Since being politically correct is about remaining neutral and appealing to everyone, I cannot leave out the Atheists. I also know a few Atheists and they never pitched a fit when told “Merry Christmas.” It’s not as if saying the word “Christmas,” which just so happens to have the word “Christ” in it, is shoving Christianity in an Atheist’s face, forcing them to convert.
There are even some issues about the abbreviation, “Xmas.” Granted, this abbreviation has a religious background. The Greek letter “X” is “Chi” which is the first part of “Christ” and the “-mas” part comes from the Latin-derived, Old English word for “mass.” Some people think the “X” is not religious but “crossing out Christ,” while others argue the “X” is a cross on its side. This, however, has no factual backing and is just one more way religious freaks and non-believers alike get pleasure by throwing bitch fits about trivial abbreviations. Sometimes I think Americans just like to overact about the stupidest things because we get bored.
I am a Christian; in fact I am Catholic. While I can’t speak for everyone, I can honestly say I would not be offended if someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah or Kwanza. To me, saying “Merry Christmas” is simply that. Thanks to the technology industry, the toy industry, the clothes industry, and any other industry that spits out products for people to purchase for other people, Christmas seems to be more about presents rather than religion.
Throwing out a “Merry Christmas” to the cashier at the store shouldn’t insult anyone, and vice versa. They’re just words, two words. I think we will survive if we are told to have a good holiday that isn’t one we celebrate.
Article comments
1 - Lisa Solod Warren
I think you don't need to worry about it, Sarah.
2 - Ruvy
Sarah,
Out where I live in Israel, Christmas is a non-event - no Chrismas carols, no Christmas sales, no Christmas trees. In fact, Christmas is barely celebrated in December - Orthodox Christians, who far outnumber Catholics and Protestants here, celebrate Chrisrman in January or so. The big deal here is Hanukkah, with its sufganyót (jelly donuts of a sort). And, to absolutely honest with you, I love it! I no longer have to live with someone else's holiday being shoved down my throat.
But, on the other hand, I do not feel the need to be politically correct, and I feel for you that you get stuck with stupid things like having to decide how to wish someone a Merry Christmas. In the States, it did not bother me if someone wished me a Merry Christmas.
But the constant droning on of Christmas songs and sales and trees and demands that I should care about someone else's holiday "season" did piss me off some. Putting powder on a pig's nose does not take away its stink, and "holiday season" is even more offensive than "Christmas season" because of its fundamental dishonesty. Blowing up Hanukkah to be more than it is - a minor holiday in the Jewish calendar - also is fundamentally dishonest.
So, Merry Christmas to you, Sarah - a bit early.
Blessings from the mountains of Liberated Samaria
Ruvy
3 - Ruvy
Oh, by the way, for you, Sarah.
This is the voice of modern Israel; not a Christmas carol, not exactly háva negíla; but we still do not lose hope. We cannot afford to.
4 - Victor Plenty
"Political correctness" cuts both ways on this issue, as with so many others. Partisans of "Merry Christmas" grow more and more militant each year.
I've personally witnessed a person respond to a perfectly friendly and innocent "Happy Holidays!" by saying "NO! Merry Christmas." in a tone that was not friendly at all. Now that's not really a very merry thing to do, wouldn't you think?
Ah, but thinking is in short supply on this issue. We could simply accept from each other whatever friendly season's greetings our neighbors feel most comfortable giving us. If someone tells me "Happy Hanukkah!" or "Merry Solstice!" or even, God forbid, "Happy Holidays!" I could take it as a kind gesture and respond with the same spirit, even though I'm not a Jew, or a neo-pagan, or a godless communist myself.
Instead we've allowed self-obsessed pundits to create a social climate where many a "Merry Christmas" now carries insulting undertones the phrase never had before. Now it often feels much like being slapped with a glove. Not really painful, but there is an unmistakable edge to the voice, a glint in the eye of the speaker. They're daring someone to take offense. They're barely able to conceal the hope that someone will take offense and give them yet another flimsy excuse to imagine themselves a persecuted minority.
Coming from the religious majority that is still by far the most powerful cultural and political force in the United States, there's nothing at all merry about that particular delusion.
So, what's the solution to this mess? There's no easy answer. Like the rest of the culture war nonsense, it's designed to be an irrationally emotional issue that will keep selling crappy books year in and year out.
Still, it couldn't hurt for everyone feeling upset about this issue to just calm down and try to be genuinely merry, with actual good will, and peace on Earth, etc., etc., etc.
5 - libby
I LOVE THIS POST.
Thank you thank you thank you thank you.
I will be linking it and giving you credit on my own blog; you said it much more eloquently than I ever could.