Year by: Barbara W. Klaser http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1376 Tue, 20 Dec 2005 23:07:54 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1376 Yes, Cas. There were already plenty of reasons for people to be depressed this month, the most common one I've heard is having lost loved ones we used to spend this holiday with. Everyone over the age of thirty, and some who are much younger can probably relate to that. There are families with individuals missing and individuals with whole families missing. So if we're going to snipe at one another over simple greetings or holiday ownership, I'm afraid I don't see much hope for the human race ever learning to get along. Susan, you've hit on one big part of the problem. Extremism in any form becomes not very pretty. Violetismycolor, I love that quiz. My latest results were: 1. Unitarian Universalism (100%) 2. Liberal Quakers (92%) 3. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (92%) 4. Mahayana Buddhism (89%) 5. Neo-Pagan (87%) 6. New Age (87%) 7. New Thought (73%) 8. Theravada Buddhism (73%) 9. Hinduism (69%) 10. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (64%) 11. Sikhism (62%) 12. Bahá'í Faith (57%) 13. Taoism (57%) 14. Scientology (53%) 15. Reform Judaism (52%) 16. Secular Humanism (46%) 17. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (44%) 18. Jainism (44%) 19. Orthodox Quaker (44%) 20. Jehovah's Witness (38%) 21. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (34%) 22. Nontheist (24%) 23. Orthodox Judaism (24%) 24. Seventh Day Adventist (18%) 25. Eastern Orthodox (15%) 26. Islam (15%) 27. Roman Catholic (15%) Seems to cover just about everything. ;) Sarah, a Sizzlin' Solstice right back at ya! :) Yes, Cas. There were already plenty of reasons for people to be depressed this month, the most common one I’ve heard is having lost loved ones we used to spend this holiday with. Everyone over the age of thirty, and some who are much younger can probably relate to that. There are families with individuals missing and individuals with whole families missing. So if we’re going to snipe at one another over simple greetings or holiday ownership, I’m afraid I don’t see much hope for the human race ever learning to get along.

Susan, you’ve hit on one big part of the problem. Extremism in any form becomes not very pretty.

Violetismycolor, I love that quiz. My latest results were:
1. Unitarian Universalism (100%)
2. Liberal Quakers (92%)
3. Mainline to Liberal Christian Protestants (92%)
4. Mahayana Buddhism (89%)
5. Neo-Pagan (87%)
6. New Age (87%)
7. New Thought (73%)
8. Theravada Buddhism (73%)
9. Hinduism (69%)
10. Christian Science (Church of Christ, Scientist) (64%)
11. Sikhism (62%)
12. Bahá’í Faith (57%)
13. Taoism (57%)
14. Scientology (53%)
15. Reform Judaism (52%)
16. Secular Humanism (46%)
17. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (44%)
18. Jainism (44%)
19. Orthodox Quaker (44%)
20. Jehovah’s Witness (38%)
21. Mainline to Conservative Christian/Protestant (34%)
22. Nontheist (24%)
23. Orthodox Judaism (24%)
24. Seventh Day Adventist (18%)
25. Eastern Orthodox (15%)
26. Islam (15%)
27. Roman Catholic (15%)
Seems to cover just about everything. ;)

Sarah, a Sizzlin’ Solstice right back at ya! :)

]]> Comment on Merry Whatever and a Happy New Year by: Sarah http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1373 Tue, 20 Dec 2005 19:54:35 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1373 Let me be the first on my block to wish the world a Sizzling Solstice (well, since it's winter, maybe a slippery solstice?) Pagans of the world, unite! Let me be the first on my block to wish the world a Sizzling Solstice (well, since it’s winter, maybe a slippery solstice?) Pagans of the world, unite!

]]> Comment on Merry Whatever and a Happy New Year by: violetismycolor http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1372 Tue, 20 Dec 2005 15:45:59 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1372 I think you and I might be in the same place on the whole religion thing. (For a real kick in the pants, go to www.beliefnet.com and take the quiz on what religion you most closely match. Apparently, my closest match is Neo-Pagan...whatever that is...) I think that the naysayers are just getting louder not more numerous. Have some spiked egggnog and try to enjoy at least part of the season. I think you and I might be in the same place on the whole religion thing. (For a real kick in the pants, go to www.beliefnet.com and take the quiz on what religion you most closely match. Apparently, my closest match is Neo-Pagan…whatever that is…)

I think that the naysayers are just getting louder not more numerous. Have some spiked egggnog and try to enjoy at least part of the season.

]]> Comment on Merry Whatever and a Happy New Year by: susan http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1371 Tue, 20 Dec 2005 15:18:04 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1371 My take on it is that we're all subject to being either politically correct or else something less than dirt. Why anyone would take offense if I wish them a Merry Christmas is incomprehensible to me. Extreme liberal thinking, to me, is just the opposite of its meaning of openminded diversity. By elminating all the variations under the guise of accepting them, it is confining and restrictive to one generic way of thinking. My take on it is that we’re all subject to being either politically correct or else something less than dirt. Why anyone would take offense if I wish them a Merry Christmas is incomprehensible to me. Extreme liberal thinking, to me, is just the opposite of its meaning of openminded diversity. By elminating all the variations under the guise of accepting them, it is confining and restrictive to one generic way of thinking.

]]> Comment on Merry Whatever and a Happy New Year by: cas http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1370 Tue, 20 Dec 2005 11:15:04 +0000 http://barbarawklaser.mysterynovelist.com/2005/12/19/merry-whatever-and-a-happy-new-year/#comment-1370 Disheartened and cranky. You have just described the two major problems that I am having this december (or should that be capitalized?) Cas Disheartened and cranky. You have just described the two major problems that I am having this december (or should that be capitalized?)

Cas

]]>