Puzzling Americans

Ford vs. Chevy...

I don't know why, but I often find myself in the middle of this argument.

Gunny


"Ricter" wrote in message
...
Ford vs. Chevy...

"Dave F" wrote:

Agreed.

This question reminds me of something a Swiss friend asked while visiting in
New York: "What topics should I avoid talking about with Americans?"

To which I responded: religion, politics, the Middle East, differences
between Europe and America, and, basically anything other than American
football and baseball. And even those two are dangerous."

We Americans are too easily offended.

Dave
--
Brevity is the soul of wit.


"Ken Sheridan" wrote:

Doug:

Brilliant!

I think I'm probably in trouble, though. I did wish someone here, who I
suspect may live somewhere your side of the pond, a Happy Christmas this
morning. I've received Christmas cards from Jewish and Hindu friends, and,
despite being an atheist myself, have sent a vast number (alright, I
confess,
my wife sends them, but she's even more ungodly than I am) I shall continue
to wish people a Happy Christmas. Its odd that Merry Christmas should be
favoured, though, as to me this would seem to emphasise the bacchanalian
nature of the festival rather than the religious one. Knowing you to be
such
a beer and wine aficionado I suspect Christmas might be pretty bacchanalian
in the Steele householdG.

Ken Sheridan
Stafford, England

"Douglas J. Steele" wrote:

There are a number of people in both the US and Canada (and doubtlessly
other countries) who feel it is inappropriate to wish Merry Christmas
anymore, since a sizable percentage of the population doesn't celebrate
Christmas, or celebrates something instead of Christmas. Because of these
"political correctness" zealots, trees have been erected, removed and
reerected in many public places. (I've also seen discussions saying
"Happy
Holidays" may not be appropriate either, since Holiday is derived from
Holy
Day, and it's not a Holy Day for some. Proponents of that argument seem
to
prefer "Seasonal Greetings")

Of course, their comments could also have been derived from the fact that
in
North America, the vast majority who do celebrate Christmas use "Merry
Christmas", not "Happy Christmas".

In any case, Wayne, please accept with no obligation, implied or
implicit,
my wish for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible,
politically
correct, non-addictive, low stress, gender-neutral celebration of the
winter
solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the
religious persuasion of your choice, as well as the secular practices of
your choice, but with full respect for the religious/secular persuasions
and/or
traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or
secular
traditions at all.

And further, please accept my wish for a fiscally successful, personally
fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the
generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for
the
calendar of choice of other cultures whose contribution to our diverse
society has helped make this country great (not to imply that my country
is
necessarily greater than any other country, and without regard to the
race,
creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, veteran status or
sexual orientation of the wisher, wishee or their third party
beneficiaries).

These wishes are limited to the customary and usual good tidings for a
period of approximately one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent
holiday greeting, whichever comes first.

Use of the term "Holiday" herein is not intended to, nor shall it be
considered to be, limited to Judeo-Christian celebrations or observances,
nor to such activities of any organized or ad hoc religious community
group,
individual or belief (or lack thereof). In particular, the word "holiday"
is
used herein without reference to its etymology.

Note: By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This
greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal, and is revocable ab
initio at the sole discretion of the wisher at any time, for any reason
or
for no reason.

This greeting is freely transferable provided that there is no alteration
to
the original greeting text. Any transfer is to be at the risk of the
transferor who, by making such transfer, thereby agrees to hold the
wishee
harmless from any and all adverse consequences resulting from such
transfer.

This greeting implies no promise by the wisher to actually take any
action
or fail to take any action to implement any of the wishes for the wishee
her/himself or others, or responsibility for the consequences which may
arise from the implementation or non-implementation of same.

This greeting is void where prohibited by law, custom or policy and is
offered irrespective of any card, hard copy greeting or embarrassing
self-indulgent letter summarizing achievements in 2006, however
mendacious,
which may or may not have been purveyed by myself or any member of my
extended family.

Best (sorry, reasonably endeavored) Wishes.

--
Doug Steele, Microsoft Access MVP
http://I.Am/DougSteele
(no e-mails, please!)



"Wayne-I-M" wrote in message
...
Sorry - nothing at all to do with access - unless you are networked
with
us
(MikeCCC ??)

Can someone explain the difference to between Happy Holidays and Happy
Christmas.

I placed a welcome timed screen on our 5 DB's to say happy christmas
and I
had a number of mails (all from USA) to say it should be happy
holidays.

Why? My holdays next year are in August (going to Spain)

Some of my friends are not christians and they still say happy
christmas
becuase it "is" christmas in the same way as I will say happy new year
on
Feb
18 in 2007 to any chinese people

Just thought I would ask

--
Buon Natale, Happy Chritmas.

Wayne
Manchester, England.
Scusate,ma il mio Inglese fa schiffo :-)
Percio se non ci siamo capiti, mi mandate un
messagio e provero di spiegarmi meglio.

"'69 Camaro" AM
wrote:

GAAACCCCKKKKK!!!!!!

Now them's fighting words!

Why do think there's no wall to keep the Americans out? It's because we're
_all_ Americans! ;-)

Nah, it's because Americans think it's cold and snowy up here. And us
socialist Canucks don't want to go down there were it's too hot.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm

Wayne-I-M wrote in
:

I am sorrow if my light hearted question in anyway led to your
being offended. I am sure that everyone who answered also did so
in a light hearted way.

Where I come from and where I live now it is the costom to
celebrate this time of year and so I really hope you will not feel
too upset and simply feel able to join in with the rest of the
replyers to this post and wish everyone happyness.

Don't use the term "politically correct" and then I won't be
offended.

And don't assume that just because you don't understand why someone
uses certain terms that those terms are stupid.

--
David W. Fenton http://www.dfenton.com/
usenet at dfenton dot com http://www.dfenton.com/DFA/

David,

With due respect!



The fact that those of us who disagree with your "politically correct"
approach, is neither a cause for an offence, nor does it means that we don't
understand it. You are free to be politically correct if you so choose the
same way I can be politically incorrect.



As a non-Christian living in a country where the majority of the population
are Christians, I quite enjoy the Christmas spirit, albeit I don't celebrate
it. I have no problem greeting or being greeted "Merry Christmas". More so,
any "Happy Holiday" (or such like) cards I get, go straight to the bin.



I truly resent the PC brigade deciding on my behalf that I must to be
offended by "Merry Christmas", well I don't!, whether you would like me to
or not.



There is a greater cause to feel threaten by the PC Brigade than the other
way around. The PC Brigade, the "Thoughts Police" in my book, is based on
totally misguided premises. The notion of "Diversity", "Multi-Culturalizm"
and alike are nothing less than "Cultural Apartheid".



Merry Christmas

Jacob





"David W. Fenton" wrote in message
. 1...
"Douglas J. Steele" wrote in
:

There are a number of people in both the US and Canada (and
doubtlessly other countries) who feel it is inappropriate to wish
Merry Christmas anymore, since a sizable percentage of the
population doesn't celebrate Christmas, or celebrates something
instead of Christmas. Because of these "political correctness"
zealots, trees have been erected, removed and reerected in many
public places. (I've also seen discussions saying "Happy Holidays"
may not be appropriate either, since Holiday is derived from Holy
Day, and it's not a Holy Day for some. Proponents of that argument
seem to prefer "Seasonal Greetings")

Happy holidays, season's greetings, whatever.

I am shocked that people don't think about the fact that these
wishes are for the people they are being extended to, not for the
person doing the "wishing."

I first started to have to think about this in college, when I sent
out "Christmas cards" to friends at school. Turns out some of them
were Jewish (and some I didn't know), so I chose cards with "Happy
Holidays" or "Seasons Greetings" instead of "Merry Christmas" in the
hope that I wouldn't offend anyone, but would still be able to
extend my wish for a good holiday season.

I celebrated Christmas, myself, but choosing the wording of my cards
carefully was no denial of Christmas -- it was just an
acknowledgment that I lived with people who had beliefs different
than my own, and reflected the fact that I didn't want to offend
those people.

A couple of years ago I was at a client just before the Jewish high
holy days, and one of the people there said "Would it be appropriate
to wish you a Happy New Year?" I answered "I'm not Jewish, but I
appreciate the sentiment!"

This was a different situation, as it was a time of year that not
everyone celebrates a holiday, so there was no inclusive greeting
available. But he didn't just wish me "Happy New Year" but
elliptically asked if I was Jewish (I'm often mistaken for Jewish
because of my big nose, but most Jewish people don't make that
mistake, since it's big but not a "Jewish" kind of big . He was
careful not to offend and I appreciated the sentiment.

I resent the accusation that anyone who cares about the beliefs of
others and simply wants to avoid offending them is somehow doing it
just to be "politically correct." I live in a diverse world and I
don't believe in imposing my own cultural practices on others, and
that's all that's reflected in my choice of holiday cards without
"Merry Christmas" on them. Saying that I (or anyone else) is doing
it from some ill-defined sense of "political correctness" is an
accusation of complete insincerity, implying that instead of
actually caring about other people and choosing one's greetings
appropriately, one is instead simply caving to peer pressure or
something.

I find that implicit accusation of insincerity highly offensive. I
know you don't mean it, though, but you should consider the meaning
of throwing around the term "politically correct," as it has only
ever been used in modern discourse as a stick for the right to beat
up on the left, simply because the right feels threatened by
diversity.

At least, in the US that's the case.

Of course, their comments could also have been derived from the
fact that in North America, the vast majority who do celebrate
Christmas use "Merry Christmas", not "Happy Christmas".

Seems to me to be the obvious conclusion there!

--
David W. Fenton http://www.dfenton.com/
usenet at dfenton dot com http://www.dfenton.com/DFA/

Brilliant Douglas
:-))))

"Douglas J. Steele" wrote in message
...
There are a number of people in both the US and Canada (and doubtlessly
other countries) who feel it is inappropriate to wish Merry Christmas
anymore, since a sizable percentage of the population doesn't celebrate
Christmas, or celebrates something instead of Christmas. Because of these
"political correctness" zealots, trees have been erected, removed and
reerected in many public places. (I've also seen discussions saying "Happy
Holidays" may not be appropriate either, since Holiday is derived from
Holy Day, and it's not a Holy Day for some. Proponents of that argument
seem to prefer "Seasonal Greetings")

Of course, their comments could also have been derived from the fact that
in North America, the vast majority who do celebrate Christmas use "Merry
Christmas", not "Happy Christmas".

In any case, Wayne, please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit,
my wish for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible,
politically correct, non-addictive, low stress, gender-neutral celebration
of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable
traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, as well as the
secular practices of your choice, but with full respect for the
religious/secular persuasions and/or
traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular
traditions at all.

And further, please accept my wish for a fiscally successful, personally
fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the
generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for the
calendar of choice of other cultures whose contribution to our diverse
society has helped make this country great (not to imply that my country
is necessarily greater than any other country, and without regard to the
race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, veteran status
or sexual orientation of the wisher, wishee or their third party
beneficiaries).

These wishes are limited to the customary and usual good tidings for a
period of approximately one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent
holiday greeting, whichever comes first.

Use of the term "Holiday" herein is not intended to, nor shall it be
considered to be, limited to Judeo-Christian celebrations or observances,
nor to such activities of any organized or ad hoc religious community
group, individual or belief (or lack thereof). In particular, the word
"holiday" is used herein without reference to its etymology.

Note: By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This
greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal, and is revocable ab
initio at the sole discretion of the wisher at any time, for any reason or
for no reason.

This greeting is freely transferable provided that there is no alteration
to the original greeting text. Any transfer is to be at the risk of the
transferor who, by making such transfer, thereby agrees to hold the wishee
harmless from any and all adverse consequences resulting from such
transfer.

This greeting implies no promise by the wisher to actually take any action
or fail to take any action to implement any of the wishes for the wishee
her/himself or others, or responsibility for the consequences which may
arise from the implementation or non-implementation of same.

This greeting is void where prohibited by law, custom or policy and is
offered irrespective of any card, hard copy greeting or embarrassing
self-indulgent letter summarizing achievements in 2006, however
mendacious, which may or may not have been purveyed by myself or any
member of my extended family.

Best (sorry, reasonably endeavored) Wishes.

--
Doug Steele, Microsoft Access MVP
http://I.Am/DougSteele
(no e-mails, please!)



"Wayne-I-M" wrote in message
...
Sorry - nothing at all to do with access - unless you are networked with
us
(MikeCCC ??)

Can someone explain the difference to between Happy Holidays and Happy
Christmas.

I placed a welcome timed screen on our 5 DB's to say happy christmas and
I
had a number of mails (all from USA) to say it should be happy holidays.

Why? My holdays next year are in August (going to Spain)

Some of my friends are not christians and they still say happy christmas
becuase it "is" christmas in the same way as I will say happy new year on
Feb
18 in 2007 to any chinese people

Just thought I would ask

--
Buon Natale, Happy Chritmas.

Wayne
Manchester, England.
Scusate,ma il mio Inglese fa schiffo :-)
Percio se non ci siamo capiti, mi mandate un
messagio e provero di spiegarmi meglio.

Hi Wayne,

Don't you worry about the US of A (only). The PC Brigade is live and well
downunder in the land of Oz.

How about the word "partner"?
Do they mean my business partner, sex partner or my wife?
They could be three different persons, you know :-)

Happy Holiday to you and your partner g
Jacob


"Wayne-I-M" wrote in message
...
Sorry - nothing at all to do with access - unless you are networked with
us
(MikeCCC ??)

Can someone explain the difference to between Happy Holidays and Happy
Christmas.

I placed a welcome timed screen on our 5 DB's to say happy christmas and I
had a number of mails (all from USA) to say it should be happy holidays.

Why? My holdays next year are in August (going to Spain)

Some of my friends are not christians and they still say happy christmas
becuase it "is" christmas in the same way as I will say happy new year on
Feb
18 in 2007 to any chinese people

Just thought I would ask

--
Buon Natale, Happy Chritmas.

Wayne
Manchester, England.
Scusate,ma il mio Inglese fa schiffo :-)
Percio se non ci siamo capiti, mi mandate un
messagio e provero di spiegarmi meglio.

Nah, it's because Americans think it's cold and snowy up here.

I have news for them. It's cold and snowy down here, too! (At least it will be
in a few weeks.)

And us
socialist Canucks don't want to go down there were it's too hot.

If you bring a keg of Doug's beer with you, you'll never notice. :-)

Gunny


"Tony Toews" wrote in message
...
"'69 Camaro" AM
wrote:

GAAACCCCKKKKK!!!!!!

Now them's fighting words!

Why do think there's no wall to keep the Americans out? It's because we're
_all_ Americans! ;-)

Nah, it's because Americans think it's cold and snowy up here. And us
socialist Canucks don't want to go down there were it's too hot.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm

"JK" wrote:

How about the word "partner"?
Do they mean my business partner, sex partner or my wife?
They could be three different persons, you know :-)

chuckle Or six different persons. In whatever combination you
choose.

Happy Holiday to you and your partner g

Bah humbug.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm

"'69 Camaro" AM wrote in
message ...
And us
socialist Canucks don't want to go down there were it's too hot.

If you bring a keg of Doug's beer with you, you'll never notice. :-)

Hey! What makes you think I'm willing to share? g

--
Doug Steele, Microsoft Access MVP
http://I.Am/DougSteele
(no private e-mails, please)

Hi, Doug.

Hey! What makes you think I'm willing to share? g

You're very generous and you wouldn't allow a fellow Canadian to leave town
without knowing what he's _really_ coming back for, Doug's famous beer. :-)

Gunny


"Douglas J. Steele" wrote in message
...
"'69 Camaro" AM wrote in
message ...
And us
socialist Canucks don't want to go down there were it's too hot.

If you bring a keg of Doug's beer with you, you'll never notice. :-)

Hey! What makes you think I'm willing to share? g

--
Doug Steele, Microsoft Access MVP
http://I.Am/DougSteele
(no private e-mails, please)