I visited a friend at a major corporation last week. When she walked into the lobby to greet me she said “happy holidays” I responded “Merry Christmas.” The receptionist said under her breath, but loud enough for all to hear – “I like that much better.”
Have we reached the point where political correctness is ruining everything, even those things we hold dear. Whether we like it or not, the US is a Christian country. Nearly 80% of Americans identify themselves as Christian. The next largest group is Jewish with 1.7% and it goes down from there. About 16% are “nothing in particular, agnostic, or atheist (1.6%)
So why is it that we are so afraid to mention that this time of year is the Christmas Season. The name comes from the dominant religion in the country. No one seems to be afraid to wish Jews “Happy Chanukah” or wish Muslims well during Ramadan. Just what is wrong with wishing folks “Merry Christmas.”
The tradition of Christmas, its stories, myths, and legends, goes back two millennia. We learned as children about stars going forth leading wise-men, of a babe in a manger, shepherds and angels. The story is wonderful, magical, and filled with peace and hope.
There are of course stories that have evolved over the centuries. Santa Clause and gift giving, and of course Dickens’ wonderful “Christmas Carol” with Bob Cratchett, Tiny Tim and old Scrooge himself.
Then there is Christmas music. We can’t play it in the malls, or sing it at parties, after all we might offend. The greatest composers of all time wrote songs for the season. I guess we have to listen to them on earphones. We wouldn’t want to offend.
I think this all began when the concern about the separation of church and state groups started of complain about prayer in school — forced prayer (how do you do that). Then we had to get any religious icon out of the public square (pull the cross off the seal of the county of LA, remove the cross that has been on the hill side for a hundred years, and for heavens sake, get those animals, mangers, and folks in their bathrobes out of the park, some poor child might be corrupted.)
Fine — the government should not promote any religion. Got it. But what has that to do with the cards I get or email greetings? Are private businesses so afraid that they might offend that they can’t even put the word “Christmas” on their greetings? I guess so.
I received one out of more than 100 greetings that had the word Christmas on it. Its so sad. This is one of the happiest, blessed, and mystical times of the year. Why do we take things that are wonderful and see them as offensive. Come on, if someone wishes you ‘happy holidays, respond with a jovial “Merry Christmas.” Lets start a trend. If someone takes offense, so be it.
I quote from PT’s Christmas Greeting going out Monday:
Merry Christmas to all our readers, friends, and business associates. Whether you be Christian or Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist – whether or not you participate in the rites that give this time of year its name, please receive out best wishes for a most happy, merry, and holy holiday season.
JVH
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http://www.humormatters.com/holidays/Christmas/xmaspoliti.htm
A POLITICALLY CORRECT CHRISTMAS POEM
Twas the night before Christmas and Santa’s a wreck…
How to live in a world that’s politically correct?
His workers no longer would answer to “Elves”,
“Vertically Challenged” they were calling themselves.
And labor conditions at the North Pole,
were alleged by the union, to stifle the soul.
Four reindeer had vanished without much propriety,
released to the wilds, by the Humane Society.
And equal employment had made it quite clear,
that Santa had better not use just reindeer.
So Dancer and Donner, Comet and Cupid,
were replaced with 4 pigs, and you know that looked stupid!
The runners had been removed from his beautiful sleigh,
because the ruts were deemed dangerous by the EPA,
And millions of people were calling the Cops,
when they heard sled noises upon their roof tops.
Second-hand smoke from his pipe, had his workers quite frightened,
and his fur trimmed red suit was called “unenlightened”.
To show you the strangeness of today’s ebbs and flows,
Rudolf was suing over unauthorized use of his nose.
He went to Geraldo, in front of the Nation,
demanding millions in over-due workers compensation.
So…half of the reindeer were gone, and his wife
who suddenly said she’d had enough of this life,
joined a self help group, packed and left in a whiz,
demanding from now on that her title was Ms.
And as for gifts…why, he’d never had the notion
that making a choice could cause such commotion.
Nothing of leather, nothing of fur…
Which meant nothing for him or nothing for her.
Nothing to aim, Nothing to shoot,
Nothing that clamored or made lots of noise.
Nothing for just girls and nothing for just boys.
Nothing that claimed to be gender specific,
Nothing that’s warlike or non-pacifistic.
No candy or sweets…they were bad for the tooth.
Nothing that seemed to embellish upon the truth.
And fairy tales…while not yet forbidden,
were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden,
for they raised the hackles of those psychological,
who claimed the only good gift was one ecological.
No baseball, no football…someone might get hurt,
besides – playing sports exposed kids to dirt.
Dolls were said to be sexist and should be passe.
and Nintendo would rot your entire brain away.
So Santa just stood there, disheveled and perplexed,
he just couldn’t figure out what to do next?
He tried to be merry he tried to be gay,
but you must have to admit he was having a very bad day.
His sack was quite empty, it was flat on the ground,
nothing fully acceptable was anywhere to be found.
Something special was needed, a gift that he might,
give to us all, without angering the left or the right.
A gift that would satisfy – with no indecision,
each group of people in every religion.
Every race, every hue,
everyone, everywhere…even you!
So here is that gift, it’s price beyond worth…
“MAY YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES, ENJOY PEACE ON EARTH”