It’s Christmas time again, and that means that Fox News and other conservative groups are sounding the horns to kick off the anual “War on Christmas”, a tradition linked to white supremecists dating back several decades.
Lately, they’ve had a new weapon in their one-sided war, Facebook friends. Here’s the post spreading around that you’ve probably seen by now:
Just so everyone knows, I will have a CHRISTMAS TREE in my living room (not a holiday tree), my child is getting CHRISTMAS PRESENTS (not holiday gifts) and we will eat CHRISTMAS DINNER (not a holiday meal), and I will attend a CHRISTMAS PARTY (not a holiday party). I will also very cheerfully wish you a MERRY CHRISTMAS! (not… happy holidays). By the way, if you want to have a Happy Hanukah , by all means do, I respect that. If you want to have a Blessed Kwanzaa, I also respect that. I want to have a Merry Christmas, so I ask YOU to respect that! Repost if you agree!!
Can we stop this nonsense? You say that you respect that not everyone celebrates Christmas, and in the same breathe you exclaim that you will only wish them greetings for something (that you know) they don’t celebrate. Even if you *don’t* know what holiday someone celebrates, it’s incredibly rude to just assume it’s Christmas.
If someone wishes you “Happy Holidays”, they aren’t doing it to insult you or “take the Christ out of Christmas”. They’re being considerate because THEY DON’T KNOW what holiday you celebrate.
This Facebook post is the reason I’m so sad about what this country has become. When did so many of us adopt ignorance as something to be proud of?
When you post or “like” stuff like that on Facebook, it only makes intelligent people think less of you. The only people you’re going to impress are those who are equally as ignorant,.. but I guess that’s the point.
p.s. why don’t we stop spamming our friends with chain letters on Facebook altogether?
#1 by Math Princess on December 6, 2011 - 11:30 am
I find this equally frustrating. I am surprised at my friends who have been posting this. It seems very narrow minded. Also, I can’t walk into a grocery store with being bombarded by Christmas wares. I can’t drive down the street with a parade getting in my way. I can’t park without a Christmas tree lot taking up half the spaces. No other religious holiday is so widely recognized and openly celebrated. They’re shoving it in my face and saying I have to like it.
#2 by Watcher068 on December 6, 2011 - 2:57 pm
The only reason you’re “bombarded” by Christmas wares is because commercially speaking Christmas is still the biggest of the winter holidays and so merchants are keen to capitalize on that opportunity. However, what some people are frustrated about is not what the merchants are (or aren’t) offering, but how the meaning of the Christmas holiday is perceived by many as being subverted in order to be “politically correct”. I agree though that this does not necessarily mean that the way you greet other individuals (especially those not personally known to you) is going to make a meaningful difference in changing anything other than seeming rude and so diminishing the holiday anyway. So, whether the perceived point is accurate or not, this response isn’t the proper way to address it.
#3 by Stone1143 on December 6, 2011 - 3:24 pm
On the other hand, as a Jewish person I don’t find it insulting in any way if someone wishes me a Merry Christmas. Why should I be upset for someone to wish me well? I simply respond back, Merry Christmas. Do I need to get offended? Most reasonable people will simply reply in kind. I also find that if I say, Happy Hanukkah, most folks will reply in kind even if they’re not Jewish. To me, the idea that we must homogenize ourselves in order not to offend anyone is also sad. Why can’t we each be who we are and still be appreciated in our communities?
#4 by esmoger on December 6, 2011 - 3:38 pm
Stone1143 – I totally agree, and that’s kind of my point. The “War on Christmas” is a made up political tool at worst, or a made up ratings tool at best. (or some combination of both)
The vast majority of people don’t get upset by these greetings, whether they be for Christmas, a generic holiday, or otherwise. Most people could care less.
People who celebrate other holidays never asked for Walmart to sell “holiday trees”, and offices have holiday parties because we live in a litigious society and they often CAN’T afford to upset anyone.
I’m sure Jews and Muslims(and others) are generally wished “Merry Christmas” far more often than Christians are wished “Happy Holidays” and yet we’ve never had media outrage or chain letters about a “War on Hanukkah” or any other holiday.
It’s only a subset of the Christmas crowd that can find a way to get offended by a friendly greeting.