Hilmar,

Well, not knowing what your particualr holidays or expectations or perspective are I couldn't say.

My point is that I try and understand from the other person's point of view. For example, Merry Christmas here is more of a seasonal greeting (culturally) rather than a specific demand that someone else acknowldege the birth of Jesus of Nazareth (whom I consider to be the foretold Jewish Christ or Messiah). Actually, it might as well be "Happy Materialism" for that matter. LOL

The problem is when we expect OTHERS to follow OUR demands but not the other way around. In this case it really is better to give than receive. That is, I will choose to FIRST acknowledge you, not forcing you to follow my expectations. Lead by example is another way to say this I suppose.

Too many people want to litigate OTHERS to HAVE to follow their position without giving that considerationas well. The forced secularism in our culture in the name of tolerance is just one such example. Why athiests have to spend so much effort over something they don't believe in anyway baffles me (as an example). They don't like the fact that I believe? Fine. Don't force me to not express (remove freedom of speech) my position just because you don't agree. I tolerate your non-god thoughts - tolerate my god-thoughts. I don't care if you think I'm a fool. *shrug* A real one-sided position all too often is seems.

I have no desire to force someone to believe something THEY choose not to believe. I just object to their attemts to silence me. I am not trying to silence them but often they don't seem to 'get' fairness. again, *shrug*.

Best,

DD


>>Hilmar, Dragan,
>>
>>When someone says something like this to me the best response I have found is to simply say, "Thank you.", and let it go at that.
>
>Thanks for the feedback.
>
>Sure, I know that the Christmas greeting (for example) is given with the best of intentions, but yet, I sometimes have my doubts what to reply. Instead of Christmas we have our own holidays, and even New Year is in the Spring equinox (in the northern hemisphere).
>
>"Thank you", of course, is a good option. Another good option, I assume, would be "the same to you" (or how is that expressed in English?).