I’m getting annoyed by the continued braying from those social conservatives who are in a panic over the “decline” of Christmas. The terrible threat they seek to fight is the menace of people being polite to strangers during the holiday season by saying something along the lines of “Happy Holidays” instead of the correct “Merry mas.”
The latest installment (h/t Ed Brayton) comes from Rep. Henry Brown (R-S. Carolina “First in Treason”) and 74 Co-sponsors including Dan Burton, Mike Pence, and Mark Souder (but not, apparently, Steve Buyer), via H.Res 951. The Resolution expresses “strong disapproval” of attempts to ban references to Christmas. It does not describe any of the bans which so threaten Christmas.
However, by way of explanation, Rep. Brown offers this:
In an explanation of his resolution to the Christian Broadcast Network, Brown noted that, “we’re in a troubled world,” so “we can’t lose sight of our deep faith by some how or another diminishing the value of Christmas.”
The main threat to Christmas, Brown contents, is the use of the term “happy holidays” rather than an emphasis on “Christ and Christmas.” In an interview with Fox Business last week, Brown lashed out at the use of “happy holidays.”
Once again, this is a small but vocal subset of Christians who feel absolutely compelled to mark the public sector as their territory. It’s of a piece with the folks who demand Christian prayers to open legislative meetings, want the Ten Commandments and Nativity scenes on government property, and generally want to entwine their religion with public events. It’s not about their own individual relationship with God. Rather, it’s about trying to force a particular relationship between our society and God or at least ostentatiously display the primacy of their version of religion.
Adding to the annoyance is the apparent ignorance of the history of Christmas, drawing as it does upon the traditions of Saturnalia, Yule, and other solstice celebrations.
I know it gets them votes, but I’d sure be happier if politicians stayed out of the culture war nonsense. (Pigs flying will probably happen sooner.)
Since Christian’s borrowed the date from pagans, I don’t get the claim for December being only for Christmas.
However, being a Christian, I do wish people a Merry Christmas. I recently sent an email on December 24th to someone in New York, and stopped to think before typing “Merry Christmas”. This person has less chance of being a Christian than being a Jew or Atheist, given the diversity of New York, I thought. Should I type that?
I did, because I realized that tolerance means respecting everyone’s beliefs without agreeing with them. I had to trust that the other person understood that.
Had they replied with “Happy New Year to you” or “Happy Hanuka”, I would not have been offended or replied to explain how Christmas is superior. I would have accepted it as a sincere expression of their well-wishes, coming from their own faith.
I seem to think that is how Christ would like to me to handle that.
Seems reasonable to me. I probably should have clarified. I have no problem with people wishing other people a “Merry Christmas.” That’s friendly. I have a problem with people getting pissy and grandstanding at the idea of someone saying “Happy Holidays” or deviating from “Merry Christmas.”
Well, to that point, “Happy Holidays” does irritate me, but only because I feel it is a non-compliment. If you don’t believe in Christmas, don’t wish someone a Merry Christmas. Wish them a Happy New Year, or reflect whatever beliefs you hold. It just seems insincere.
However, please note that my level of irritation is about the same as people that refer to their monitor as their computer, and the computer as the hard drive. It is more MY problem with making a big deal out of something that should just be shrugged off. :-)
There are just a lot of holidays crammed together during the season. I don’t really care why someone is happy during this period of time; I just hope that they are. For me, it’s more or less the equivalent of “have a nice day.”
The concern also includes point that it is of concern to many that the muslims and other religions are totally intolerant of any religious beliefs other than their own—yet may it not be that some “Christians” are just as intolerant and seek to make their own brand of religion THE doctorine we are all to live by. Taking into account the very wide differences within “christian” religions any forced observances will not be accordance with some other factions. Incorporation of some acceptable codes of conduct into law is acceptable but sometimes it is a matter of whose “acceptable code”. Take religion out of the formula and the take on abortion, same sex recognition, etc. etc. etc. it becomes a different issue . We freely condemn Iran’s (and others) for power of religion in their government and yet believe it is not the same at home.
On the issue of Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas—I generally simply use the Happy Holidays greeting and in cards since do not know the religious beliefs of some a greeting is given to –and know that several christian groups do not from a church stand point observe “christmas” as a special date since as pointed out already the date was selected by people of one faith and taken as a date from pagan observations—and is not consistent with agricultural practices to be the correct time of year. Simply seeking to “force observations” is wrong.
I have always had the belief that Christmas is not the holiest of Catholic/Christian holidays. The holiest would be Easter, the day Christ rose after dying for our sins.
If my understanding above is correct, wouldn’t it make sense to wish people “Happy Easter” when you see them 10-20 days before Easter (like we do for Christmas)? Yet we don’t do that. Why? Because the meaning of “Merry Christmas” is much more “secular,” related to the giving of gifts, than it is “sacred.”
I had also meant to mention, but forgot, that celebrating Christmas as a big deal holiday is a relatively recent phenomenon — or at least recently revived. The Puritans didn’t care much for the celebration and its revival apparently owes a fair amount to Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” in the mid-1800s. (Wikipedia tells me that “Merry Christmas” was popularized by that book.)
Dear God!
The abomination that is the BLINK tag is still supported?
Doug, how could you?
To be honest, I didn’t think it would actually work.
Well, it doesn’t in the comments (forgive me – the blogger tempted me…)
I’m confused. Apparently, Jesus is the physical manifestation of God, creator of the universe and the ultimate judge of mankind’s fate. Yet somehow, the all powerful Jesus is worried about people not saying Merry Christmas, or something like that.
Doesn’t sound like much of a god to me.
Wait- you’re annoyed at grandstanding politicians? What else do they do besides grandstand on things they already know their constituencies generally support them on?
I think this is a sign of weak faith. If these war on Christmas folks were secure in their beliefs, they wouldn’t need everyone around them to think or speak as they do.
The main problem I have with this phony outrage is that it seems to be of a recent vintage. I remember people saying Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings all the time when I was growing up and into my early to mid thirties. I don’t remember anyone getting upset about it. It seems that only in recent years have people taken these rather innocuous greetings to be anti-Christian, insincere, and/or politically correct. Stores used to regularly use “Xmas” for Christmas on their sale signs, and again, I don’t remember too much fuss being made about it. Now, I hear people getting all “outraged” about it, mainly because they don’t know (or care) that the X when used in that way is a legitimate way of saying Christ. Christmas and New Year’s Day are two different holidays,therefore, what is wrong with saying “Happy Holidays”? Throw in that Thanksgiving, Kwanza, Hanukah, and other holidays fall around the same time and it sorto makes sense to say “Happy Holidays.”
As a Christian, I don’t find that phrase to be offensive or evidence of lack of faith or lack of sincerity of the person making the greeting. I think that the person is just trying to be polite, and what is wrong with that? As for Mike Pence, this is just further evidence of his stupidity, as if we needed more. I’ll bet that if a well-endowed woman dressed in a form-fitting elf outfit said “Happy Holidays” to him, he would be very happy indeed.
The first time I was really aware of the Merry Christmas vs Happy Holiday debate was as a reaction against (big) business (Maybe Walmart greeters?) who were instructed to say ‘Happy Holidays’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas’.Don’t turn off any potential customers.Separating big business from big government is always confusing.’The free market’ obviously prefers ‘Happy Holidays’
Anyone can add to the Christmas spirit,especially by spending money/ buying gifts.Not all those who buy Christmas gifts are devout, God-fearing Christians,but there is nevertheless a spirit of general holiday cheer for all who venture out.
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As a non-Christian, I think what bothers me is that people who say “Merry Christmas” to me ASSUME I am a Christian. In addition, in the past, people have asked me if I’m “ready for Christmas?” I have taken to telling them that I don’t celebrate Christmas. This is done in a polite way. I guess it just bothers me that many people feel that we live in a Christian country. They need to get out there and learn a bit about other religions and how we celebrate our holidays.
Annette,
Try responding with your own greeting: “Peaceful Solstice to you”, or whatever religion (or lack thereof) you follow. It is a sincere way to share your own feelings on the matter, and it can be a gentle reminder that not everyone shares the same beliefs.
I’m certain some people do just assume everyone is a Christian. However, some people are just happy about their own beliefs and are sharing their happiness. It is nothing to be offended by.