Commentary: As long as the greeting is merry or happy I'm good with it
OK, it's December so we have to have this conversation and I'm not sure why. But, others are, so, I will too. There’s nothing wrong with me wishing you a Merry Christmas regardless of your religion and there's nothing wrong with you wishing me a Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanza or anything else, regardless of mine, if your intent is to share the joy of whatever it is that is making you happy. If that offends you, you should go on Santa’s naughty list.
There's an ongoing kerfuffle started by some guy with a million-plus followers who has monetized Twitter for himself. And, yes, I’m going to always call it Twitter. Apparently, I am supposed to say Happy Holidays if I want to say anything this time of year, unless I’m sure of the other person's religion or practice. Why?
I mean, I have no problem with the term “Happy Holidays” and appreciate when that wish is said to me. I also totally understand stores and companies directing there staff to use the general term as opposed to Merry Christmas, because of, well, those people on Santa’s naughty list. Happy Holidays is perfectly acceptable term for those who want to use it, because it has that word “Happy” in it, and that’s all that matters to me. But, Mr. Twitter Guy and everyone weighing in there and elsewhere, I completely disagree that I NEED to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas if I’m unsure of someone else's religion to “show respect”. And the “It really shouldn’t be this hard” comment, no it shouldn’t. People should simply be able to spread joy however they wish without people getting all angry about it and dictating how the rest of us are allowed to share our own happiness with others.
That's what all this is about—sharing our joys and happiness and pleasures and smiles with one another. If it's pure, what’s to be offended by? I celebrate Christmas and I say Merry Christmas this time of year to pretty much everyone. If a person I’m greeting is someone I know is Jewish during Hanukkah, I obviously offer a Happy Hanukkah. But, as I’m out shopping and celebrating the season, the vast majority of people I meet, I have no idea what they celebrate, so rather than be sanitized in my comments, I share the joy that I am celebrating and I promise you, I am sharing that in a much more pure sense than if I felt required to use a generic term.
“The Holidays” don’t commentate the birth of Jesus Christ and fill my heart with peace and love, Christmas does. “The Holidays” are not what is being celebrated with an eight day festival commemorating a religious and military success in Jewish history, Hanukkah is. “The Holidays” isn’t a week-long festival celebrating African American culture and tradition, Kwanzaa is. Merry Christmas to all of you and if you want to wish me a Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanza I welcome and appreciate that because you are sharing your celebration with me. I don’t have to be Jewish or African American to appreciate that gesture and you don't have to be Christian to appreciate mine.
Now, to those who say this “must say Happy Holidays movement” is all about a War on Christmas, it’s not a War on Christmas. It’s a surrender to those constantly looking to be offended by someone or on behalf of someone else. It’s perpetuated by white-flag-wavers who don't want to be on the receiving end of keyboard warriors, and by the other keyboard warriors who want a million followers to praise him for his “inclusivity”, when all he is doing is “excluding” all religions and celebrations from all of us. I’m not going to do that, because I want to share my feelings of merriness with others and I want others to share theirs with me. That’s far more poignant, and a far greater gift of oneself than a generic, polite greeting with nothing cherished behind it.
By the way, Donald Trump said this week that if re-elected, he would be a “dictator” on day one, but only for one day, and lots of people cheered him from the audience and are cheering this on social platforms. I’m here to inform those of you cheering this on, you’re on Santa’s Naughty List too, but don’t worry, he won’t put coal in your stocking. I hear he’s considering coming down everyone’s chimney with a copy of the Constitution.
Alicia Preston Xanthopoulos is a former political consultant and member of the media. She’s a native of Hampton Beach where she lives with her family and two poodles. Write to her at PrestonPerspective@gmail.com.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Commentary: As long as the greeting is merry or happy I'm good with it
