She looked embarrassed as hell. Noticing this bit of awkwardness I foolishly stepped in with a big smile. I have a very specific feeling on this but I wasn't going to let my thoughts ruin a perfectly good evening by going off on a rant but I also felt something of a duty to say something.
"It's okay," I say, "It's all the same to me!"
"No it's NOT! OH NO IT'S NOT!" I let the awkwardness hang in the air for a moment before bidding them goodbye. There was nothing I as going to say to change this man's mind and attempting to do so would just put a damper on the night.
But it pissed me off. The more I thought about it on the way home, the more I discussed the event with my family the more I felt the steam building up in my head. I need to vent or my brain will be like so much lobster, steamed and dead.
There is no War on Christmas, that is a fact. No one is trying to force you to to say "Happy Holidays." No one is trying to take down Christmas. I have yet, in my life, met a single person who was offended when someone wished them a Merry Christmas. I've yet to meet a person who angrily replies when anyone wishes them a Merry Christmas, "NO! You mean Happy Holidays" And while there may be a person or two who fits that description they are cryptozoological at best.
There are, however, many folk who take great offense that you wish them a Happy Holidays. They are so hurt by your obvious intentional omission of Christmas that they must force themselves to correct you. This as not the first time I've met someone like this and I know it won't be the last this year. And it shouldn't bother me as much as it does but it REALLY does.
See, you've taken something that is sacred, and in the name of keeping it sacred have destroyed it. Those that sell and those that believe The War On Christmas have ruined it. You've politicized "Merry Christmas," and are using it to divide instead of unite. This is Christmas, damnit! And it is not at all in the spirit of the season to correct or get upset at ANYONE who in their hearts is wishing you well using whatever words they are using. When you do that you are more Scrooge than Cratchit, more Grinch than Cindy Lou Who, and more Krumpus than St. Nick!
You complain that the world is trying to force you to stop saying, "Merry Christmas," and instead force you to say "Happy Holidays." In believing that lie have you've become guilty of the thing that you claim everyone else is doing. You've become one of those hypocrites we hear so much about.
Furthermore, if you think saying, "Happy Holidays" isn't keeping Christ in Christmas you have a bit of knowledge about to drop on you. The word Holiday derives from the Old English term, "Halig Daeg," which literally translates into, "Holy Day." There is nothing un-Christlike in wishing someone a Happy Holy Day. Nothing at all. Not even kind of, so knock it off!
If you truly believe that Happy Holidays has no place in the world then here's what you do, when someone wishes you Happy Holidays you look them straight in the eye and in no uncertain terms you say, "Thank you, and a Merry Christmas to you," and smile. The first few times it's gonna be tough. That smile will look forced and the person you're talking to may ask if you're sick. Tell them you're just overcome with the season, it's your favorite time of year. They'll likely say, "me too." The conversation may end there. The more you do this, with your forced smile the more that smile won't feel forced.The more it won't BE forced. You'll feel a weird sensation inside of you after a few times... don't be alarmed, that's just your heart growing three times its size. It'll fill with Christmas spirit. You've felt it before. Enjoy it.
And if you are one of those Loch Ness Monsters that does get offended when someone says "Merry Christmas," I have some advice for you, too. Stop it. If you don't celebrate Christmas there is nothing wrong with that. Your belief system has guided you elsewhere and good for you, but understand that MOST of the people who wish you a Merry Christmas are not trying to force you to celebrate Christmas. They're usually just being polite. They're usually just wishing you happiness. The correct answer is, "Thank you, Happy Holidays to you too." You'll feel better for it.
Go to any mall, even the rapidly dying ones, and look around you. My bet is that Christmas has already exploded all over the place, like it's done every year. There's a Santa waiting to hear from your kids what they want to have waiting for them under the tree. There's decorations on every store front and lights hanging from the ceiling. There's likely even a HUGE tree in the middle of your mall.
Now close your eyes. My bet is that beyond the hustle and bustle of people flocking to the malls engage in the rampant consumerism that has become much a part of Christmas Tradition as stockings by the fireplace you'll hear Christmas music. You'll hear Burl Ives wishing you have a "Holly Jolly Christmas". You'll hear the Transsiberian Orchestra fire their "Christmas Canon." And you most certainly will hear Bing Crosby wish you a "Happy Holidays." And there ain't no one singer more associated with Christmas than Bing.
There is no War on Chirstmas, anyone who says different is trying to sell you something,
No comments:
Post a Comment