Crime of the Century

[KvHagedorn]

The title of the thread is intentionally ambiguous. Do you see Wal-Mart as committing the crime of the century or with their power, do they have the right to declare that an employee, in wishing someone Merry Christmas, is committing such a crime as deserves termination?

It's not about "values that make America strong," but those which hold us together in a common bond. People need that. If I were to move to Israel, I would not be offended in the least to hear "Happy Hannukkah" spoken to me. In fact, it would be reaffirming to hear such a greeting, even if I don't celebrate that holiday. The idea that we have to utterly destroy our own culture to avoid offending others is just wrongheaded.

[ZokesPro]

do they have the right to declare that an employee, in wishing someone Merry Christmas, is committing such a crime as deserves termination?

I say no, but if they suddenly decide to impose this policy on their employees then what are you going to do? Not everyone is a christian.

[Brian Ellis]

There is no question of culture destruction. If the girl at the cash desk hasn't been to church since she was confirmed and the customer is an atheist, the words would not only be misplaced, they would be an example of rank hypocrisy. That someone wishes it amongst believers, it may be a way of passing the message amongst fellow church-goers or within a Christian family.

Actually, on reflection, it is probably as much to protect the employee against rants or snide comments from customers who are non-believers or just bloody-minded. But I presume that, as she is probably Hispanic, she does not merit such protection in your lights?????

[ZokesPro]

Actually, on reflection, it is probably as much to protect the employee against rants or snide comments from customers who are non-believers or just bloody-minded.

That's what I think too. For a company to suddenly impose such a policy, they must have had several complaints from non-christian customers.

[Nowhere]

Wal-mart & "religous holidays" there must be at least 2 threads worth of off the cuff comments in the last couple of months.

Its the general myopic and insular world we live in, no one can see the forrest for the trees anymore.

People getting(choosing to be) insulted by a greeting intended to be freindly and even complimentary .....

So it's OK to tell someone with straight (laughing) face "happy birthday!" the day after wife of that man died? Yeah, a bit more extreme, but in the same category.

[KvHagedorn]

The people who would complain about this sort of thing are just not worth taking seriously. If you are offended by wishes of peace and love, you are not worth pandering to.

[Nowhere]

As much as I think people should just deal with it because it is Christmas, you're definitely right Nowhere. Then again, I doubt Walmart customers care anyhow, but threatening termination of employment is just dirty in itself.

But people ARE dealing with it already - they went to the shop after all, knowing that Christmass decoriations will "attack" them from every direction.
But it's also me thinking that wishing somebody Merry Christmass just because we're wishing it to ourselves (yep, that how it looks like often in "merry Christmass and a happy New Year" IMHO) is at least disrespectfull if we don't know nothing about that person, if we even don't know them.

[cjolley]

The people who would complain about this sort of thing are just not worth taking seriously.

Are you being ironic?

[Dr Mordrid]

Pepole who see Darth Vader coming out of every WalMart management office are the ones not worth taking seriously

Dr. Mordrid

[Nowhere]

The people who would complain about this sort of thing are just not worth taking seriously. If you are offended by wishes of peace and love, you are not worth pandering to.

Assuming you're saying this seriously...I'll try to remember that, if it happens that any of people you care about pass out right before Christnass, to wish you that those will be the best and happier about (well, not really...just making a point)
Overall I have the impression you have hard times in seeing situation with the eyes of someone else...but oh well, that's also a bit defining for beeing right wing...

[Umfriend]

FCOL, I mean, it's not as if *I* like to agree with KVH on anything but in jezus name, anyone being insulted, grieved or what not by someone saying "happy christmas" is just a sorry pitifull pain in the ass.

When I get my fruit&veggies at the turkish shop, do I get insulted if they offer my kids candy for the suger fest (that thing after the ramadan)? Don't be so friggin' absurd. Should I sue any jew who accidently wishes me a shabbat shalom?

I will agree that a company may probably set policies on the way employees behave, but this well mannered, very possibly meaningless (as, e.g, "have a nice day") utterance can't be the topic of a discussion. really.

Lighten up and besides, people who allow themselves the time to even *think* about this this way certainly have their priorities wrong.

[Fat Tone]

I'm with Umf and KvH. Surely it is absurd to threaten someone with the sack for merely uttering a pleasantry (that may or may not mean more to them) that is an ingrained part of the culture of that country. I refuse to be offended by anyone offering me a pleasantry, no matter the culture/relgion it comes from.

We've wasted enough time on this now.

[Umfriend]

We've wasted enough time on this now.

I'M INSULTED! YOU SHOULD BE FIRED! AND YOU DO NOT EVEN MEANIT. Nor do I.

[Jessterw]

But people ARE dealing with it already - they went to the shop after all, knowing that Christmass decoriations will "attack" them from every direction.
But it's also me thinking that wishing somebody Merry Christmass just because we're wishing it to ourselves (yep, that how it looks like often in "merry Christmass and a happy New Year" IMHO) is at least disrespectfull if we don't know nothing about that person, if we even don't know them.

How is this any different than the other holidays we have here in the states? Save for the obvious religious background of two, there's not. Thanksgiving can be offensive to Native Americans who view it as a mockery, Halloween is offensive to some Christians as they view it as a tool of the devil, and then there's Easter. Sure none of these are as a big a deal as Christmas, but they've all become something other than what they were intended.

On the matter of attacking Christmas decorations, are you serious? If we're talking about this because the religious tones that "Christmas" carries, then I certainly don't see how the secular nature of the decorations has to do with anything. Sure there's the odd angel or baby Jesus, but you'd almost have to go looking for them. So the problem there would just be with Christmas in general and not the Christian aspect of it.

It just seems that we're making a big deal of this because we want to loudly pronounce that we don't like it, because of the Christian aspects that are definitely easy to just ignore. I can understand not wanting to be beaten over the head with Christian sensibilities, it's what drove me away (and the abounding ignorance) from the church in the first place, but I've never noticed an overwhelming amount of that during Christmas. I guess I don't have the hatred of Christianity to make me cringe at even the slightest whisper of its existence.

[Elie]

I am a christian orthodox and lived in Syria for at least 10 years amongst a 90% muslim society. When it was a Muslim religious holiday, I would wish friends and their families a happy (whatever at the time) and they used to wish me a Merry Christmas as well, in other words folks, it's all about respecting one another's believe and values.

If someone (and it happened many times) wished me Happy Ramadan I would say thank you but I'm Christian, so you see, the first thing I said was thank you, not an absurd comment or a rude response followed by a law suit etc etc. (they would normally apologize after the fact but it's all in good heart)

People have got to take it easy, take a deep breath and relax, it's not the end of the world when someone is wishing you the best during their holiday season what ever it maybe, contrary, it should be met with a smile, a thank you and move on.

Cheers,
Elie