Jay,

I’m glad you brought this up.

I’d like to know, what’s wrong with saying “Happy Holidays” and “Seasons Greetings” anyway?  Isn’t the Christmas spirit about being welcoming, loving and peaceful to all? Don’t you think when certain Religious Right groups make such a fuss over this every year, claiming there is some sort of “war on Christmas,” that they are the ones breaking that peace?

I think so at least. Take your friends at Liberty Counsel (as Henny Youngman, a comedian only the two of us may be old enough to remember, “please” take them) who year after year put together a “Naughty and Nice” list of retailers based on the language stores use in their holiday marketing materials. The group recommends boycotts against stores that use “Happy holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas.”

It seems rather bizarre to me that stores that choose to be inclusive of
all – including those who are both Christian and non-Christian – are
being criticized for that.  Last I checked, our country was founded on
the principle that no one religious belief shall be favored. These
retailers are not denying our country’s “heritage,” as you claim, but
rather abiding by our earliest traditions.  

Discussing this
with you now actually takes me back. It reminds me of a similar
argument I had years ago with former Fox News Host John Gibson on this very Web site. We
went back and forth about the religious meaning of pine trees.
It seems so trivial to me that over the years, people have made such a
stink over calling a pine tree a “holiday tree” instead of a “Christmas
tree.” As I said back then, nothing in the Christian Bible invests any
religious significance in pine trees, so I don’t see why it’s such a big
deal. What point are these whiners even trying to prove?

Our
country is full of a variety of faith traditions. During this time of
year, several of these religions celebrate holidays of their own. I see
nothing wrong if a private company chooses to be inclusive of all, or
if someone rather call a decorated pine tree a “holiday tree” rather
than a “Christmas tree.” That’s their right, just as it is your right,
Jay, to celebrate the holiday of your choice.

But I would like
to note, Jay, the reason you and I have this freedom is because our
government officials, for the most part, have left it up to each
individual to treat this season however he or she sees fit – whether
that means celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa,  or any other holiday.
It’s the government’s constitutional duty not to favor one religion
over another. And because of that, our country really can be a
welcoming and peaceful place for all.

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