For a number of years, we have been subject to an unusually well-organized campaign to strike the word “Christmas” from our daily lives. Despite the obvious evidence that this campaign truly is organized, there is no indication that I am aware of as to exactly who or whom “runs” the organization, if you will.
We’ve been told that it might (might???) offend someone who is not Christian if you say “Merry Christmas!”
HUH??
I’ve done quite a bit of searching and I cannot find a single legal case filed by someone offended by someone at a retail business saying “Merry Christmas.” I’ve searched further and can find no evidence of anyone ever even complaining that someone at private business said “Merry Christmas” (yes, there are cases of complaints and suits against the government).
And, why is it they are petrified of offending even one person by saying “Merry Christmas”, while at the same time offending the 81% of Americans who classify themselves as “Christian”? 1
What I want to know is this: First, WHAT exactly is offensive about saying “Merry Christmas!” to someone, even if that person is not Christian? Second, what is the apparently extreme risk that businesses face when an employee says “Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!”?
I mean, I’m not saying “I want you to become a Christian!” nor am I promoting my religion at all — not that there is anything wrong with that either since I have a constitutional right to do so. What I am really saying is “Share in my joy during this most-important holiday for me.” It’s like saying “It’s a beautiful morning — share its wonderfulness!”
“Be joyful! Celebrate! I wish you peace!”
Yep, those are truly offensive concepts.
I’ll be honest with you: I don’t really have a clue as to how anyone would find “Merry Christmas!” anything but wonderful, regardless of your religion or absence of it.
And what about those folks who are not Christian? I have quite a few Jewish friends, and a typical exchange around the Christmas season would be:
“Merry Christmas!”
“And to you. And Happy Chanukah!”
“And you too!”
Yes, that is truly offensive. Subversive. Just Awful. No wonder so many people want that kind of bigotry deleted from our lives.
1: http://pewforum.org/publications/reports/poll2002.pdf page 49.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
I'm glad you put this blog up. It will spare us your annual email ranting on the subject in future Decembers. I see the rant itself as being every bit as silly as getting offended by the phrase itself.
ReplyDeleteI do agree that eliminating "merry Christmas" from the vernacular due to overblown political correctness is totally lame because political correctness itself is lame. Further, I don't see how any religious beliefs or non-beliefs would cause a reasonable person to take umbrage by being wished a merry Christmas. Why should it? People who say it are doing nothing more than attempting to be friendly. Plus, let's face the facts, today Christmas is a holiday (or season or whatever) that has become 99% secular anyhow.
Personally, I’d like to see the holiday go 100% secular. After all, the winter celebration currently known as Christmas existed as a pagan celebration long before the birth of Jesus. It gave people something to be happy about during the long, dark and cold winters north of Europe.
Christianity simply attached itself to a secular and fun holiday, tacked on its own embellishments and nonsense and, most probably, made it considerably less fun. Contrary to popular belief, Jesus is NOT “the reason for the season.” I find bemoaning the fact that people tend to forget about tiny baby lord Jesus this time of year laughable. Working the word Christ back out of the holiday would be a good thing from several perspectives. Tell me, Mark, what, exactly, would be wrong with having a time of year that truly belongs to EVERYONE regardless of religion? One that causes us to stop, take stock of our lives, and revel with friends and family and that’s it?
Getting upset about referring to this as the holiday season is also rather silly, since the season begins with Thanksgiving and ends with New Years. Even if you choose to disregard Chanukah, Festivus and Kwanzaa completely, you still have three holidays within a one month period makes it a holiday season, does it not?
Fortunately for you, there are some legitimate things to rant about this month. Like how we’ve ALLOWED this season to be such a commercialized mess where we all feel obligated to buy gifts not just for children, but for co-workers, the mail man, the garbage man, all our friends, etc., etc., etc. The fact that banks make special loans just so people can go into debt for this season is reason to get your panties in a wad.