No "Happy Holidays?"
Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 2:50 pm
I've been noticing a disturbing trend, which I assume is being promoted by some right wing organization(s). In several smaller Montana newspapers (as only small newspapers will prints letters this tacky, and as I don't read small newspapers in California, where they may also be appearing), I have noticed pretty standard letters imploring people to boycott stores that advertise or display signs saying "Happy Holidays." These letter writers assert that the signs should say "Merry Christmas," or else they are just pandering to PC, and should be punished for their foolishness.
As Kyle's Jewish mother on South Park would say, "Wha-wha-what???!"
The mentality of these letters is absurd, but also downright scary. We seem to be in the midst of some strange cultural backwash wherein certain religious people feel as though it is "their time" to take back the world at the expense of all others.
Saying "Happy Holidays" isn't anti-Christian, or even slighting JC in any way -- it is simply recognizing that there are some people who don't happen to be Christians, and that there is no need to exclude these people from one's December/early January salutations. To explicitly exclude people isn't some bold strike against PC -- it is just intentionally being a jackass. Apparently these letter writers are not familiar with such non-Christian holidays such as Hanukkah and even New Years Day. And, yes, there are even some people who celebrate Kwanzaa or Hindu and other winter solstice related holidays.
I have noticed some references to this anti-"Holiday" phenomena in other sources as well (subliminal message flashing across the screen in the middle of my post, when slowed down to 1/1000 speed, reads "Fox"), so apparently this is a national campaign by the usual suspects.
Of course, the ultimate irony is that the date of Christmas has nothing to do with Christ -- it was a pagan winter solstice holiday co-opted by the Romans/Catholic Church to coerce a large population into their church. Ditto for Easter (pagan spring equinox fertility festival -- thus Easter Bunny). There is nothing historical or in the Bible that suggests that JC was born in December at all, and those accounts that do exist put his birth in other parts of the year (March being prevelant). So really, if we get down to the real meat of this holiday season, I guess we really should be wishing each other "Happy Winter Solstice!" For some reason, though, "Happy Holidays" just sounds much better to me.
As Kyle's Jewish mother on South Park would say, "Wha-wha-what???!"
The mentality of these letters is absurd, but also downright scary. We seem to be in the midst of some strange cultural backwash wherein certain religious people feel as though it is "their time" to take back the world at the expense of all others.
Saying "Happy Holidays" isn't anti-Christian, or even slighting JC in any way -- it is simply recognizing that there are some people who don't happen to be Christians, and that there is no need to exclude these people from one's December/early January salutations. To explicitly exclude people isn't some bold strike against PC -- it is just intentionally being a jackass. Apparently these letter writers are not familiar with such non-Christian holidays such as Hanukkah and even New Years Day. And, yes, there are even some people who celebrate Kwanzaa or Hindu and other winter solstice related holidays.
I have noticed some references to this anti-"Holiday" phenomena in other sources as well (subliminal message flashing across the screen in the middle of my post, when slowed down to 1/1000 speed, reads "Fox"), so apparently this is a national campaign by the usual suspects.
Of course, the ultimate irony is that the date of Christmas has nothing to do with Christ -- it was a pagan winter solstice holiday co-opted by the Romans/Catholic Church to coerce a large population into their church. Ditto for Easter (pagan spring equinox fertility festival -- thus Easter Bunny). There is nothing historical or in the Bible that suggests that JC was born in December at all, and those accounts that do exist put his birth in other parts of the year (March being prevelant). So really, if we get down to the real meat of this holiday season, I guess we really should be wishing each other "Happy Winter Solstice!" For some reason, though, "Happy Holidays" just sounds much better to me.
