Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community - View Single Post - Merry Christmas? Not according to this man in Saskatoon

Devils'Advocate · 12-16-2012, 08:04 AM

*bangs head against wall*

How many times do I have to say this isn't about one individual saying "Merry Christmas" to another? If Bob says "Merry Christmas" to Mohammed, Mohammed can rightly brush off the fact that Bob is using a Christian greeting because Bob is (a) wishing him well and (b) probably is giving that greeting out of habit of what he has grown up with. Now, if Bob is a known bible-thumping zealot who actually goes out of his way to push his religion, or a xenophobe that would like to see these immigrants go back to the country they came from then maybe he does say "Merry Christmas" for nefarious reasons, but 99.9% of the time it's just a habitual thing. On an individual basis, most people are reasonable and will welcome that the person is wishing them well and disregard the Christian origins of the phrase.

HOWEVER, HAVING AN ORGANIZED WORKPLACE EVENT, OR A PUBLIC EVENT/MESSAGE FROM PUBLIC INSTITUTION/FUNDS IS DIFFERENT. They should be inclusive of EVERYONE. I am fine with that bus saying "Merry Christmas" so long as it says "Ramadan Kareem" at the appropriate time of the year as well. And I'd be happy with organizing a Christmas event if my superior had also asked me to organize similar events for each holiday celebrated within our division.

I could ask my employees if they are offended with just having a Christmas event while not having something for their religious/cultural holidays. In terms of my employees, I'm sure each and every one of them would say that they are not offended. I don't know how honest a response that would be. First, most of them just don't like to stir the pot. They know that they are in the minority and admitting to something against the majority doesn't play well. "What is Don going to do with this information? Is he going to go to management and say that we can't have a Christmas party because I, Mohammed, feel self-concious about attending an event celebrating a Christian holiday? I don't want to get myself in that kind of trouble!" But secondly, there is that "I know my boss is the head of the social committee and typically organizes the parties, and my boss is a good guy and treats us employees well - it will probably make his life easier if we all just go along with the wishes of the majority".

But let's say for the moment that all 14 of my employees, and all 150 people in our division, no matter what their religious upbringing and culture.... every single one of them say with absolute 100% honesty that they have no problem whatsoever with only having a Christmas party. *I* think that it is more polite and more respectful TO THEM if we are inclusive. As their supervisor, I know these people are really great people and have done some fantastic work over the last year and I'm going to thank them for that work by celebrating someone else's religious holiday?

I've heard of several workplaces having "Festivus Parties". Festivus, is the made-up SECULAR holiday that is made up just for having fun. What I like about the idea, is again, it is inclusive. It welcomes everyone.

So.... in the end, it's not about a fear of offending Mohammed. It's out of respect for Mohammed as a person that I chose to have a "Holiday Season Party" rather than a "Christmas Party". I WANT to be inclusive and WANT him to feel 1000% welcome.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

I remember when we finished a major project that I put an incredible amount of work into. I poured my heart and soul into that project and we had just delivered it to the client and they loved it. It was a major success. My boss at the time was delighted so he organized a surprise celebration pizza party for all staff involved on the project. He ordered pepperoni, meat-lovers and Hawaiian. He hadn't taken the time to get to know his staff, to know their beliefs and who they are as people to know that one of the key players (myself) was a vegetarian. I left the party. All that pizza was making me hungry and with each sniff of the pizza and grumble in my belly just made me more irate. I think that we, AS THOUGHTFUL AND POLITE PEOPLE, should strive to recognize EVERYONE, including recognizing the things that make us different. One extra pizza would have made a world of difference, but my supervisor had not taken the time to get to know me well enough to include me.

12-16-2012, 08:04 AM	#66
Devils'Advocate #1 Goaltender Join Date: Jul 2005 Exp:	bangs head against wall How many times do I have to say this isn't about one individual saying "Merry Christmas" to another? If Bob says "Merry Christmas" to Mohammed, Mohammed can rightly brush off the fact that Bob is using a Christian greeting because Bob is (a) wishing him well and (b) probably is giving that greeting out of habit of what he has grown up with. Now, if Bob is a known bible-thumping zealot who actually goes out of his way to push his religion, or a xenophobe that would like to see these immigrants go back to the country they came from then maybe he does say "Merry Christmas" for nefarious reasons, but 99.9% of the time it's just a habitual thing. On an individual basis, most people are reasonable and will welcome that the person is wishing them well and disregard the Christian origins of the phrase. HOWEVER, HAVING AN ORGANIZED WORKPLACE EVENT, OR A PUBLIC EVENT/MESSAGE FROM PUBLIC INSTITUTION/FUNDS IS DIFFERENT. They should be inclusive of EVERYONE. I am fine with that bus saying "Merry Christmas" so long as it says "Ramadan Kareem" at the appropriate time of the year as well. And I'd be happy with organizing a Christmas event if my superior had also asked me to organize similar events for each holiday celebrated within our division. I could ask my employees if they are offended with just having a Christmas event while not having something for their religious/cultural holidays. In terms of my employees, I'm sure each and every one of them would say that they are not offended. I don't know how honest a response that would be. First, most of them just don't like to stir the pot. They know that they are in the minority and admitting to something against the majority doesn't play well. "What is Don going to do with this information? Is he going to go to management and say that we can't have a Christmas party because I, Mohammed, feel self-concious about attending an event celebrating a Christian holiday? I don't want to get myself in that kind of trouble!" But secondly, there is that "I know my boss is the head of the social committee and typically organizes the parties, and my boss is a good guy and treats us employees well - it will probably make his life easier if we all just go along with the wishes of the majority". But let's say for the moment that all 14 of my employees, and all 150 people in our division, no matter what their religious upbringing and culture.... every single one of them say with absolute 100% honesty that they have no problem whatsoever with only having a Christmas party. I think that it is more polite and more respectful TO THEM if we are inclusive. As their supervisor, I know these people are really great people and have done some fantastic work over the last year and I'm going to thank them for that work by celebrating someone else's religious holiday? I've heard of several workplaces having "Festivus Parties". Festivus, is the made-up SECULAR holiday that is made up just for having fun. What I like about the idea, is again, it is inclusive. It welcomes everyone. So.... in the end, it's not about a fear of offending Mohammed. It's out of respect for Mohammed as a person that I chose to have a "Holiday Season Party" rather than a "Christmas Party". I WANT to be inclusive and WANT him to feel 1000% welcome. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- I remember when we finished a major project that I put an incredible amount of work into. I poured my heart and soul into that project and we had just delivered it to the client and they loved it. It was a major success. My boss at the time was delighted so he organized a surprise celebration pizza party for all staff involved on the project. He ordered pepperoni, meat-lovers and Hawaiian. He hadn't taken the time to get to know his staff, to know their beliefs and who they are as people to know that one of the key players (myself) was a vegetarian. I left the party. All that pizza was making me hungry and with each sniff of the pizza and grumble in my belly just made me more irate. I think that we, AS THOUGHTFUL AND POLITE PEOPLE, should strive to recognize EVERYONE, including recognizing the things that make us different. One extra pizza would have made a world of difference, but my supervisor had not taken the time to get to know me well enough to include me. Last edited by Devils'Advocate; 12-16-2012 at 08:20 AM.