I think it's very sad indeed when people are rude to someone who is trying to be kind and thoughtful towards them. I feel there is so much anger and rudeness in the world on a daily basis, that we all ought to be thankful for a kind gesture.
A Christmas card or greeting, 99% of the time, is given with kind thoughts in mind. It's not meant to try to convert someone to another religion. I truly don't understand. If someone gives a gift for your birthday, for example, that you don't like, you are gracious about it, right? You say, "Oh, thank you so much for the lovely lime green knitted slippers, Aunt Martha. You must have worked so hard on them!" You don't say, "OMG, I don't wear slippers! My feet are always hot! These are ugly and too small!" So why do people not practice the same good manners and grace when presented with a card or a friendly salutation?
As for food, my brother has been a vegetarian for decades. He would not eat meat just to be polite. Nor should he be expected to. However, I've never once heard him declare his beliefs for all to hear, or say anything negative about the meals prepared for him. He quietly and graciously just passes on the dishes made with meat. He expects no one to know or care about his personal choices. As it should be, IMO.
When my niece was born, my sister sent birth announcements to her friends and co-workers. She sent one to one of her co-workers, who, unknown to my sister, was a Jehovah's Witness. The woman later berated and chastised my sister for violating her religious views, for being unfeeling and uncaring, etc. My sister had NO idea what she talking about. Well, turns out my sister had put a postage stamp on the envelope that happened to be about donating blood, an apparent no-no in this woman's religion. An extreme example, to be sure, but sadly, not all that uncommon these days. 
"We give dogs the time we can spare, the space we can spare and the love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It's the best deal man has ever made" - M. Facklam
"We are raised to honor all the wrong explorers and discoverers - thieves planting flags, murderers carrying crosses. Let us at last praise the colonizers of dreams."- P.S. Beagle
"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king." - J.R.R. Tolkien
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Originally Posted by Twisterdog
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