Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?

I almost hesitate writing a post about this subject because I have yet to hear much of anything on this standard, yearly argument we have in America.

It’s been quiet lately…nothing from the talking heads on Fox News or CNN, nothing in the papers, very little on the Net, and I’ve yet to hear any personal conversations about it. Perhaps we are finally starting to wise up.

In fear of igniting this controversial issue, I will make this post as an act of laying flowers on the grave of a (hopefully) dead subject, or this post will (hopefully) be that which puts the subject in its grave, flowers be damned.

What we need to remember is what this blog is all about – It’s a Free Country. That means, when it comes to the holidays, anyone should be able to say anything they want, with one, minor exception.

Do you celebrate Christmas? Then why not say “Merry Christmas”? Do you celebrate Hanukkah? Then why not say “Happy Hanukkah”? Do you celebrate Kwanzaa? Then why not say “Happy Kwanzaa”? The list goes on.

Here's an example of how a potential greeting could occur: If you celebrate Hanukkah and someone you meet celebrates Christmas, they should be able to say “Merry Christmas” to you, because they celebrate Christmas. Your reply, in return, could then be “Happy Hanukkah”, because you celebrate Hanukkah.

In a free country, people should be able to give the greeting that corresponds to what they celebrate, no matter what anyone else celebrates. It’s just that simple.

Even if you celebrate Christmas, you don’t have to say Merry Christmas. If you want to say "Happy Holidays" or anything else, so be it. In a free country, it shouldn’t matter what seasonal greeting you want to say and it shouldn’t matter what seasonal greeting you get in return, if any. Not only is that the mark of a free country, that’s also the mark of simple maturity and rationalism.

I mentioned there being an exception. The only exception to being able to say whatever you want to say for the holidays is if you work for an employer who wants you, as the employee (if you are an employee), to say a particular greeting to customers.

The thing to remember here is that the employer is either the owner of the business or the person who runs it. It’s their business, not yours (the employee). If you don’t like having to say what the employer wants you to say in their business, in a free country, you are free to leave that job and find another.

On a personal note, I don’t know why any business would not want their employees to say something neutral like “Happy Holidays” or “Seasons Greetings”. Businesses are in the business of making profit and people of all persuasions are potential customers. Relating to each of those customers should be in the interest of a business. But, that’s just my opinion.

All that being said, I hope you enjoy whatever holiday you celebrate, no matter what country you are in.