Happy Holidays to One and All

You may have to zoom in on the "picture" below to read the words. 

No Monopoly on Political Correctness

Political Correctness is in the Eye of the Audience.

Is there a politically correct position if you know, going in, you’re going to offend one side or the other? With so many people being so easily offended these days (or, at least, willing to pretend to be offended to score a political point, or even half-point), you’re going to be politically incorrect at least some of the time just by offering an opinion, unless you’re Bill Maher, of course, but he makes a (very good) living deliberately offending people ALL the time!

So if you’ll agree to the stipulation that we are ALL politically incorrect in someone’s view, let me move on to how even such an ambiguous term gets manipulated. My objection is to those who decry “political correctness” when their ox is being gored, but fail to recognize their own attempts to enforce orthodoxy.

Take, for example, the phony debate over wishing people Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. Those, like myself, who prefer the more non-denominational greeting are criticized for being politically correct, even if that offering is a conscious choice and not an intent to avoid offending. But if I were to avoid “Happy Holidays” with certain people because I know it would be deemed offensive, isn’t that being politically correct?

The A&E network is being lambasted, at least by some, for political correctness because it suspended one of the Duck Dynasty guys who offered his opinion about homosexuality. Certainly for most of media-land that intolerance is politically incorrect. On the other hand, wouldn’t the Biblical literalist crowd enforce conformity on any of their band who offered the contrary opinion, that sexual orientation is far less of a choice than, say, your religion? How would that position play in his church?

The Dixie Chicks offended conservatives some years back with a throw-away line at a concert in London, but were subjected to a politically correct banishment by C/W radio that apparently continues to this day. Was Natalie Maines’s attempt at humor politically incorrect? Of course. But didn’t the country western community impose its own political correctness by refusing to play their music because they didn’t want to offend any listeners?

If you look at the bottom line (and I’ll claim the tag of economic historian as long as you don’t require any credentials), most political correctness disputes come back to money. National chain stores use “Happy Holidays” not to attack Christianity or Christmas, but to try to sell more merchandise to even more people. No one is considering the possibility that A&E’s actions are based on a belief as sincerely held as Phil Robertson’s; the network is being attacked because it is assumed they’re being politically correct in trying not to offend any group. The Chicks vanishing act from radio stemmed from stations’ fear of losing advertising money by playing their songs.

If, like Phil Robertson or Natalie Maines, you are in the public eye, you need to be aware that when you use a public forum, there are potential (economic) consequences. (I am more sympathetic to Ms. Maines because she was just trying to be funny more than make a political statement, but admit my politics might also play a part in reaching that conclusion.) If you’re threatening or participating in a boycott, that is your absolute right; but whichever wing of the political spectrum you inhabit, that participation is an attempt to enforce some kind of political correctness. In the same way that both sides can wave the flag, both sides are guilty of sneering the phrase “politically correct” for their own agendas.

Happy Holidays, Like It or Not!

Happy Holidays, Like It or Not!

Nov 27, '11 6:15 PM 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