I know that it's "politically correct" (in the liberal sense of that
phrase) to say "Happy Holidays" or similar during this period. But
this year and last, I've said "Merry Christmas."
Last year, it was because of the FOX pundit Bill O'Reilly-led defense
against the so-called "War on Christmas." In case you've drowned your
nasty memories of this idiocy in eggnog, O'Reilly believed (believes?)
that evil secularists (and Jews?) were trying to destroy the Christian
spirit of Christmas by having greeters at Wal-Mart and everywhere else
say "Happy Holidays!" or "Season's Greetings" or whatever pagan piety.
The idea of disestablishing organized Christian religion -- and
separating church from state -- was and is anathema. O'Reilly's
campaign was to put the Christ back into Christmas (and the "Ch" back
into Chanukah?)
To some extent, they've succeeded: Wal-Mart greeters now say "Merry
Christmas" -- but somehow they're still underpaid. (Somehow the Walton
family forgets Christian charity.)
O'Reilly and others of the right-wing politically correct set were
arguing for "tradition" (i.e., the tradition of the Christian fraction
of the US that they identify with). But I realized that _my_ tradition
of Christmas was _totally and utterly_ secular. My mom was sort of a
"social gospel" Methodist who became a Unitarian. My dad was a lapsed
Catholic and had absolutely no patience for any kind of religion
(except for the Church of IQ measurement). The Christmas tree had no
religious content at all.
So O'Reilly was attacking tradition -- the tradition that counts. My
traditional Christmas is the secular one of sharing gifts with
friends, family, and others while embracing various pagan symbols
("Christmas" trees, wreaths, lights on the outside of the house, etc.)
that seem appropriate at the darkest time of year. So when I say
"Merry Christmas" to people, it's simply a matter of good cheer. As a
beneficial side-effect, it helps to infuse that phrase with a
humanistic and secular good feeling. (It's more pleasant that "Merry
Xmas.")
Of course, non-Christians don't like "Merry Christmas" (and justly
so). So when outside of my Catholic Church-dominated work-place, I
follow my mom, who used to say "Merry Merry!"
Happy Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Eid al-Adha, Saturnalia, Festivus
(for the rest of us), and other holidays of the season.
--
Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own
way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante.
