Merry Christmannukwanzaa.
Dec. 22nd, 2006 04:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shirenomadI'd like to take a moment to reflect on the whole Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays business.
Let me start by saying that I, being a confirmed believer in Christ's salvation for most of my life, nonetheless have no problems with someone coming up to me and saying "Happy Holidays." Or "Happy Hannukah" for that matter. Wish me a good solstice if that's your festival of choice. I will not be insulted. I agree with many of you that it is stupid to be insulted over what was never (hopefully) meant as anything other than an "I wish you well today and in the weeks ahead."
That said, I want to also point something else out: this started, at least in some cases, because the speakers of "Happy Holidays" feared that "Merry Christmas" would -- you guessed it -- insult people. So if the psycho-fundies are dumb to get insulted over "Happy Holidays," what does that make those who think a "Merry Christmas" is an attempt to push religion?
Getting insulted over "Happy Holidays" is childish, but it's also a logical conclusion. Someone complained over a "Merry Christmas" somewhere. Things started changing. Conclusion: complaining changes things. Corollary: you can change things back by complaining louder. And around and around we go. It's insanity on both sides.
And so, to all of you, I will wish you a Merry Christmas. If I discover you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you'll enjoy the day anyway. If you want to wish me happiness on a completely different day, I'll accept that blessing in the spirit it was offered and thank you for the thought.
And we all walk off feeling brighter and blessed instead of offended and hostile. Now wasn't that easier?
Let me start by saying that I, being a confirmed believer in Christ's salvation for most of my life, nonetheless have no problems with someone coming up to me and saying "Happy Holidays." Or "Happy Hannukah" for that matter. Wish me a good solstice if that's your festival of choice. I will not be insulted. I agree with many of you that it is stupid to be insulted over what was never (hopefully) meant as anything other than an "I wish you well today and in the weeks ahead."
That said, I want to also point something else out: this started, at least in some cases, because the speakers of "Happy Holidays" feared that "Merry Christmas" would -- you guessed it -- insult people. So if the psycho-fundies are dumb to get insulted over "Happy Holidays," what does that make those who think a "Merry Christmas" is an attempt to push religion?
Getting insulted over "Happy Holidays" is childish, but it's also a logical conclusion. Someone complained over a "Merry Christmas" somewhere. Things started changing. Conclusion: complaining changes things. Corollary: you can change things back by complaining louder. And around and around we go. It's insanity on both sides.
And so, to all of you, I will wish you a Merry Christmas. If I discover you don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you'll enjoy the day anyway. If you want to wish me happiness on a completely different day, I'll accept that blessing in the spirit it was offered and thank you for the thought.
And we all walk off feeling brighter and blessed instead of offended and hostile. Now wasn't that easier?
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Christmannukwanzaa is he coolest word I've come across!
Date: 2006-12-23 03:42 am (UTC)When I'm at work, and someone closes the call by saying, "God bless you," I don't get offended. Just because I don't worship the Christian God doesn't mean I take offence at the fact that someone out there is wishing good things on me, even though I'm a total stranger hundreds of miles away. Heck, I think it's nice of them to say such things. I don't view it as a, "ZOMG, ur tring 2 push ur relligoin on meeeee!"
It's rather saddening that we live in a world right now where well-wishes are taken as insults, and we're all trying to please so many people that we fall over our own feet in a desperate attempt to convey what should be obvious. "Have a good day," just isn't what it used to be.
A Merry Christmas to you too, Seamsie. Happy holidays, blessed Yule, and all that other good stuff that comes with this time of year. Have good days now, and forever more. :D