Holiday in Macau
As I was relaxing in my room at the Landmark Hotel last night in Macau I happened to be watching the Fox News and John Gibson’s show. The squabble about Christmas in the States was a topic that just seemed to get me. Not calling a tree in Boston a Christmas tree seemed so ridiculous. More so since I spent the day in old-town Macau where they are lighting up the city with decorations galore, including Government buildings. This in a area that is 85% Buddhist!
I e-mailed the show this:
Surprised that while working on a travel article here in Macau, China I am watching Christmas decorations being put up and getting, "Merry Christmas Season," from hotel staff constantly. Maybe I should celebrate Christmas where I am allowed! Who would have thought it would be China!
I awoke with the TV still on and it happened to be John Gibson’s show. Next thing I knew my e-mail was on the screen complete with my name. What a shock it was. I will celebrate anyone’s holiday and want to share mine, not political just practical. Sure enough as I left a restaurant after lunch today I was given a Merry Christmas by the owner. We could all learn a lot from the people of Macau!
I e-mailed the show this:
Surprised that while working on a travel article here in Macau, China I am watching Christmas decorations being put up and getting, "Merry Christmas Season," from hotel staff constantly. Maybe I should celebrate Christmas where I am allowed! Who would have thought it would be China!
I awoke with the TV still on and it happened to be John Gibson’s show. Next thing I knew my e-mail was on the screen complete with my name. What a shock it was. I will celebrate anyone’s holiday and want to share mine, not political just practical. Sure enough as I left a restaurant after lunch today I was given a Merry Christmas by the owner. We could all learn a lot from the people of Macau!
posted by Kent E St. John at 5:52 AM
1 Comments:
I agree that erasing the word "Christmas" from everything is a bit silly. And there really are people who are trying to wipe it out from everything in the name of "separation of church and state."
But I think people like John Gibson and Bill O'Reilly are blowing it out of proportion to try to get everyone outraged. They constantly talk about the "war on christmas" and Bill O'Reilly constantly lists off a bunch of retailers who say "happy holidays" instead of "merry Christmas" and suggests we don't shop at those places.
I think an employee saying "Merry Christmas" is very nice. But I also think saying "Happy Holidays" is very nice as well. Are there really people out there who would honestly get offended if someone wished them a happy holidays?
There is no mass conspiracy between retail stores to erase the world of Christmas. It's not a bunch of atheists executives plotting the end of Christianity. They're simply making business decisions and trying to be inclusive, not exclusive.
If you think about it, the phrase "happy holidays" in December is pretty much synonymous with Christmas.
Besides a few examples where there really is an effort to get Christmas out of the public, for the most part, this has been blown way out of proportion by a few people.
In Fact, I think they're doing a disservice to Christians because they're creating an "Us vs. Them" mentality that will lead to hostility when we should be accepting differences.
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