I've heard far more people whining about the war on christmas than I have ever heard declaring it.
Tiresome, childish nonsense really.
Let's clarify something. Firstly I don't know about how things are in the States, but I do know here in Canada I've seen examples of things I've mentioned.
Candidly I don't think anyone is seriously offended by Christmas itself. I do think there are some folks with way too much time on their hands and/or they're over-thinking the idea that Christmas might offend someone and come up with these ideas to downplay Christmas.
I do know some if not many folks (myself included) who are put off and perhaps even offended to some degree by the crass commercialization of the holiday. As I mentioned before if the big retailers could utilize Christ to sell more crap then they'd do it in a second.
The situation here in Ontario makes me think our society has lost a sense of perspective along the way. And I don't expect Americans to get this because their experience is different. Up until about twenty years or so ago stores were not allowed to be open for business on December 26th as Boxing Day was a recognized statutory holiday. What this meant was that we experienced an actual kind of seasonal holiday of two days off in succession, and folks could have some appreciated downtown after the run up of the holiday selling season. Folks could travel and visit friends and family. And if it happened that Christmas fell near a weekend then some could enjoy three to four days off. It was a nice down time for many. The only ones who could still work were people like police, fire fighters, doctors and nurses as well as some restaurants (if they so wished), some movie theatres, some convenience stores and gas stations. Up until things changed the big "Boxing Day" sales event happened on Dec. 27th.
But two things changed. Firstly businesses lobbied the government to allow them to be open on Dec. 26th claiming unfair competition, which was complete bullshit because convenience stores, a few movie theatres and gas stations were in no way in competition with the vast majority of retailers. And the false notion that no one would be forced to work Boxing Day was quickly dispelled. The next thing that happened was that our economy, like the States, became more retail oriented and less manufacture oriented. And so more and more people were pressed into having to work on Dec. 26th. And to add insult to injury the retailers started opening earlier and earlier. Now many folks in retail have to curtail the one day they do get off (Christmas) because they have to be at work at something like 4-5AM for store openings of 6AM. And if Dec. 26th falls on a Sunday (such as this year) then too fucking bad for you.
I've been working in retail for eleven years now and I want out partly because I've come to loathe this time of year in certain respects. For me there is no Christmas holiday anymore because it's just added stress and pressure with no reward and no time off. I and many others get less time for ourselves and our families than you get on a normal weekend. It's
bullshit and I openly despise the corporate and government fucks who orchestrated this whole scenario. And the ones who set this up are probably scratching their balls in bed and at home with their families while the rest of us poor shits are dragging our tired asses into work at 4AM.
And you can believe that if they could get you to work on Christmas Day they'd fucking well do it.
Yes, I get paid for it, but I'd be willing to forego that in exchange for much needed and appreciated down time. And no one can sell me the nonsense that consumers appreciate getting to shop on the 26th because they could just as easily shop on the 27th, which is what anyone who wanted to did.
The other thing is that I think the Boxing Day (or more like Boxing Week) sales just undermines pre Christmas sales because a lot of folks hold back thinking they can get better deals the day after. But the truth is the majority of what goes on special sale on Boxing Day is junk. They're "door crasher" specials for a reason, just to get you into the store.
Frankly I think the American approach could well be better with their Black Friday Thanksgiving sales that kicks off the Christmas shopping season.
and
at the same time*
