Saying Merry Christmas Should Not Spark Controversy
Many people are wondering when it became politically incorrect to use the phrase merry Christmas. The holiday has been a religious celebration for hundreds of years and people of all nations celebrate. Although their celebrations are based on their religious beliefs, some of which do not match the general reason for the holidays, some folks are almost afraid to say merry Christmas for fear of offending someone whose beliefs are different from their own.
It is easy to say that not everyone will be happy about something that is said. Essentially any phrase religious in nature or not, can be offended but whatever is said should not be confused with expressing a thought and dictating a belief. There is so much diversity in the world that saying something simple like merry Christmas should be accepted in the spirit in which it is said.
When someone offers wished for someone to have a merry Christmas it is not intended to mean they should change their beliefs or way of thinking. It is meant to extol the greeting for the traditional thoughts of the holiday. Peace and good will toward men usually does not elicit as much debate as the phrase merry Christmas, used by a vast majority of the world population.
Maybe Scrooge Did Say It Best
As today's intolerance for expressing views that others may not agree with, perhaps Ebenezer Scrooge said it best with his infamous "Bah. Humbug." It was not until he understood the true meaning behind the phrase merry Christmas that he understood that it is more of an attitude than a directive. By wishing someone a merry Christmas it is meant to be a friendly gesture.
Some of the groups have decided that if it is a person's right to say merry Christmas, it should be their right to not have to hear it. While many of the arguments may seem far-fetched, there are some who truly believe they are being offended when someone wishes them a merry Christmas, claiming it is an affront to their individual beliefs. Others, even with similar opinions, accept the greeting for what it is, and simply ignore it.
A push by some major retailer to change their usual merry Christmas to happy holidays was met with resistance by customers and employees alike. After much debate, most chose to revert back to the merry Christmas greeting as it is an expression of hope for the holiday season.
