The season of Goodwill.

[icebluenothing]

Gaaaah! Okay, I knew they were opening a new Goodwill store right here in Shoreline, just four miles away from my house, and not even two miles from windbourne's house -- over 40,000 square feet, the "second largest" Goodwill store, in fact (don't know whether they mean in Washington or nationally) -- but I didn't know they were already open

Comments

[darkmane]

Actually I think the best thing is for people to wish other people what ever the hell they want and not let right or left wing idealogs harass them into doing differently.

Nothing against you, I just think the whole debate is stupid and people should be left alone.

[icebluenothing]

Oh, not taken personally; I'm just jokin'. I don't have a horse in this race.

[kickaha]

Unless they're Jehovah's Witnesses, of course. :)

[icebluenothing]

Well, yes. :) or Jewish, or Muslim, or -- I'm sure there are other not-uncommon monotheistic religions that don't bother to name their deity ....

[georgmi]

I probably wouldn't wish someone a merry Christmas. (Generally what I do when someone wishes me such is smile sickly and nod.) Of course, I also wouldn't respond to "God bless you" with "You too", so maybe I'm not the best model.

Though I imagine there must be people out there who believe in God but don't celebrate Christmas. :)

[icebluenothing]

Really? Oh, I'll cheerfully wish someone a Merry Christmas; to me, it's just not a religious holiday any more, no matter what it started as, so I just don't really care. Christmas is about Santa, not Jesus.

[georgmi]

I'm screwed both ways--raised in a Christian household, I get immensely offended at the overcommercialization of what was intended (by somebody at some point, anyway) as a spiritual holiday. So I can't enjoy the party atmosphere.

And yet, as a thinking atheist, I can't enjoy the spiritual side of the holiday either, because I have consciously, and at some cost personally, rejected *everything that Christmas stands for* on that side.

There are family issues and unasked-for obligation issues as well, not to mention all those things about which I do not speak. My defects are profound, deep, complex, and mutually-reinforcing. It all adds up to a pretty miserable holiday experience for me and those who are forced to be around me. (I'm incapable of the level of social dishonesty to pretend I'm having a good time when I am Most. Certainly. Not. Even though I know it's very much my problem, and not that of those around me.)

(ETA commas around "personally", to show its intended association)

[icebluenothing]

Oh, and I don't know *how* I'd respond to "God bless you;" it's not generally aimed in my direction, so I think I'd probably go with the "smile sickly and nod" approach.

I mean seriously, what the hell do you *say* to that? "I hope my imaginary friend will use His magic powers for your benefit!" "Umm -- thanks?"

[calandria]

Or if they meant the whole holiday season rather than just Christmas :)

[icebluenothing]

Yeah, that's generally what I mean when I say Happy Holidays. :)

[morgyne]

Ramen!