Christmas Wishes
By Keiti | December 20, 2007
Every Christmas season, I’m always perplexed at the hoopla created over saying Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays - having friends and family who are of different faiths, I always wish them a Merry Christmas without hesitation - something that obviously falls under being politically incorrect. There are times when I’ve wished both a Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukah to people as will be noted further down in this post, but I refuse to deny my beliefs just as I refuse to denigrate someone else’s beliefs. And there is a big difference between being respectful of other people’s beliefs and being caught up in the rampant political correctness crap that currently runs rampant.
I’m not a fan of political correctness which, I think, has done far more damage to this country than anything else - it’s essentially turned us into a society of victims who feel entitled to get offended at the most stupid things.
When I lived in Los Angeles, I worked for a Jewish organization called Camp Ramah in California and was what I refer to as the token non-Jew. I had a great time - everyone I worked with was wonderful and funny - it was a great time for me and had things worked out differently I’d probably still be working for them. The one Christmas I spent with them, I remember DG going out of his way to wish me a Merry Christmas rather than Happy Chanukah. I tried to explain to him that he could wish me a Happy Chanukah rather than a Merry Christmas - that I wasn’t offended by such wishes. The way I see it, the highest honor I could be given is to be included in what they consider a very special time of year and to have an opportunity to learn about their beliefs and what they hold dear. There’s wisdom in the old adage of when in Rome, do as the Romans do, something too many people forget and something that is beyond political correctness.
Because it goes both ways, my wishing someone a Merry Christmas means I am including them in what I hold dear. It’s not, as some people would have you believe, a desire to push my beliefs on other people. I respect different beliefs - my brother is Muslim, while my parents and I are Episcopalian. I have friends who are Jewish. I have friends who are Pagan - how can I not respect people I care about?
So remember that when someone of a different faith wishes you great joy and happiness, regardless of the terminology they use, they are including you in what is an important part of their lives.
What greater honor is there to be held in such esteem?
Topics: Christmas |
December 21st, 2007 at 10:44 am
You know K, I still will wish people a Merry Christmas or a Happy Hannukkah. Even though I don’t truly celebrate the religious aspect of it, I do celebrate the gathering of family and friends. To me that is what is important. Just saying Happy Holidays just doesn’t cut it.
Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah
CII