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Fred’s Annual Ricochet Community Christmas Waiver
I’ve written and posted this the last couple of years. I’m posting it again this year because we have new friends joining our happy community all the time.
For those few of you who do not know, I am an atheist. But, fun fact: I still celebrate Christmas.
I put up a tree, I decorate, I go to parties, I give and receive gifts (contact me for my mailing address), I listen to Christmas music, I wear a Santa hat sometimes, I even put up a small nativity on my mantle. Nor am I the only atheist who does this. Both Vladimir Lenin and Ayn Rand celebrated Christmas.
This time of year, people make frequent use of the obnoxious euphemism “Holiday.” They talk about “Holiday decorations,” “Holiday cookies,” “Holiday shopping” and even (absurdly) “Holiday trees.”
People get weird about wishing others “Happy Holidays,” when we all know they’re tip-toeing around naming Christmas. Those well-meaning people are concerned about offending the 15% of the American public who are atheists or agnostics, and the 4% who celebrate non-Christian religions.
Well, plenty of atheists celebrate Christmas. If you live in America, it’s kind of hard not to.
In the spirit of Christmas — and with the full recognition that Christmas means different things to different people — I hereby issue the following waiver:
You don’t need to use the word “Holiday” in place of “Christmas” for my benefit. I won’t be offended if you wish me a “Merry Christmas.” I like Christmas. Please use the word ‘Christmas’ around me.
Please note: I don’t speak for every atheist, as I am an individualist, not a communitarian; likewise, please don’t think those who do presume to speak for every atheist speak for me. This waiver is about me personally. Getting upset or offended because your fellow citizens use the word “Christmas” is stupid. Find something else to get worked up about.
Any other non-believers who wish to self identify publicly and sign on to this waive are welcome and invited to do so.
Please also note: The spirit and tone of this waiver is genuine. It is meant to build brotherhood and understanding among us as a community. It is not meant to be sarcastic or snotty. The real people I have a problem with are not people who celebrate Christmas, but rather those jackasses who get worked up at the very mention of Christmas.
Published in General
Merry Christmas!
Whew! I’m so relieved.
Happy Holidays, Fred. By that I mean Happy Independence Day (Barbados) and Happy National Heroes Day (Philippines). Or if you don’t read this until tomorrow, Happy National Pie Day (U.S.).
Is it an heirloom?
Merry Christmas, Fred.
Fred,
The problem with communism: You can’t make a profit.
The problem with Atheism: No Holidays.
Regards,
Jim
Holly, jolly Christmas, Fred! That’s a happy post for the Yuletide season.
Though I oftentimes quarrel with Fred,
there’s logic in what I just read.
A true non-believer
should not get a fever
because of a word someone said.
Getting upset or offended because your fellow citizens use the word ‘Christmas’ is stupid. Find something else to get worked up about.
And of course the same remonition would apply to those who get offended by “happy holidays”.
Merry Xmas Fred
“Meowy Christmas!”
I’m oftentimes annoyed with Fred
and the uninformed things that he said.
He seems to harbor no hope
Yet I know how to cope
With the free market he truly dreads.
They don’t have no songs eithier….see here.
PsychLynne,
You are so right.
Fred, this one is for you.
Regards,
Jim
Fred, thank you for your good will and good wishes. Actually, though, as a Christian I’m fine with “Happy Holidays.” I’ll nit pick here a bit: as an atheist, you are not really “celebrating Christmas.” I think what you’re celebrating is this season, which has sort of become a warm fuzzy blur from Thanksgiving through Hannukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa and Auld Lang Syne. And that’s fine, but it’s not Christmas.
So I’m OK if you say Merry Christmas to me, but understand why I may respond with a “Happy Holidays.”
Happy RamaHanuKwanzMas!
“Free market” I say with a sigh.
Alas, we don’t have one, I cry.
I share ET’s hope
that we don’t get a dope
in ’16. I’m thinking, “This guy:”
I’m glad we agree
About good pedigree
But the one who earned bucks
Is my *def* of deluxe
And that is Mitt Romneee …
There once was a guv’ner named Rick,
who some called a country hick.
But a budget he balanced,
and surpluses amounted,
and that just makes Democrats sick!
The R list of nominees towers
while the donk’s lonely ‘Hillary’ sours.
Considering our clout
we could help the Dems out
by letting them have one of ours.
I hear what you say
But it can’t help U.S.A.
If we promote a lightweight
Who’s not carried the freight
To save us from our sorry *blay.*
I assume the cat is wearing his Yarmulke . . .
When we met you were sporting a beard and you laughed and smiled a lot. You’re my nomination for Santa at any Ricochet Christmas gatherings.
That we have a holiday tradition that stretches so far across time, space and culture is a treasure. I used to be a bit, not too much really, of a religious snob in turning my nose up to the secular side of Christmas (e.g. “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”), but I reflected that God created the secular world too.
Merry (upcoming) Christmas, Fred! Fruitful and blessed Advent to those observing!
Merry Christmas, Fred! And, to any who might prefer it, Merry, Happy and/or Joyous Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Saturnalia, and/or other Winter Solstice holiday, real or invented, of your choice(s).
And to any really die hard atheists who might be reading this, Happy Season of Grumpiness and Complaining.
Relatedly, everyone needs to drop “B.C.E.” and “C.E.,” which must be one of the most irritating and unsuccessful attempts at being PC in history.
I don’t know. Isn’t an atheist celebrating Christmas an act of micro aggressive cultural appropriation? Looks like someone is trolling for presents. All of the fun, but none of the responsibility that comes with belief.
I hereby heartily sign on. Indeed, I’m tempted to have cards printed up that I can hand out to people.
Thank you. That’s been one of the most annoying pieces of PC claptrap I’ve seen. It’s still around, too. It’s like eczema: really irritating and hard to get rid of.
I don’t take offense when others use “BC” and “AD”, but I refuse to use them myself. Words mean things, and Jesus is not my “Christ” nor my “Domini”.
Also — perhaps paradoxically — I find it more annoying when people wish me “Happy Holidays” than “Merry Christmas”. Only close friends think to wish me well on my major holidays — Rosh HaShannah, Passover, etc. When people wish me a happy holiday at this time of year, it’s because they are thinking of their own holiday: Christmas. So just be honest and wish me Merry Christmas! “Happy Holidays” is a false inclusivity. (Warning: As far as I can tell, I’m in a very small minority in thinking this way.)