That, and whenever else will you be able to hear the placating resonant voice of Bing Crosby singing such classics as : White Christmas, or: It’s Beginning To Look A Lot LIke Christmas? 
Well, finally someone with the guts to say it! I applaud you.
You’ve got my support!
Guts? I don’t know that it takes any particular courage to be against Christmas and the sentiments associated with it. Go for it. Who cares? Don’t celebrate it. In fact, go all out:
Refuse to take the holiday off work - your boss will love that.
Turn down opportunities to get together with family and friends.
Overlook the needy all year instead of just the other 11 months.
Return a gift kindly given.
There are many positive aspects of this season for Christians and non-Christians alike and I say anything that softens a heart is a good thing.
Merry Christmas!
Susan
Gerry, I can’t help but notice your lack of an avatar. Feel free to use this one… at least for the season at hand!
Have a holly-jolly Christmas!
David
Gerry:
I’m with you on “It’s a Wonderful Life”, but a little maudlin senimentality is cool. In a few days we’ll all be back to the grim realities of everyday life. (and I’m an optimist) No need to rush things.
Aww! You should ask him sweetly, “Did you see some presents around here? Some people left me some little gifts on your desk while you were gone, but someone must have moved them because I can’t find them.”
Hmmm… Who did you intend to put ino the Wicker Man?
Sorry to come in so late, but you’re not alone. Whether you think its a grand religious occasion, or the most egregious celebration of rampant Western materialism, either way there’s way too much smarmy sentimentality. I would point out that there’s something worse than Jimmy Stewart’s tear-jerker, though. Every Xmas eve when i was a kid, NBC used to broadcast a horrible operatic disaster called “Amahl and the Night Visitors” - sort of the little drummer boy set to bad music. It was the only TV channel we could get in those days.
I still cringe at the thought of that thing.
(I still plan to watch Holiday Inn tomorrow night, though.)
damnit, aderyn cut the cheese…peeeeeeeewww.. 
mmm…brie.
And I had no idea that a humbug looked like that. You learn a new thing every day it seems
(edited for a less bloody trout bashing)
Lots of people work holidays, not because they want to but because they have to. Nurses, police, firefighters, EMT workers, ect.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could help those in need all the months of the year, and keep in mind “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving”? And not taking our loved ones for granted, remembering that a holiday is not required to have fellowship and show love.
Gee, Gerry, It sounds as if you are having an even worse season than me. I am so poor this year that I can’t even give my kids money to go shop for each other ($20 each is too much right now), almost all of my family is gone (as in deceased) and we are estranged from my in-laws,(for very good reasons)… it’s tough. It’s not anywhere near the ‘stereotypical’ Happy Christmas, even if we fully embraced that (which we don’t, either materially or religiously)… but we have do each other, enough to eat, and love to get us through… if that seems too maudlin to you, you need some better contact with mortality and love, guy… hope you get it in the gentlest of ways.
Edited to add… Then again, maybe what you mean is that people should be feeling the genuine love and compassion that are suposedly brought out at this time of year all through the year… that pretending that once a year is enough to hold the world together is not getting the real message… That I could certainly agree with.
May the season find you warm of heart and hearth… whether you like it or not! LOL!
Uh oh! I think Gerry needs a GROUP HUG! Come on, everyone . . . let’s gather round and give Gerry . . . don’t be SHY, Gerry! We’re your FRIENDS! . . . a greaaaaat biiiiiig SQUEEEEEZE!
Now, doesn’t that feel better? I know I feel better!
(I think you have a point, Gerry, in that there is a seasonal frenzy of materialism and somewhat maudlin sentimentality. A happy medium would be good . . . )
While eating supper, I was lucky enough to hear Bart Simpson telling his little sister about the true meaning of Christmas:
“Christmas is the time of year when people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ.”
I’ve often thought that I would like to do a little something for Buddha’s birthday, but shifting dates between the solar and lunar calendars makes it a bit tricky to keep track of. I think that Buddhists should learn from the Christians and move Buddha’s birthday to correspond to Christmas, and his Day of Enlightenment to correspond to Easter.
Having Buddha’s birthday on Dec. 25th would guarantee that most Western Buddhists would have that day off from work and school, and they could also take part in Spring Break festivities for his Day of Enlightenment. Then it would just be a short jump to have a Buddha’s Birthday tree, with presents, and Day of Enlightenment Eggs hidden by the Day of Enlightenment Bunny. “Day of Enlightenment” is a bit of a mouthful, so we probably need a shorter name for that. Still, I’m sure everyone can see the benefits. We could have all those good old songs, like “I’m Dreamin’ of a White Buddha’s Birthday”, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Buddha’s Birthday”, and so on.
LOLOLOLOLOL!!! 
Hmmm. I think that happens in late August … http://www.burningman.com
Amen.
You missed my point.
Yes, it would be wonderful. My point was that most of us DON’T help those in need all the months of the year (ask your local food bank) and we do take our loved ones for granted. If there is a season of the year that helps us remember these things, I say we’re better off for having it.
Susan
What terrible night’s sleep I had last night - I had the strangest dream where I had to visit my past, present and future and I met that business partner I swindled years ago. Oh twas horrible…HORRIBLE! I’ve changed I tell you…CHANGED! Merry Christmas everyone!!
Gerryooge