My (not-so-politically correct) Merry Christmas Wish!

The festive season is upon us once again! I’d like to take a moment to wish everyone out there a Merry Christmas!!!!

I’m not going to be “politically correct” by wishing you all “Happy Holidays!” I know this may bring out the protesters who are offended because they do not celebrate Christmas, or any holiday at all, for that matter.

But Wait!!!

Before you start bashing me for my “Merry Christmas” wish, let me tell you something about myself. I was raised Jewish, and I celebrated Chanukah and Passover. I went to Hebrew School, my Sabbath was on Saturday, I did not believe in Jesus Christ as Our Savior, and my holidays were Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Purim. Most of my friends were not of the Jewish faith, so I was familiar with the holidays of Christmas and Easter, and I certainly did not live in a bubble of Judaism!

I’ve often felt “different” from my friends because of my religion. I did not have a Christmas tree; instead my family lit a Menorah. I didn’t wear a new Easter outfit and have Easter egg hunts. I ate Matzoh for a week and hunted for the Afikomen during our Passover Seder.

I was fine with my own beliefs, and no one, not friends, teachers, neighbors, or the media made me feel bad for what I believed in. I accepted that most of the population was of Christian faith and my beliefs were in the minority. I accepted my religious differences and embraced the traditions of other religions.

I’ve been wished a “Merry Christmas” more times than I could ever count. Unless I was in Synagogue or with family, I was not wished “Happy Chanukah”. It never bothered me in the least. I was never offended. I enjoyed the differences among people.

That brings me to present day. After marrying (and ultimately divorcing) a (non-practicing) Catholic who tried to find “God” in a variety of churches (even though he was violating one of the Ten Commandments – you can guess which one if you choose…) and then marrying a Spiritual man (whose family is Baptist), I no longer consider myself Jewish. With that being said, I STILL don’t like all this “political correctness”! To me, it takes away from the special beliefs of the people in this world. Based on the fact that most of the population is Christian, why take offense to a “Merry Christmas” greeting? Had I done that, I would have spent most of my life being offended.

I was raised Jewish, but that doesn’t mean that someone can’t wish me a “Merry Christmas”. It’s the thought of the greeting that is important. I don’t feel that someone is trying to push religion on me or force me to change my own beliefs. It’s a festive time of year, and it is merely a person passing along greetings of the season. A person should be able to express a greeting with goodness in his heart and not fear retaliation from someone whose faith doesn’t share in the joy being wished upon him.

So the bottom line is, who are these people that are offended when other people wish them “good will”? It must be the same people who complained about the Public Schools having a “Christmas vacation” so it is now known as Winter Break. Due to complaints our public schools no longer have Easter Break either; instead it is now Spring Recess. Halloween and Valentine’s Day parties are now just a memory to those of us who grew up when differences in religion and culture were accepted.

Can I rant now? (She climbs onto her soap box….)

Retail stores now push holiday sales, holiday hours, holiday parties with the emphasis on HOLIDAY. What about those people who do not celebrate holidays of any kind? The Jehovah’s Witnesses do not celebrate birthdays or holidays. Wouldn’t a “holiday sale” offend them? What about the Federal holidays that honor Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Martin Luther King? Couldn’t those FEDERAL holidays offend the religious beliefs of the Jehovah’s Witnesses?

And what about New Year’s Day? Shouldn’t the Chinese people be offended because they have the Chinese New Year? And Jewish people should be offended too because the government is not closed for Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year).

Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day are special days that honor the men and women who fought for our country. I’m extremely grateful for these special people who gave their life so that I can have my freedom in a country that I love. However, couldn’t people who are not Veterans complain that there is no special day honoring them?

If the Government is closed on these Federal holidays, there should be a lot of complaints because they do not close for (or recognize) such special days as Kwanzaa, Chanukah, Chinese New Year, Eid ul-Fitr (which marks the end of Ramadan), and countless other days that are special to various religions and faiths.

I have to wonder if people just look for reasons to take offense so that they can whine and complain about it. Is it such a big deal to be wished, “Merry Christmas” if you do not celebrate it? I would say NO! If I was wished a “Happy Kwanzaa”, I would say…

Thank you, and the same to you!

With all of the horrible things that happen in this world every day… murder, rape, corruption, disease, famine, poverty… is “Merry Christmas” really such a big deal?

Yet if you want to whine about things, I say go for it!! It’s your right because The First Amendment entitles us to “Freedom of Speech” and” Free Exercise of Religion”.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Let’s exercise our First Amendment rights by voicing our concerns about things that really matter. I just don’t understand how a two-word phrase like “Merry Christmas” has caused such unrest in this country. Let’s use our voice to fight for things that really make a difference. Speak up about world hunger and homelessness! Be a spokesperson for cancer research, ending illiteracy, saving our planet, and promoting world peace! Be an advocate for homeless pets!

Stop the whining about being wished a “Merry Christmas”….and use your voice for something good! Christmas is only one day of the year. Good will can last a lifetime.

(stepping off my soapbox…)

Oh, and Merry Christmas to you!

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