As the season is getting colder, I feel the urge to say those two little words that get so many people in an uproar at this time of year.
Happy Holidays.
There, I said it. If you don’t like it, get over it.
It amazes me that people can be so offended that I choose to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.”
While it is true that the super-majority of Americans celebrate Christmas, it is also true that many Americans don’t. This is a lesson I learned when I was 6 years old and wondering why one set of my grandparents never gave me a Christmas gift. After having it explained to me what a Jehovah’s Witness was, I forgave them for whatever slight it was my 6-year-old mind thought was done to me.
So I don’t wish people Merry Christmas. Just as I had no way of knowing at the time what religion my grandparents were, I have no way of knowing that the person I am speaking to actually celebrates Christmas.
I could always play the odds and assume someone puts up a Christmas tree and sings yuletide carols, but it just seems insulting when people assume things about me, and I would never wish to commit the same mistake. The fact is that people celebrate a variety of holidays during this season, and I do not have enough time to wish people “Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Advent, Solstice, Chalica, Festivus, New Years and any other holidays that I may have forgotten.”
That is why I tell people, “Happy Holidays.”
Now I can understand why some people are offended when people change the name of something from “Christmas” to “Holiday.” To be honest, the term “holiday tree” sounds as stupid to me as the ancient pagans probably thought the term “Christmas tree” sounded when early Christians borrowed the pagan tradition of putting a tree in their homes.
Still, it is ridiculous to get bent out of shape because someone uses inclusive language instead of singling out your particular holiday for a shout-out.
The phrase “Happy Holidays” is not an atheist conspiracy to kill Jesus. I would wager that when Bing Crosby sang the song “Happy Holiday” in 1942, he did not do so with the intention of creating an anthem for Jesus-haters.
Here is something to consider: In my life, I have known hundreds of atheists and agnostics, and I can’t think of a single one who did not celebrate Christmas. I’m not saying all atheists and agnostics celebrate Christmas, but I am willing to bet more do than don’t.
In our over-commercialized society, this holiday has lost its overall religious message. There are Christians who celebrate it as a religious holiday akin to Easter, but there are also many who treat it more as a family holiday like Thanksgiving. For atheists and agnostics, it is easy to just follow the family holiday route.
Perhaps it is this dichotomous view of Christmas that has so many Christians in an uproar. The problem is that the issue has less to do with atheists and agnostics than it does with the state of lapsed Christianity. I believe that the energy being used to get offended at well-meaning phrases would be better used to encourage adherents to come back to the flock.
As the season is upon us and we focus on our finals and our shopping lists, we must remember that now is the time for us to work at coexisting.
With that said, I wish each of you a happy holiday.
Tom Taylor is a political science graduate student.
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Stevo 5 months, 4 weeks ago
Not wishing people a Merry Christmas at the assumption someone may get "offended" is a red-herring. In my 42 years of living on this earth, I have yet to have one person tell me they were offended by me telling them, "Merry Christmas". OK.. maybe a few of my Atheists friends and family may have mentioned it AFTER the first time.. But they didn't make a big deal about it. And besides, The Constitution does not protect anyone from being "Offended". You seem to put most of your argument into that with words like, "insulting" and "get bent out of shape".
And your assertion of not wishing people a Merry Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc. because you don't have the time is irrational. Which one of those days do most retailers count on? Which one does the Federal Government, US Post Office and Public Schools observe? You don't have to really think hard about that one do you. And to add to it, I strongly believe that ALL government employees SHOULDN'T get Christmas off because it's a designated day of religious observance. What happened to this mantra of "Separation of Church and State" that the liberals cry out about? And to add, I'd like to throw in Sundays as well. That's the "Day of Rest" originated from The Book of Genesis.
As far as retailers, an example... UPS' busiest time of year is Christmas and they hire thousands of workers for CHRISTMAS. My friend is a UPS driver (16 years.) He CANNOT say "Merry Christmas" unless their customer says it first. But yet, they have no problem cashing in on Christmas. Trying to mask all this by calling it, "Holiday" doesn't work either because the origin of the word is "Holy Day".
What you fail to realize, and you don't even know it, is what you write, is probably not consistent with what your stated presuppositions are and I want to push that consistency with you. Live according to what you believe.
And regarding Jehovah Witnesses who do not celebrate Christmas because it's some Pagen holiday or whatever, well, they have to reconcile that logic with why some have no problem sending their children to government schools 10 months out of the year, six hours a day, five days a week, where it's constantly an Anti-Jehovah message from BEGINNING TO END. You can throw in those Christians that complain about corporations and retailers who do not want to say or use, "Merry Christmas" in Christmas Ad Campaigns to that mix as well.
Lastly, when you mention that we should all work at "coexisting". Well, it's obvious that people of all faiths ARE coexisting, BUT, they can't all be right. That's there is called the Law of Non-Contradiciton. But that's for another topic for another day.
Thank you for your time, Happy Holy Days Steve Solis
kdbp1213 5 months, 4 weeks ago
saying 'happy holidays' is yet another example in our society of the minority controlling the majority...... never understood how we changed. i guess the phrase 'majority rules' is meaningless.............
maybe it's a case of majority not having enough moxie, testicles, etc. to stand up to the minority............. ????
braceyourself 5 months, 3 weeks ago
Either way, "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" are both fine. People shouldn't be offended by the fact that someone is wishing them well, even if that well wishing comes from a culture different than your own.
DannyHaszard 6 months ago
Learn more on Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs http://www.dannyhaszard.com
oreo 6 months ago
Nice of u not to come down hard on the JW's. We try to be polite and just say thank u. Also try to say it is our personal decision not to celebrate. Otherwise, if someone is a JW and gets upset, something isn't right, because that isn't what we r about. And we do enjoy spending time w/ family, but, as u said about the pagan tree thing, God saw ppl worshiping other gods with those things. So we strive to make him rejoice by not honoring other gods now. Thanks. :)
sher8427 6 months ago
Funny, not to say your wrong about saying Happy Holidays, but I thought it was the other way around cause I have been given crap about saying Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays. Guess it goes both ways. Personally I don't care what you say around this time of year, but I choose to say Merry Christmas.
JJ2014 6 months ago
This article FAILS to mention that Jehovah's Witnesses will SUE employers and others for what this JW-connected reporter portrays as a "slight".
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