On Wednesday 21 December 2005 11:31, Don Munyak wrote:
> I don't know if the rest of the world has heard of all the crap and
> politically correct bullsh!t going on over here in the states, over
> simply saying Merry Christmas vs. Happy Holidays. It's a real shame.
>
> Anyway..to the developers and supporters of a really awesome product
> !
>
> Merry Christmas and Thank You !!!
>
> I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday. Give your computers
> a rest and spend some quality time with your families.
>
> Also..Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, and of course Happy Holidays :)
>
>
> ~ Don Munyak

Actually this is largely a myth.  (There is a great piece by Hendrik 
Herzberg in this week's New Yorker debunking it.)  It turns out that 
74% of the US population is christian (nominally or substantively) but 
84% celebrate Christmas anyway.  I am one of them; I am greek orthodox 
for the rituals and the spirituality of it but I abhor the church and 
its practices.

Here in NYC things can be confusing, to say the least, even without a 
transit strike.  A jewish neighbor told me that he grew up with 
Christmas trees at home every year.  As for us, we have invited friends 
to a Christmas Eve dinner - 50% christian, 50% other/agnostic/atheist, 
etc.

What _is_ happening is a ban on religious symbolism in public spaces, 
like schools.  This can be a good thing when such symbolism is shoved 
down people's throats.  It can also be a problem because everything 
becomes bland and counter-celebratory in order to achieve maximum 
tactfulness.

So Merry Christmas to all!  Happy New Year!  
(Oh, wait... whose New Year?)

--george