Happy Holidays, Like It or Not! | for everyone |
Tonight
I was wished “Merry Christmas” once and “Happy Holidays” twice as we shopped.
Neither offended me. No one seemed offended when I responded in kind.
I
keep reading about all the people I might offend if I offer “Happy Holidays”
instead of “Merry Christmas.” So can I be offended by their being offended?
(Which greeting actually qualifies as politically correct if both are
potentially offensive?) Surely we have more important things to get PO’d about than
what kind of greeting is used for the holidays. Hey, nothing represents the
spirit of the season more than getting bent out of shape over a friendly
greeting, right?
If
you want to say, “Merry Christmas,” say it. I don’t care. I won’t be offended.
None of the (many) Jews I know will be offended. None of the (many) Muslims I
know will be offended. None of the (fewer) atheists or agnostics I know will be
offended. Now maybe someone, somewhere, will take offense, but I don’t know them.
But for the most part, non-Christians simply don’t care and don’t take it
personally.
So
why should my more inclusive greeting, recognizing the diversity of our
country, a country with religious freedom as part of its foundation, be
considered offensive or snidely deemed “politically correct”? Why should a
Christian take it personally if I call out a joyful, “Happy Holidays!” Why
should this be viewed as some attack on or denigration of Christianity? Why
should my failure to wish a Christian (whom I don’t know) a Merry Christmas be
any more offensive than a Christian’s innocent good wishes of a Merry Christmas
to a non-Christian?
So,
if you want to be offended, have at it. If you want to “unfriend” me on FaceBook
because my vision of Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men doesn’t match yours, well,
see ya. In either case, before you go, or get angry, or offended, allow me
offer you my sincere best wishes for the holiday season, no matter what holiday
you celebrate, or how you celebrate it (including the All American secular
shopping spree -- stimulate the economy, please!).
Happy
Holidays to one and all, and, in the words of that great secular marketing
icon, Santa Claus himself, “To All a Good Night!”
P.S.
For those interested in facts rather than emotion, to my knowledge (and I’ve
done some, but not extensive, research, mostly because I just don’t care
enough), no one has been fired by a retailer for wishing a shopper a Merry Christmas.
That the big retail chains have, of their own accord, altered their circulars to incorporate ALL
the possible holidays (Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukah, Winter Solstice, etc.) in
order to sell more merchandise is a corporate decision, aimed not at assaulting
Christianity but at enriching their bottom line. But if that offends you, may I
suggest, “Occupy WalMart”!
edited for appearance, not content (12/2/13)
Tags: religion, philosophy
B Shahan wrote on Dec 11, '11
ReplyDeleteEspecially true since the word "holiday" is a truncated form of "Holy Day." So Happy Holy Days to you.
T erri Kung wrote on Dec 12, '11
ReplyDeleteAmen (from one of those non-religious friends you have!)