Saturday, November 26, 2011

And, finally the rant

This isn't meant to offend. It really is just a rant. Something I can't really say out loud around most folks, but it's been nagging at me.

Over the last few weeks, with increasing frequency, I've been seeing various (mostly facebook) media rants of "keep Christ in Christmas" and "I say Merry Christmas" and the like. The people behind this "movement" typically are under the impression that community, state, and/or national leadership/governmental sorts that opt for the more general "season greetings" or "happy holidays" are somehow denigrating Christianity. That their morals and values as a Christian are being intentionally and personally threatened by those two phrases.

Frankly, I think their stance is insensitive to the wide variety of folks we have in this country, and is bullying.

I've always seen "season greetings" or "happy holidays" as being less about acknowledging that not every person in this country is a Christian, but more about being a catch-all nicety. I've always thought those phrases encompassed Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Years, etc. And, the fact of it is, there is no "official state religion" in this country. And, not everyone is a Christian. It's not like our country isn't mostly Christian identified . . . the post office isn't closed on Jewish holidays.

So, how about you say the phrase that allows you to be true to your own belief system but try backing off the bullying behavior?

Oh, and when you put your Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving and leave it up until February 1st? You have a holiday tree.

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