Merry Christmas
Yeah, I know the radical right hasn't got much to pin on the rest of us, so they allege that we don't like the term "Merry Christmas" because it's not inclusive.
But a lot of us celebrate Christmas, and I see no reason to have to say "happy holidays" just so some Islamic or Jewish person doesn't feel excluded.
All the Jews I know have in some way noted Christmas for me, so it's not like they have their panties in a wad about it.
I don't know very many Islamics or Buddhists, but in America I sense they too would understand that Christmas is a big deal for many of us and they'd get over a phrase like Merry Christmas.
Besides, if someone wished me a happy Chanukah or joyous Ramadan, I'd say thanks because I'd know they were just trying to include me in their holiday joy.
Anyway, I hope your day is a nice one, regardless of what day it is for you.
I'll be on the road shortly, planning to spend part of the day in Austin with my family. We've agreed to keep it low key and without stress.
7 comments:
Oh, and by the way, the car is the present I gave myself for Christmas.
:D
I don't like being "Merry Christmased." Most Jews don't.
Enjoy your new toy.
Nice ride! Merry Chistmas Karen, looks like you're enjoying it in style ;) Cheers!
Most Jews that I know wish ME a merry Christmas. Today is Christmas Day so that's why I wished everyone to whom it applied a merry one.
Happy Chanukah- a few days late.
My new best friend at work, Lauri, moved to Texas last year from Chicago, and she happens to be Jewish. And like "holly in cincinatti" my friend Lauri doesn't like being "Merry Christmased." But like a typical geocentric Texan I tried to explain that its no big deal, we're just being neighborly. 45 mins later Lauri had educated my about why it IS a very big deal, and I finally got it, so I'm trying to be more sensitive. For my efforts I learned that 2 other people in my office that I've known and adored for 8 years, are Taoists! I should have shut up and listened a long time ago.
Anyway, here's a modifed greeting I took from the Wall Street Journal. Zip,I know you can outdo this one. I changed some parts that offended me:
Holiday Greetings
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the general winter solstice time period holiday, practiced with the most enjoyable traditions of religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. We also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2007, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make our country great (not to imply that the United States is necessarily greater than any other country) and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual orientation of the wishee.
By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others and is void where prohibited by law, culture, or religion, and is revocable upon mutual agreement between the wisher and the wishee. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first.
Disclaimer: No trees were harmed in the sending of this message; however, a significant number of electrons were slightly inconvenienced.
No need to try to outdo that one!
On Christmas Eve and Day, I "Merry Christmas" everyone, and I'm Jewish. But the rest of the time, I try to confine my "Merry Christmas-ing" to people that I know celebrate Christmas rather than saying it to just everyone. I don't assume others intend to exclude me or that they mean any ill will when they "Merry Christmas" me, but it certainly is a reminder that I'm not a part of this whole huge *thing* that overtakes the majority in our country for at least 6 weeks of the year, and I admit that makes me feel a little bad(ly). So, yeah, I kind of like "Happy Holidays" better - but I hate that the right has turned *that* into something ugly now, too, which makes me feel sort of stupid to say it instead. This year I've been saying something like "Enjoy your holidays" to people in stores and saying a more specific holiday greeting to people I actually know. I don't know if it's objectively better, but it makes me feel a bit less foolish.
Merry Christmas, Karen, and enjoy your pretty new gift!
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