2008 Woodie Awards
Are we too politically correct?
Happy Chrismahanukwanzakah
Dawn Hughes
Issue date: 12/7/06 Section: Opinions
- Page 1 of 1
Our society has become obsessed with being politically correct. It's not okay to proudly proclaim our beliefs. The freedom that so many men and women have died protecting is being threatened with political correctness.
Now, I'm not saying that people should go around being racist. However, our constitution does give every citizen the freedom to state his or her beliefs. That means that if you sneeze, I should be able to say "God bless you" without you jumping all over me because you don't believe in God.
With the holiday season approaching, many people find themselves being told to say "Happy Holidays" instead of the traditional "Merry Christmas." So what if you don't celebrate Christmas, I do. I'll say "Merry Christmas" to you and you can say whatever the hell you want back. If you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the winter solstice, you can say something other than "Merry Christmas." You're not offending me, so why should it offend you if I participate in a holiday celebrated by a majority of the population of the United States.
Keep in mind that when someone says "Merry Christmas," he or she is simply proclaiming the joy of the holiday. That person simply wants to wish you a joyous season and a prosperous year to come. It just so happens that he or she celebrates Christmas as opposed to Kwanzaa. If someone approached you and said "Happy Kwanzaa," that person is probably imparting the same greetings as the person who said "Merry Christmas."
According to CNNMoney.com on Nov. 9, Wal-Mart is bringing "Merry Christmas" back. Last year many religious groups and people who just wanted to hear a cheery "Merry Christmas" boycotted Wal-Mart and other stores because they excluded the word "Christmas" from their holiday advertisements and products. This year Wal-Mart spokeswoman Linda Blakley told USA Today, "We're not afraid to use the term 'Merry Christmas.' We'll use it early, and we'll use it often."
The holiday may not occur on the actual day of Christ's birth. This fact is not important. The meaning behind the season is celebrating sacrifice, love, and charity, all things represented by Christ coming to earth to ultimately die on the cross. Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends, celebrating the blessings we have. It is a time to share the bounty we have with those who have less. It is often the one time every year when people put aside their differences and work together to achieve a greater good.
All warm fuzzy feelings aside, we constantly hear about people speaking out about their opinions on the war, the president, the school system, and even pop culture. And they have the freedom to speak their opinions without fear of being charged with a crime. So I think we should be able to say "Merry Christmas," "Happy Hanukkah," "Wonderful Winter" or whatever else you may be celebrating this season.
This is America, the land of the free, the place where the pilgrims fled to escape the laws of England. The last thing we should be doing is telling other people what they can and cannot say during the holidays.
So, Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, Happy Hanukkah, Feliz Navidad, Happy Holidays, Satisfying Solstice, Rosy Ramadan, or Karefree Kwanzaa, no matter what greeting you choose to use this season, say it with joy and freedom.
Now, I'm not saying that people should go around being racist. However, our constitution does give every citizen the freedom to state his or her beliefs. That means that if you sneeze, I should be able to say "God bless you" without you jumping all over me because you don't believe in God.
With the holiday season approaching, many people find themselves being told to say "Happy Holidays" instead of the traditional "Merry Christmas." So what if you don't celebrate Christmas, I do. I'll say "Merry Christmas" to you and you can say whatever the hell you want back. If you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the winter solstice, you can say something other than "Merry Christmas." You're not offending me, so why should it offend you if I participate in a holiday celebrated by a majority of the population of the United States.
Keep in mind that when someone says "Merry Christmas," he or she is simply proclaiming the joy of the holiday. That person simply wants to wish you a joyous season and a prosperous year to come. It just so happens that he or she celebrates Christmas as opposed to Kwanzaa. If someone approached you and said "Happy Kwanzaa," that person is probably imparting the same greetings as the person who said "Merry Christmas."
According to CNNMoney.com on Nov. 9, Wal-Mart is bringing "Merry Christmas" back. Last year many religious groups and people who just wanted to hear a cheery "Merry Christmas" boycotted Wal-Mart and other stores because they excluded the word "Christmas" from their holiday advertisements and products. This year Wal-Mart spokeswoman Linda Blakley told USA Today, "We're not afraid to use the term 'Merry Christmas.' We'll use it early, and we'll use it often."
The holiday may not occur on the actual day of Christ's birth. This fact is not important. The meaning behind the season is celebrating sacrifice, love, and charity, all things represented by Christ coming to earth to ultimately die on the cross. Christmas is a time to spend with family and friends, celebrating the blessings we have. It is a time to share the bounty we have with those who have less. It is often the one time every year when people put aside their differences and work together to achieve a greater good.
All warm fuzzy feelings aside, we constantly hear about people speaking out about their opinions on the war, the president, the school system, and even pop culture. And they have the freedom to speak their opinions without fear of being charged with a crime. So I think we should be able to say "Merry Christmas," "Happy Hanukkah," "Wonderful Winter" or whatever else you may be celebrating this season.
This is America, the land of the free, the place where the pilgrims fled to escape the laws of England. The last thing we should be doing is telling other people what they can and cannot say during the holidays.
So, Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, Happy Hanukkah, Feliz Navidad, Happy Holidays, Satisfying Solstice, Rosy Ramadan, or Karefree Kwanzaa, no matter what greeting you choose to use this season, say it with joy and freedom.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Ric
posted 12/16/07 @ 8:20 AM CST
VERY WELL WRITTEN! God bless you without a sneeze being a prerequisite!
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