Happy Holiday’s or Merry Christmas?
This season a national debate has raged on whether or not “Happy Holiday’s” or “Merry Christmas” is more PC, appropriate, or less offensive. Take your pick. At first, I was going to avoid chiming in on this particular topic, but after reading this post, I’ve finally hit my tipping point.
From everything2.com:
It is important to understand that some Jews actually get pissed when you wish them a Merry Christmas; that node actually touches on some of the things I’m going to go over, but not all. The defense of “Happy Holidays” is usually quite simple: it’s easier to say and more politically correct in case you so happen to be speaking to somebody who doesn’t celebrate Christmas. But I think there are more and better defenses.
Personally, I’ve grown weary of the PC movement. It seems that people are looking for more and more reasons to get pissed off at each other as opposed to finding a common middle ground of respect as “I think” was orginally intended.
If someone stops you on the street to say Merry Christmas, and isn’t looking to sell you something or mug you, isn’t that a good thing? The worst thing that they are doing is trying to spread a little Christmas joy and cheer. By digging in to that statement and finding some reason to take offense, not only are you defeating the purpose of the “Holiday Season”, you are choosing a pretty miserable way to live.
Even with that said, let’s play along a bit. What happens if you throw up the rose-tinted “Politically Correct Blinders”, and apply them to Christmas? What can we do at Christmas with this demented mind set?
Christmas Tree’s? Wait, gotta get rid of those. The “C” word.
Christmas Stockings? Sorry, gone too.
Cookies for Santa? Not healthy.
Gift Giving? The have’s putting down the have-not’s.
Holiday Wreaths? Well, they were originally a pagan tradition, so those are probably bad.
Christmas Candy? Out on 2 counts… The “C” word, and the commercialization of Christmas through the sale of candy targeted at Christmas.
Christmas Cards? Nope, sorry Hallmark… See Christmas candy.
Christmas Dinner? Well, since turkey and ham are pretty common, I’d say they are out too… Cruelty to animals.
Snow Angels? Sorry, too Christian…
Snowmen? Well, this could potentially be offensive as well… unless your snowman is accompanied by a snowwoman. Doh, that does not fix it, because why do we have to have a man and a woman, right? Alright, create two snow men… but wait, the government does not recoginize 2 snowmen as being a couple, nor do some religions… Trouble again!
What are we to do? Cancel Christmas! After all, isnt the celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ against the 1st Amendment?
1st Amendment:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Had enough of this garbage yet? Me too. 
Steve wrote:
I would get too carried away with this. This “war on christmas” is a fabrication of Bill O’Reilly and many fundamentalist republicans to distract us from Iraq, the economy, torture, CIA operative leakings, and unauthorized spying of American citizens. No one is attacking Christmas.
Posted on 18-Dec-05 at 5:40 am | Permalink
Steve wrote:
oops, meant to put wouldn’t.
Posted on 18-Dec-05 at 5:40 am | Permalink
Ripley wrote:
My post is meant to be more tongue in cheek than anything else. I agree that this is a distraction, as most news these days is. Thanks for stopping by.
–Ryan
Posted on 18-Dec-05 at 6:05 am | Permalink
merg wrote:
Hey Ryan. I know this is a bit dated but just happened to be stopping by and thought I’d comment. I too am weary of the PC movement and its absurdity. To Steve, I think you’re spending too much time in front of the tube, and worse yet, believing it. Sure the spin monkeys of every side are always at work, but I don’t think this is the root issue.
I believe there is a bit of a backlash happenning against PC nonsense, forced multiculturalism, forced secularism, anti-Western propaganda, and general liberal goofiness. There is a base in our country, and to a lesser extent in Europe, that is becoming more vocal regarding our current trajectory as a people. There is a belief that these things are literally ripping our country apart. I believe the Christmas/Holiday bru-ha-ha is just one small manifestation of this weariness.
Multiculturalism, which goes hand in hand with Political correctness, will never work within a democracy as someone will always be offended. If anything, it keeps a people from being united because it highlights foundational cultural differences. There is a base that still wants to hold this country together and that means being more vocal in the public square debating those seeking to rip it apart.
One last thought as an example. I could take offense at Steve’s use of “fundamentalist republican” as fundamentalist is mostly used today in a derogatory way. I guess I would consider myself a fundamentalist in that I actually hold some things to be “fundamentally” true. This would be opposed to the non-fundamentalist that is purposeless and directionless because they hold nothing to be fundamentally true. Anyway, I could take offense but don’t because I believe there is more to be gained by more discussion in the public square, which means it might be a little noisier.
Anyway, thanks for the space. I hope you and your family had a very Merry Christmas!
Posted on 29-Dec-05 at 8:01 am | Permalink
John wrote:
There is no forced anything going on. Why do “conservatives” always act as if you’re the underdogs? You’re in power and have been for a long time. I put conservatives in quotes because I don’t think our current government, or blowhards like O’Reilly, are true conservatives. Conservatives believe that people are free to live their lives without interference, governmental or otherwise.
As to the Christmas business, let’s not use intentionally inflammatory phrases like ‘PC.’ Let’s talk about real people. What about all the Jews, Hindus, Buddhists and Sikhs in America? There are many of us. You say multiculturalism doesn’t work with democracy. So, you’re saying we all have to be Christians, or we’re not democratic? That sounds like the absolute antithesis of democracy.
I’m happy to see Christians celebrating Christmas. It seems like a nice tradition. But Bill O’Reilly going on a crusade to force store clerks to greet me with a “Merry Christmas” is, at the least, silly. That doesn’t mean people can’t celebrate whatever they find meaningful, and share their celebrations with family, friends, fellow congregants. But to presume the entire country shares your beliefs doesn’t mean you are standing up against political correctness. It’s just impolite.
Not a soul cared about how we greeted each other in December until O’Reilly gave his marching orders and set free the lemmings.
Posted on 12-Jan-06 at 3:57 am | Permalink