Christmas Offending

There are 350 million people living in the United States. So for all of you folks who are afraid of offending someone….GET OVER IT!! With 350 million people, I can guarantee you that no matter what you say, no matter what you do, or whatever your good intentions, you will offend somebody. Even if it is just getting out of bed in the morning, you will offend somebody.

And therein lays the fallacy of a politically correct Christmas. What is wrong with people? The facts are simple. Accroding to ABC news, 83% of Americans identify themselves as Christian. Although we don’t have an official religion, Christianity and the Judeo/Christian ethic permeate our society. It is the basis of our consumer society. The financial success or failure of much of our economy rests on the last five weeks of the year. “Holiday” shoppers aren’t shopping for the hell of it…they are shopping for Christmas.

So can someone please tell me why the liberal types have to bastardize Christmas with the fear of offending someone who is not Christian? Why does society have to purge itself of "Christmas" references? December 25th, Christmas, is a national holiday. I don’t expect Jews to call Passover something other than Passover because I might be offended as a Christian. I don’t expect Muslims to call the month of Ramadan something other than Ramadan because I might be offended as a Christian. I might wish them Happy Passover or blessed Ramadan or even “have a good holiday.”  I would even like to join in their celebrations. But I would not expect anyone to diminish their holy day by calling it anything other than what it is in the public vernacular. I have too much respect for other people’s beliefs.  Even if an atheist wants to celebrate Festivus, I would dance around the pole and do more than my fair share at the airing of grievances.

Christmas is many things to many people. To most, it is the birthday of Jesus. To others, it is Santa Claus and Rudolph. Still to others, it is pretty decorations, parties, and the giving of presents. It may be the birth of Christ or the celebration of the winter solstice, or simply a time where one wishes good will to others and peace on earth. However it is viewed, Christmas is inclusive. And if you are celebrating another holy day, God bless you. And if you are celebrating nothing at all, don’t expect the rest of us to comply to your beliefs. For one day out of the year, keep them to yourself and be as respectful to the rest of society as you demand society be respectful of you.

If I am going to buy a Christmas present…as 83% of all Americans are going to do…then I want to go to a store that has a Christmas tree and is selling Christmas presents. It is my Christmas money that I am spending. I don’t want to spend it on holiday presents or holiday trees, or go to the American Holiday at the Butler or the Winter at the Old Mill with political correctness being shoved up various parts of my anatomy.

The denigration of societal customs and beliefs by a small minority is just plain wrong when there is ample room for everybody within those beliefs. It might look all tolerant and goody two shoes on the surface, but underneath, it just plain pisses people off having the unintended consequence of building intolerance rather than diminishing it.  The American Holiday doesn’t create tolerance…at the end of the day it destroys it.

So for once in our miserable lives, let's be truly tolerant. Merry Christmas…and Happy Holidays!!!!

Comments

Anonymous said…
Mark, Well put.

Steve D.
5:10 AM
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