Christmas vs Holidays

As the seasons’ holidays come to an end, I would like to bring up an issue I have noticed that has been more of a focal point in social acceptance as of late:  the difference (or lack thereof) between “Merry/Happy Christmas” and “Happy Holidays”.

Throughout my entire childhood and to this day, I have been under the impression that “Happy Christmas” was socially acceptable in any setting, and that it was a uniformly understood politeness gesture.  Apparently in this new social climate in which we dwell, it is not longer “socially acceptable”, and Happy Holidays has swept the nation as being the means to communicate the Holiday Season’s Greeting/Parting.  I think it outrageous for people to feel as though this is no longer acceptable.

Yes, I understand (and have always, even as a child) that not everyone celebrates Christmas.  I do not however believe that people should feel as though I am judging or assuming that they are of Christian faith because of which words I choose to gesture a holiday greeting.  A prime example of an extremely relevant and similar situation is a “God Bless You” response to a sneeze.  This is the exact same scenario: it is seen as a polite gesture, not an attack or proposal of my religious beliefs.  We need to distinguish the difference between a social attack/push on religious beliefs and polite phrases that have been social norms.

Shifting gears slightly, Kate and I took a stroll down the 3^rd Street Promenade tonight to admire the Christmas-esque feel of the chilled Santa Monica night life.  While walking the Promenade, a Jewish man stopped me to ask me if I was Jewish.  I replied with the obvious “No.” and continued on our way down the street.  About ten seconds later, I had wished my answer had been “No thanks,  I'm Atheist.”  I realize that Religion is a sensitive subject, but I feel it is one that people should not pressure or stop people walking down the road with.  Don’t hand me pamphlets about your beliefs, and I won’t hand you textbooks on Evolution.

With that being said, HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!