This is just the sort of thing that illustrates the fine, upstanding, hard-working Legislators we have in Montgomery: House urges businesses to say "Merry Christmas"
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — When customers enter the restaurant and truck stop owned by state Rep. DuWayne Bridges each December they are greeted with an enthusiastic "Merry Christmas."
Bridges, R-Valley, wants to encourage other businesses and organizations to say "Merry Christmas" on signs and in greetings to customers rather than using the phrase "Happy Holidays."
The Alabama House on Thursday adopted a resolution, sponsored by Bridges, to encourage use of "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays."
Bridges said he is concerned that many businesses and organizations have dropped the word Christmas and are using the generic greeting "Happy Holidays."
"The whole purpose of the season is to recognize Christ and his birthday. I think we should always honor Christ at that time of year," Bridges said.
The resolution now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
Look, I'm a Christian, and although not a very good example of one, I really don't get all wrapped around the axle when someone wishes me a Happy Holiday. Or, for that matter, if someone says Happy Hannukah. I think it's silly to call a Christmas tree a "holiday" tree, but it's just as silly to sit down there on Goat Hill worrying about what business owners say to their customers, and even more so to get so wound up in it that you think you have to soak up a day's pay to come up with this fool bill.
Hey, DuWayne--if you really think what you're saying is true, why make it an encouragement? Why not make it mandatory? Better yet--why don't you sponsor a resolution to rescind the resolution that gave Alabama its own official Christmas spirit?
Or better yet still, why don't you get off your butt and get to work.
I am paying you, after all.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at February 2, 2006 03:53 PMMy piddling experience for what passes for leadership in Alabama isn't too heartening, either.
Where do these people come from?
I keep saying I associate with lovely, intelligent, hard-working Alabamans on a daily basis.
And yes, I ask the same questions at home.
Posted by: Janis at February 2, 2006 04:38 PMI don't know--I guess we have better things to do than trying to elect anyone with sense. At least this way, we can keep them corralled down in Montgomery so they can't get out and hurt themselves.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at February 2, 2006 04:56 PMI dunno, I don't think you're such a bad example of a Christian. You want bad examples, a few come to mind - Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Pat Robertson.
Wait a sec - you haven't called for the assassination of a head of a sovereign country, have you? Other than Iran? That might change my opinion.
Posted by: skinnydan at February 3, 2006 08:43 AMDid you hear that the entire Alabama Legislature went on vacation to Florida thus raising our average in-state IQ by 5% points?
Posted by: Larry Anderson at February 3, 2006 09:39 AMThank goodness the gubment is looking out for us.
Phew.
And I believe the state spirit has also been retracted. Something about business license and money faux pas.
Posted by: Kenny Smith at February 3, 2006 09:50 AMWell, thanks, Dan--but I don't know if those guys are quite the standard I'm shooting for. As for assassinations, I think the right answer is to pray for bad people and hope God will allow them time to change before it's too late. Because, you know, sometimes bad things happen. Like JDAMs raining from the sky.
Larry, is there any chance of them staying?
And Kenny, there is some talk about removing the booze as a symbol, because the guy who owns the company got in trouble with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. But as of right now, it's still official. From Wikipedia: "In April 2004, both houses of the Alabama legislature voted to override the veto of Governor Bob Riley and adopted a resolution, now known as Act of Alabama 2004-97 naming "Conecuh Ridge Alabama Fine Whiskey" the "official state spirit". For a few months it was sold in Alabama's 147 ABC State Liquor Stores and privately-owned package stores in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Florida. During 2004, citing distribution difficulties and limited demand for the boutique-priced liquor, the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Board stopped stocking Conecuh Ridge in its stores, but would still take special-orders for customers who requested it.
In December 2004, state liquor agents charged Kenny May with misdemeanor violations in two counties. He pled guilty to charges of selling liquor without a license, possessing excessive quantities of liquor in a dry county, and selling alcohol to a minor. The Control Board immediately moved to revoke Conecuh Ridge's distribution licence, meaning that once stores sold out of their existing stock, the state's official spirit could no longer be sold in Alabama. It is presumed that when the legislature begins its next session, that the "State Spirit" resolution will also be repealed."
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at February 3, 2006 10:31 AM