Fla. woman claims 'Merry Christmas' got her fired

By MELISSA NELSON, Associated Press Writer Melissa Nelson, Associated Press Writer – Fri Dec 26

PENSACOLA, Fla. – A Christian woman claims she was fired from her job because she greeted callers with "Merry Christmas," but the vacation rental company says it's no Scrooge and the woman is just a disgruntled employee.

Tonia Thomas, 35, said she refused to say "Happy Holidays" and was fired, even after offering to use the company's non-holiday greeting. The Panama City woman filed a federal complaint that accuses the company of religious discrimination. She is seeking compensation for lost wages.

"I hold my core Christian values to a high standard and I absolutely refuse to give in on the basis of values. All I wanted was to be able to say 'Merry Christmas' or to acknowledge no holidays," she said Tuesday. "As a Christian, I don't recognize any other holidays." Thomas said she is Baptist.

Her former employer, Counts-Oakes Resorts Properties Inc., said she wasn't fired for saying "Merry Christmas," but would not elaborate.

"We are a Christian company and we celebrate Christmas," said Andy Phillips, the company's president. Thomas is "a disgruntled employee," presenting a one-sided version of what happened when she was fired Dec. 10, Phillips said.

Liberty Counsel, an Orlando-based legal group that advocates for people discriminated against because of their religion, is representing Thomas before the federal Equal Opportunity Employment Commission. Their complaint also accuses the company of harassing and taunting Thomas after she was fired by calling the police to watch her pack her belongs and leave.

Thomas could have hard time winning the case, said G. Thomas Harper, a Jacksonville-based labor attorney who writes a newsletter on Florida employment law.

"I wouldn't think an employee has the right to insist (on saying Merry Christmas) unless that really is a tenet of their faith. She would have to make a strong case that was part of her beliefs, if not, it becomes insubordination," he said.

Thomas has found another job, but she makes less than the $10.50 an hour she earned with the rental company. She said the trauma of being fired and the pay cut has made for a tough holiday season for herself, her husband and their 6-year-old son.

Harper said when it comes to holiday greetings, the smartest choice might be ignoring the season. "The best option is just not to say anything," he said.

Save the whales!!! I mean...save the bows!!!

"Save the bows!!!" That's what I found myself saying repeatedly as we unwrapped our Christmas gifts. What? Am I insane? Save the bows? Are we the only kooks out there who do this? I don't think so.

It just doesn't make sense to throw away a perfectly good looking bow when it can be re-used next year. The problem with that is that bows are so incredibly cheap!!! We spend a LOT of money on Christmas gifts, so what's another $5.99 for the large bag of new bows?

Not one person laughed or made any disparaging comments when I requested their bow off of their priceless gift. A sign of the times? I don't think so. It's been a "tradition" around our home for years! And yours too???

Congress gets a raise

So, Congress is getting a $4,700 pay increase, during this recession. I'm not really sure if that is supposed to be a statement or a question.

To be fair, they didn't even have to vote on the raise. It is an automatic 2.8 percent increase. They would actually have to vote to NOT receive the pay increase... but, should they have passed on it as was done in 2000?

You know, I'm not against wage increases. In fact, I was all for raising the minimum wage, even though I know there are cons to that as well. In today's economy, I think that if a member of Congress has trouble making ends meet with an average salary of $169,300 per year, that they should just get out of office. The main reason for wage increases is to offset the cost of living, but should that even be a factor if you are making over six figures???

If nothing else, the timing is just bad. With so many unemployed, and the economy in a seemingly never ending downward spiral, it just doesn't make sense. But then again, it's only an additional $2.5 million per year. What the heck is that though compared to the billions being tossed out like candy already? How about just setting an example to the banks, auto makers and the average person? Or is the message do as I say, and not as I do?

Tomorrow is history

Sometimes I sit around and just think of stupid stuff. For example, are airplanes upside down on the other side of the world? This post isn't really much different.

I often think about how we are a civilization of "recorded" data. Meaning, we have a need to "record" the events of every single day for future posterity.

How much video data will be stored for what happens tomorrow?
How much picture data will be stored for what happens tomorrow?
How much computer data will be stored for what happens tomorrow?
How much voice data will be stored for what happens tomorrow?
Hom much audio data will be stored for what happens tomorrow?
How much hard copy print will be stored for what happens tomorrow?
How much evidence data will be stored for what happens tomorrow?

How much weather data will be stored for what happens tomorrow?
The list goes on and on and on and on...

So, every single day, tons of "recorded" data is stored. Why? Because someday it may be needed. If you are audited by the IRS, you need your "recorded" data. If you are accused of a murder, rape, bank robery etc., you will need your or someone else's "recorded" data. If anyone for any reason wants to know what happened on a particular date in history, there will be a need for "recorded" data.

So, how much space is being taken up by all the "recorded" data? How long should it be kept? Should there be backups of backups of "recorded" data? Will we ever run out of room for it? Should there be a Czar (sp) of "recorded" data?

I know one thing for sure. This post will be "recorded", but will not be around for very long. I think I'll archive it in case I want to post it again another time :)