Happy Holidays!

Speaking of responses to chain e-mails, this is my response to the "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays" hoopla (originally written 22 Dec 2008):

I generally choose to wish someone "Happy Holidays" when I don't know his or her religious inclinations. There are many who are quite intelligent and reasonable who find not only little to celebrate but a lot to be wary of in Christianity as an ideology and a culture. They see the gaudy-ringed televangelists and their tacky-make-upped, fake-boobed wives, the materialistic frenzy of Christmas, the wars and inquisitions in God's name, and the genocide of crusades and the KKK. Their perceptions are, by the way, not all ridiculous. Before you poo-poo these notions, pause to think of how so many people seem to talk about Islam, which is certainly a lot more nuanced and complex than terrorism and oppressive regimes. Also, many have suffered severe personal criticism and prejudice based on their non-Christian views or religious beliefs and practices. Any hint of religion-based forceful insistence may elicit a defensive response from someone who is already feeling threatened or who moved to the U.S. to escape religious persecution. How are people to believe Christianity is truly virtuous and peaceful if their experience tells them it's combatant and domineering? Is it by railing on those who would offer good-spirited "Happy Holidays" and "Season's Greetings"? Will cries of cultural warfare and in-your-face insistence on proclaiming "Merry Christmas" regardless of the recipient's beliefs really reflect the peace and love of Christ?

I do believe there are some people who just want to squash Christianity and ban all mention of it in public. I do not believe they're the majority. And I don't believe stubbornly or arrogantly rejecting the sensitivities of many because of the tyranny of a few will accomplish the desired end, which I think is tolerance and personal respect (or ideally even conversion?). I believe this applies to any group being oppressed, minority or majority.

So I decided to set aside righteous indignation, and I choose to wish a Merry Christmas to those whose beliefs I think are most likely Christian. I may wish Happy Hanukkah to Jewish friends. I say Happy Holidays if I'm not sure about someone's beliefs, not because I have to but because I truly wish goodwill to them and want to focus on common ground. But hey, if you disagree, say Merry Christmas because you don't mind at all when someone wishes you Happy Hanukkah and because you live in a predominantly Christian nation where odds are the person you're talking to probably celebrates Christmas. I'll grant you that, so I expect you to grant me respect for choosing to say Happy Holidays without spouting off about pandering to a minority or bowing to political correctness. Fair enough? Fair enough.