About these “Invocations!”

I agree, patio dog, that there can be, as you say, "The same sort of discomfort that you have when dining with a religious wing of the extended family and grace is said before meals"

I feel the same way about Jan. 19th. Martin Luther King day.

But, I do not and have not protested the celebration. Black people have the right to honor their secular saint.

And Christians have the right to insist that retail outlets maintain the tradition using Merry CHRISTMAS instead of Happy Holidays.

If it offends anyone,they just have to grin and bear it, just as I grin and bear MLK day.

Of course, retail establishments have largely restored the Merry Christmas tradition since there are many more people who want it retained that those who claim to be offended--The bottom line--You know.

And Christians have the right to insist that retail outlets maintain the tradition using Merry CHRISTMAS instead of Happy Holidays.

Where in the hell does anyone with a brain come off suggesting that Christians have a right to “insist” that anyone do anything…let alone “insist” that a privately owned business acquiesce to their demands to use Merry Christmas rather than Happy Holidays???

It's called the free market, Mr. Apisa. If retailers have been advertising the season as Christmas for years and they switch to Happy Holidays, which some may think is less offensive, you can bet that a strong campaign by those who prefer that retail establishments continue with the MERRY CHRISTMAS tradition, will convince the retail establishment to continue with the old tradition.

No one insists on anything. Pressure groups and individuals tell store owners that they are offended that the Christman Tradition has been replaced by Happy Holidays. In a free market economy where the bottom line rules, you can bet that there will be no change from the Christmas Tradition in the advertising by the retail establishments.

It's called marketing, Mr. Apisa. Entrepreneurs are intensely sensitive to the moods and needs of their customers.

Cheers,Merry Andrew!