'Merry Christmas' bus message offends man

[rug]

First posted: Monday, December 17, 2012 11:26 AM EST
Updated: Monday, December 17, 2012 01:08 PM EST
QMI Agency

A Saskatoon man has complained to the city because he says he's offended by the words "Merry Christmas" that appear on the electronic destination signs on city buses.

Ashu M.G. Solo says the "Merry Christmas" that appears on the displays of buses on two different routes violates the separation of state and religion, imposes religious beliefs on people who don't share them, and gives preferential treatment to one religion over all other religions."

Solo wrote a complaint last Wednesday to the city manager and two managers at Saskatoon Transit. He followed up with a note this weekend to city councillors and the mayor.

"I don't want my taxpayer money funding city buses that promote a religion I don't believe in," Solo wrote.

http://www.torontosun.com/2012/12/17/merry-christmas-bus-message-offends-man

[LeftishBrit]

1. 'Merry Christmas' isn't really promoting the religion, though, is it?

Most secular atheists whom I know do celebrate Christmas just as a family holiday. One of my first Christmas cards this year came from a Muslim friend, while an Orthodox Jewish friend wished me a 'Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas'.

[rug]

2. It really is as much a cutural thing as it is religious.

Do you send out any cards? I stopped a while ago, more out of laziness than anything else.

[LeftishBrit]

11. Yes - we normally don't do a really 'big Christmas'; but we do like sending and receiving cards.

[AlbertCat]

3. It's a religious thing...

since the word "Christ" is actually in it, it's not a cultural thing unless your talking Christian culture....which is religious...duh!

"Happy Holidays" is fine and covers the multiple holidays surrounding the Winter Solstice and the New Year.

Christianity is not a default position.... not anymore....

[rug]

4. Why don't you repost this Wednesday or Thursday?

Merry Christmas.

[AlbertCat]

8. Why don't you repost this Wednesday or Thursday?

Because you've already come up with (what you think) is a snappy, tho' lame as usual, answer.... which of course has nothing to do with what I typed.

I didn't deny that Christmas exists. It does..... and is Christian and religious, not just cultural.

Or is no one going to church those days? Or singing carols about god and Jesus, or displaying angels? I suppose you think a creche is just cultural.

[rug]

9. I thought you may want to summon Woden and Thor to support your assertion.

[mr blur]

12. Weak, even for you nt

[rug]

13. Typical, especialy for you.

[struggle4progress]

5. The taxpayer funding argument is extraordinarily weak in this case: the cost

of the electronic destination route message is certainly de minimis and probably works out to a small fraction of a cent per bus

I don't think I'd have a problem if the buses regularly recognized a variety of religious holidays. But if no holiday other than Christmas is ever noted, then I'd have a problem with it

[cbayer]

6. Agree and there doesn't seem to be any readily available information

about what they do on other holidays.

[struggle4progress]

7. 'Merry Christmas' message to stay on Saskatoon buses

By CBC News, cbc.ca, Updated: December 17, 2012 8:50 AM
Politicians in Saskatoon have decided to keep showing the message "Merry Christmas" on transit city buses, although they will also be showing additional messages of "Seasons Greetings" and "Happy Holidays" ... http://news.ca.msn.com/local/saskatchewan/merry-christmas-message-to-stay-on-saskatoon-buses

'Merry Christmas' to stay on Saskatoon buses 158
LISA MRAZEK, QMI AGENCY
FIRST POSTED: MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2012 11:26 AM EST
UPDATED: MONDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2012 06:50 PM EST
... "It's regular operations - Merry Christmas will stay on the buses - I don't think you will see that change in any years to come," Coun. Darren Hill said. "But, we have also asked for our cultural diversity and race relations committee to review it and see if there is the need for a policy or some change in operations" ... Simply having 'Merry Christmas' on a bus does not restrict us from recognizing other holiday celebrations and other faith-based celebrations." Hill said he has received hundreds of calls and e-mails on the issue and all but one person supported Christmas messages ... http://www.torontosun.com/2012/12/17/merry-christmas-bus-message-offends-man

[EvilAL]

10. bah.. This guy has to learn

to pick his battles. If they had Jesus up there with bible quotes or some shit, yeah, but merry christmas? What about when people start saying "happy holidays" offends them? Anyway, people gonna do what people gonna do, I just laugh.

[okasha]

14. The buses in my city

carry messages that recognize most holidays throughout the year. Right now, some have "Merry Christmas," and others "Happy Holidays."
Non-Christian that I am, though, I somehow can't get all worked up about this.

I guess I'll just have to wish Mr. Solo an "UN-merry Solstice," since wishing him a merry one seems to offend him. Bah humbug, and all that.

[Fumesucker]

15. Running Back to Saskatoon