Holidays: Today, Tomorrow and Yesterday
Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2008
by Mr. Keith
IChooseThin
It seems as if every holiday there is always that small side bar story where some group or other is protesting the holiday I am getting ready to celebrate. I used to celebrate Columbus Day until I learned of all the horrible things the man did to others of different cultures. I used to look forward to the holiday season and now I am afraid of the season. Having to work in retail we are no longer permitted to tell people "Merry Christmas" because it offends the atheists or some other group that is anti-Jesus. In retail, the almighty dollar is much more important than God so the holiday greeting is "Happy Holidays." I used to enjoy going out with the young ones to supervise Trick or Treating but some of the local Christian organizations told me the origin of the holiday is evil and needs to be avoided.
Being in the West I would never dare to even mention Martin Luther King Day and even if I did many would not even know it was a holiday. Secretaries Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Woman's Day and the list just goes on and on with no end in sight. Every holiday has a reason to upset some outspoken group, no matter how innocent your youth taught you the holiday to be.
How will I be celebrating the Holiday Season? I will be at work acting nice to all the rude customers that come in the store looking for that wonderful gift to show their love to the one's they love. As I watch those "celebrating" the day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday) I will be amused at the madness of those scrambling to get ready for the Holidays. Seeing the Christmas trees start to arrive off the trucks in June and then not being able to wish someone a "Merry Christmas" in December basically sucks the joy out of my soul. Holidays in my youth were filled with filled with awe and wonder that as I grew older became filled with the pleasure of watching that wonder in the eyes of my children. The memories I have of my children being young, scampering around before holidays will forever dance in my mind's eye. Seeing that youthful ignorance bloom into the teenager who knows all has sort of drained the joy of most of the holidays. Enjoy the bliss of your youth, enjoy the bliss of your children's youth because holidays are best spent through the eyes of the youth.
As I have grown older I have learned that holidays are just another day, unless you are protesting them of course.
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Hi Mr. Keith.This is such a sad article. I know what you mean though. Having worked in retail for most of my adult life, I know that it can pull the life right out of you ... if you let it. And the Christmas shopping season can be the worst. There are so many people rushing madly about, anxiously trying to get what they need or think they need while trying, and failing, to not spend more money than they can afford that you can feel the tension in the air. It can be ugly.Thankfully, I have always managed to work for companies that allowed me to express myself genuinely (well except for one and I quit that job). If I wanted to say "Happy Easter" or "Merry Christmas," they were okay with that. Maybe you would do well to find for yourself a company that is also tolerant. Just a suggestion.I do wish there was more tolerance in our society in general and the issue over "Happy Holidays" is telling. Come on, we all know what is meant by those two words. Why do some companies think that saying those words is better than saying any others? And why should people take offense at other people's beliefs? After all, these are well wishes no matter how they are couched. It's not as if you are demanding they believe in God and Christ by wishing them a Merry Christmas.There is joy in this world and in this life. But if you only look at the bad, you will never see it. Look for the good ... it is there. Just another suggestion.Best regards,DianneSometimes it is hard to see the forest when the trees are in the way. Retail is such a thankless place to work, but that is another story........I am actually a happy person and the article is just one small portion of my day. I have learned to work to live and not live to work, All in all my days in retail are numbered as I seek other avenues of income, that are slowly panning out.Thanks!I finally got out of retail too. And I have to say that my life has been better for it. Though I do miss the regular paycheck.My poor husband is still in retail, sort of. He's an optician and while he works with an eye doctor, his main thrust is selling glasses and fitting them to patients/customers. He'd be the first to tell you that, with a very small exception, it is indeed a thankless job.I sincerely hope you find what you are looking for and are fulfilled in your new endeavors.Dianne
When I worked in sales I always wished people a "Merry Christmas". It never seemed to offend them; if it did they never told me. We should always be proud of our special holidays and not take offense to the ones we don't put any importance on, because they may be important to someone else.I am not permitted to wish Merry Christmas, per "company policy."
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