Somewhere around 2005-ish, retailers started pressing their employees to be more politically correct by asking them to offer customers "Happy Holidays" instead of a "Merry Christmas."
That of course, ignited a firestorm of public criticism from every conceivable direction. As this year's gift-buying season rapidly approaches, the same stale discourse presents itself this Christmas, I mean holiday season.
Christians bemoaned: "You're taking Christ out of Christmas!"
Atheists whined: "Not everyone believes in Christ," "Why not call it X-mas?"
Jewish people wondered: "Why not Happy Hanukkah?"
Santa said: "I thought this was about me!"
Me: Who cares.
Of course, with any controversy comes studies and polls and press coverage, which puts people on sides, each bickering and letter-writing-- spurred to action by what each side thinks is an outrage.
I think it's just silly.
If someone tells me, Merry Christmas, so be it. If they say Happy Holidays, that's great too.
Either way, I appreciate the fact that the someone took the time to wish me holiday tidings. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
Which is why I can't understand why some people bristle with irritation when someone wishes them "Happy holidays."
It seems anti-holiday-spirit to indulge in this kind of nasty bickering.
So, to all the Christians who have hostility toward holiday well wishers:
Take a lesson from the good book...
... and express goodwill toward all men...
Instead of creating a naughty-or-nice list of good and bad stores, like this one...
One more thing:
The word holidays originally meant "Holy Days". Which makes it even dumber for anyone to take offense at the Happy Holidays phrase.