Viewpoint - Viewpoint

Recently I read a popular blog that was Anti Christmas (xmas) in the workplace. The Author expressed disdain for several factors, including being “forced” to having a day off and not being able to work; she mentioned her concerns being a minority, and Xmas not being Diverse due to the Religious beliefs and a few other factors. 

So, in defense of the Spirit of the holidays Please allow me my humble opinion - 

The more I think of this, the more I realize that Penelope is right.

Holidays? Any of them, who needs them! Seriously, America is made up and founded of diversity and emigrants right? So why should any of us be forced to take Thanksgiving or Labor Day off? And what about this thing Called 4th of July? And do We REALLY need to celebrate Columbus Day? I mean, he really didn’t "found" the U.S. correct? Shouldn’t we give "those people" who landed on Plymouth Rock more celebrity status.. And,  exactly which President is it that we are celebrating on President’s day??

How Dare they consider shutting down the Banks, Post Offices, Government Institutions and Civil Service for that guy who helped found that thing called the Civil Rights Movement.. Why should a non disabled, white male care about Martin Luther Day anyways? Don’t they realize the problems that having the Banks and post office closed causes the workforce???? I am also sure that the American Indians, the Original Natives of America really would prefer the United States considered their perspective of Thanksgiving; And who knows, next there may even be a holiday for that other guy, what’s his name? Chavez something or the other???

Ah, be darned.. I don’t understand Halloween either… why would a grown man / woman want to play dress up and act goofy, it really irritates me… let’s get rid of that holiday too.. I can’t bare to even consider seeing another orange cookie again.. and hopefully they won’t have any peanuts in them.. No, though I am not allergic, because the few are, we should not allow Anyone to enjoy them at all..

Okay, as a multiracial, traditional Christian, all of this was said tongue in cheek, but with the hope that displays that we in America embrace all of what makes America. Whether that be Jew, Christian, Moslem or even Atheist… The different countries, religions, and beliefs that Make this wonderful country ours. Freedom of Religion does indeed play a part of the founding of this country, just as the Freedom to choose Not to celebrate a religious belief.

What is my biggest gripe? – Why take away something that the Majority of the Population enjoys, or even cherishes, because the Minority has a problem with it? The last time they tried that with Prohibition, they found out it really didn’t work..

Actually, many may not be aware, but in the 17th Century, Christmas was Canceled in England.. it was thought to be a heathen holiday by the puritans. That didn’t last long though.. In America, Christmas was outlawed in Boston for about 20 years; and during the Civil War, the South and North were divided in regards to the holiday. The North considered it to be a sin.. A pagan holiday. For Sure, Santa, Swathing ones home with Wreaths, and colored lights, and materializing the spirit of Xmas with Gifts and many of the many decorations we utilize.. indeed, it is not in light of Christianity. In fact, Christmas has never really been a holiday of Religion and one would never find a reference to it in the bible.

A recent National Survey from Scrips Howard News Service and Ohio University has revealed that 9 out of 10 People in America do not consider Christmas to be a religious holiday but more a Holiday of Community.

So, if we are to ban the xmas holiday due to the word Christ-mas.. I can think of a few other words that could also be considered lethal.. Guys, maybe you can relate — Um… how about Men- opause, or Pre- Men-strual cycle, what about Men-tal illness, and the HIS-terectomy; and would the French, Spanish and other languages stop differentiating Nouns by gender distinctions .. IE – le, la, Un, une! And indeed explain why is a chair a female, and a car male?

Okay, I went off course.. but, gee, how ridiculous do we get in the States? To begrudge many of the people who Actually enjoy a holiday once in a while.. the opportunity to have one, because we don’t agree with it.

Anyways, why can’t we just live and LET LIVE!! If we could all just get along… ah.. well its CHRISTmas, so I guess I am gonna rub the halo of my angel on the tree for good luck, hang some more mistletoe, drink a bunch of Eggnog, and prove to everyone that Flying Reindeer Do Exist, all in the Spirit of Peace!

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ABOUT KAREN MATTONEN, CAC, CSP

Karen Mattonen started a career in Human Resources when she served as a Recruiter for Snelling Corporation. Leveraging her tenure with Snelling, Karen founded Advanced Career Solutions in 1997 focusing on the  HVAC and Mechanical Construction industry. Her reputation for excellence is echoed in the satisfaction of clients and candidates she has serviced nationwide. Furthermore, Karen is esteemed for sharing her expertise in Recruitment Education, Ethics and promoting self-regulation for the Recruiting industry.

She has a new and future-oriented vision of what recruiting can and should become: a profession we can be proud of for its ethical standing, professional conduct and ability to build great organizations. Her doing-well-by-doing-right philosophy is shaking up the status quo in an industry that needs to be shaken. She does this with conviction, leadership, and a distinctive voice that cries out for change.

Outside of the HR community, Karen Mattonen has been cited by Microsoft as a resource in how to use Microsoft Outlook as an ATS. She has also served as the Marketing and Public Relations Director for the 3^rd largest city in Utah.

Her passionate and tireless advocacy has led her to create HireCentrix - The Pulse of H.R, Regulation, Retention, Recruiting and Risk Management www.hirecentrix.com.  Hirecentrix is a company dedicated to providing training to the HR, recruiting and staffing industries, which includes a special focus on the ethical and legal dimensions through offering a full service resource for individuals to share and communicate, obtain current and accurate information, acquire and provide education and learning within the quickly expanding, diverse and rapidly changing Recruiting and Human Resource climate.

Karen has achieved accreditation as a California Accredited Consultant (CAC) through California Staffing Professionals. She has also gained her Certified Staffing Professional Certificate (CSP) through American Staffing Professionals. (www.americanstaffing.net)

Click here to reach Karen via email.

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