...and...
I have several things to say about this.
1--Choose sentence one or sentence two. If you couldn't care less about offending people, then don't start with "Not to offend..." Also, if you really don't care about offending people, you're an asshole. Have your own opinions all the live long, but you can express opinions in respectful ways that won't offend. If you are respectful and someone still gets offended...their bad. But these statuses aren't running that risk.
2--"If you aren't celebrating CHRIST then why are you celebrating?" Tradition. Family. Presents. Travel. Snow. Christmas movies. Vacation. Those are a few other reasons people could be celebrating. Maybe. Just guessing.
3--Stop yelling CHRISTMAS and CHRIST. It makes me uncomfortable, and people don't like being yelled at. I'm pretty sure anyone not already celebrating CHRIST will certainly not be swayed by you yelling it at them.
4--"Christmas is one of the few holidays left that celebrate my CHRIST." Wait, were there a lot of other ones? I mean, Easter, but that's pretty Christ (I'm sorry--CHRIST) focused still. I don't think there was ever an issue of CHRIST being in Arbor Day, or your mom's birthday. He's still there...don't freak out about it.
5--I know it's super crazy, but some people celebrate holidays other than Christmas.
It's ok--take a moment to process if you need it.
Ok. So I know you celebrate Christmas, and I know I celebrate Christmas, but what about your neighbor who's Jewish? Seems pretty redic to respond to their holiday wishes (maybe they aren't sure which you celebrate, although that's unlikely with all of the yelling you've been doing) with "Merry Christmas"...because they aren't going to have a merry Christmas...because they're celebrating Hanukkah.
6--It seems pretty messed up to force people to acknowledge your holiday of choice when you won't acknowledge theirs.
The only way statuses like that second one are legit is if you greet people with the other December holidays as well. I'm fine with you telling people Merry Christmas around Christmas. Go crazy. But you better say Happy Hanukkah around Hanukkah, and Happy Kwanzaa around Kwanzaa too.
"No way. I don't celebrate those other holidays, so I won't say it. I celebrate CHRISTMAS!"
I get that, but do you really ONLY acknowledge the special occasions that YOU personally celebrate? So on your cousin's birthday, do you not wish them a happy birthday because it's not YOUR birthday?
"Well, no...but I'm sort of celebrating with them...because it's their birthday..."
Then why aren't you sort of celebrating with people who celebrate Hanukkah? It's their holiday.
"Because I'm not Jewish..."
They are. Are you really saying you can't acknowledge any other holidays? And I bet you $38 that they'll wish you a Merry Christmas.
"They DO always wish me a Merry Christmas."
I know. And they don't yell, either.
I'm just saying...maybe people are saying Happy Holidays because they aren't sure which holiday you celebrate, and not as a part of a huge liberal conspiracy to remove CHRIST from our lives. I love Jesus too, but let's all just take a moment and realize that our favorite holiday isn't the only one out there.
Let the napkin do the talking.
Gosh, thanks so much for writing this one. I seriously reach a breaking point every December like, please everyone, just calm down. I love celebrating everyone's holidays! I will be staying off fb this December with the express purpose of avoiding the posts and reposts of promising to tell EVERYONE Merry Christmas... I just wish you could post this for reals....
ReplyDeleteYeah, but what about my right to celebrate Christmas on the Prado?? I love Balboa Park, and THEY took that away from me. i'm not just gonna celebrate any old December night...or any other random night of any other month for that matter. It's like one less celebration in my life, you know?
ReplyDeleteThose are some wise words on that napkin. But why is that napkin red and not blue? I'm upset about that.
ReplyDelete