Merry Christmas.
I said it and I meant it. I wish you a Merry Christmas. Even if you do not celebrate Christmas, I wish you a Merry Christmas. This does not mean I do not respect your holiday or tradition. Nor does it mean I am trying to shove my traditions and beliefs down your throat. It simply means Merry Christmas.
I said it and I meant it. I wish you a Merry Christmas. Even if you do not celebrate Christmas, I wish you a Merry Christmas. This does not mean I do not respect your holiday or tradition. Nor does it mean I am trying to shove my traditions and beliefs down your throat. It simply means Merry Christmas.
How did we get to the point that saying Merry Christmas is politically incorrect?
Yes. It is religious. I realize not everyone shares the same religious beliefs, and I am glad they don’t. The world would be so boring if that were the case. In Christianity, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Savior. It does not get bigger than that (until you get to Easter.) Christmas is a reminder that even one born in the most humble of beginnings can be most important person in history. It is a reminder that goodness and wonder are part of us. It is hope and innocence. It is joyful and happy.
Even in the secular world, Christmas represents innocence and the promise born in each of us. It is a time for giving and sharing and gathering. It is a time to believe in wonderful things. It is Santa Claus traveling the earth to deliver presents to all the good little boys and girls. It is gifts, and singing and over eating. It is hope and innocence. It is joyful and happy.
The religious Christmas and the secular Christmas are intertwined, but neither is pushing the other away. All celebrations are welcome. Many complain that the “true meaning” of Christmas is lost in the consumerism. However, I do not think that is true at all. I think there are many “true meanings” of Christmas and all of them are good. Certainly, the shopping can get out of control, but it is the one time of the year we feel the need to give gifts to family and friends. The process of that can be overwhelming, but more people than not take part in it. When all is said and done, many of us have made an effort to get in touch with old friends, and most of us spend time with the people we love – or wish we could.
Many do not celebrate Christmas at all, but they are involved in other types of celebrations. There are many other holidays this time of year, every religion, or group has a winter celebration of some sort. The stories are different, but the central theme is the same. All are joyful and happy. All are wonderful. If you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, the Solstice or any other holiday, I wish you a Happy, Merry, meaningful celebration of that as well. Nevertheless, I still wish you a Merry Christmas, because that is how I celebrate.
If you do not celebrate any holiday, that is fine. I hope you have a lovely December. However, I secretly hope you are invited to the house of someone who celebrates one of these holidays, just so you have a little seasonal fun.
Everyone should get to enjoy whatever their holiday however they choose to do so, including not at all. Be true to your traditions or make some new ones. Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the season, whatever you call it. I call it Christmas. That is not a "my way or the highway" statement, it is just what this season is to me.
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. Why wouldn’t I wish that for you?
Yes. It is religious. I realize not everyone shares the same religious beliefs, and I am glad they don’t. The world would be so boring if that were the case. In Christianity, Christmas is the celebration of the birth of the Savior. It does not get bigger than that (until you get to Easter.) Christmas is a reminder that even one born in the most humble of beginnings can be most important person in history. It is a reminder that goodness and wonder are part of us. It is hope and innocence. It is joyful and happy.
Even in the secular world, Christmas represents innocence and the promise born in each of us. It is a time for giving and sharing and gathering. It is a time to believe in wonderful things. It is Santa Claus traveling the earth to deliver presents to all the good little boys and girls. It is gifts, and singing and over eating. It is hope and innocence. It is joyful and happy.
The religious Christmas and the secular Christmas are intertwined, but neither is pushing the other away. All celebrations are welcome. Many complain that the “true meaning” of Christmas is lost in the consumerism. However, I do not think that is true at all. I think there are many “true meanings” of Christmas and all of them are good. Certainly, the shopping can get out of control, but it is the one time of the year we feel the need to give gifts to family and friends. The process of that can be overwhelming, but more people than not take part in it. When all is said and done, many of us have made an effort to get in touch with old friends, and most of us spend time with the people we love – or wish we could.
Many do not celebrate Christmas at all, but they are involved in other types of celebrations. There are many other holidays this time of year, every religion, or group has a winter celebration of some sort. The stories are different, but the central theme is the same. All are joyful and happy. All are wonderful. If you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, the Solstice or any other holiday, I wish you a Happy, Merry, meaningful celebration of that as well. Nevertheless, I still wish you a Merry Christmas, because that is how I celebrate.
If you do not celebrate any holiday, that is fine. I hope you have a lovely December. However, I secretly hope you are invited to the house of someone who celebrates one of these holidays, just so you have a little seasonal fun.
Everyone should get to enjoy whatever their holiday however they choose to do so, including not at all. Be true to your traditions or make some new ones. Enjoy the hustle and bustle of the season, whatever you call it. I call it Christmas. That is not a "my way or the highway" statement, it is just what this season is to me.
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas. Why wouldn’t I wish that for you?
I find it odd that you speak so often of including everyone, of having space for everyone, and yet you cannot make space in your language for those who do not celebrate what you celebrate. It isn't about political correctness, just like including everyone and accessibility isn't about political correctness, it is about respecting and including others through our words and actions. While your long version certainly seems to indicate you respect those who do not have your religion your refusal to use inclusive language that makes space for others celebrations doesn't. I don't understand why you would insist on saying, "Merry Christmas" to someone who doesn't celebrate Christmas. It is full of the entitlement of someone who knows they are in the majority. You assume others should accept your greeting. Yet, you get angry when others make assumptions about Maggie. You write long posts about the ridiculous things people say because they make assumptions. Assumptions they too make because they are in a position of entitlement because they are in the majority. It is too bad you can't extend your attitude of inclusion and having space for everyone to this season, when your Savior who came to preach love would ask you think about how your words and actions impact others.
ReplyDeleteWow! I don't know how you got that interpretation from this post. My intention was just the opposite. I have received comments from representatives of several different faiths, beleifs and non beliefs and yours in the only one that saw things from this angle. I apologize if I offended you, my intent was exactly the opposite. Your post is anonymous so I presume you don't know me, because if you did you would know how far this interpretation is from the person I am. I hope you enjoy your holiday, whatever it is. That's all I was ever trying to say.
ReplyDelete