Letter: ‘Happy Holidays’ is no insult

I was appalled to read the recent letter in which the writer bragged of hectoring an unfortunate sales clerk on Christmas and Jesus. In the interests of harmony and goodwill among men this holiday season, I have some facts and suggestions:

• There is no biblical basis for Christmas. Jesus’ birth date is not in the Bible, nor does the Bible tell believers to celebrate it. In fact, some Christian denominations refuse to celebrate Christmas for this reason. (See next item.)
• Christmas is not the only holiday being celebrated around this time of year, and it is by no means the oldest. There is Kwanzaa, Saturnalia, Diwali and of course Hanukkah. Yule, which is often used as a synonym for Christmas, was actually once a pagan holiday — and this is not an opinion, but an verifiable fact.
• The First Amendment grants us the freedom of religion. An employer cannot force workers to betray their faith. Would that letter-writer have endorsed a Muslim employer forcing his female workers to wear headscarves, or a Jewish boss forcing his Christian employees to deny that Jesus was the son of God? Of course not. Every decent American would be outraged.
• The furor over the phrase “Happy Holidays” is recent. As a child, I knew the obvious: “Happy Holidays” is not a slur against Christians. The “holidays” referred to include Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year. Would you rather be told: “Merry Christmas, but I hope your New Year’s Eve party is awful”?
• On an entirely secular and practical note: This is a very busy season for everyone. Please be considerate not only to your cashier, but to the people in line behind you. If the clerk tells you “Happy Holidays,” accept the well-wishes graciously and do not waste everyone’s time by humiliating him or her and forcing your fellow shoppers to wait. There is nothing to stop you from responding to “Happy Holidays” with “Merry Christmas,” after all.

K.D. McNamara

artist

Kenner

Comments

1) Comment by Bouncer - 15/12/2012

Had I been that unfortunate sales clerk, I'm afraid that I would currently be on unemployment, for I would have told the "hectoring" customer that he could stick Jesus where the sun doesn't shine. Imagine doing your job, minding your own business and then having some a-hole get all up in your face with such a lecture.

2) Comment by potkcalb - 14/12/2012

"False religions" twinklecat?

3) Comment by Art Vandelay - 14/12/2012

Happy Festivus to the rest of us!!!

4) Comment by Hello Baton Rouge - 14/12/2012

Happy "Whatever doesn't offend you"

5) Comment by Chucky - 13/12/2012

K.D. McNamara, do not know what your art medium is but how would you express your thoughts in that Art form?

6) Comment by DMJ - 13/12/2012

twinkiecat, "made-up holiday"? Being a litte redundant, aren't you?

7) Comment by Chucky - 13/12/2012

Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 as the first specifically African-American holiday so is not ancient by any means ( more of a Black Pride thing) The Christmas tree ( not the Holiday Tree ) was also once a pagan symbol and why many Christians will not have it in the house. Let no one be fooled, the merchants are making money on the celebration of Christ,s birth and not any other Jewish Muslim or Eskimo holiday, being more Wicca/Pagan I celebrate the ending of the old solar year and the beginning of the new as the Sun starts its return. Wishing all a happy Yule and Merry Christmas.

8) Comment by prbeav - 13/12/2012

Maybe "Good will to you!" and a smile would be strange enough to invoke good will with most people.

9) Comment by twinkie1cat - 13/12/2012

No, It's not an insult, just awfully generic. As a Christian I prefer Merry Christmas because it acknowledges the Savior. I say Happy Hannukah if I know someone is Jewish or Glorious Eid to Muslims. Kwaanza is a made up holiday so I don't . It is not that I am racist, however. You just don't celebrate principles and it is sometimes used as a substitute for Christmas. Plus it is extremely separatist, when Jesus preached unity and love for everyone...... It is true that Jesus was not likely born in December. More likely it was around May since his parents were going to Bethlehem to fill out their census questionaires and pay their taxes. That does not matter and should not be used to make an excuse not to give people, especially children. presents and to make children feel left out because their parents are requiring them to practice the adults' faith that they don't understand and only see as an excuse to hurt them. I have known several people who were forced to follow cults or false religions as children and when they grew up and went to their own faith they, if anything, overreacted.

10) Comment by billynurse - 13/12/2012

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! What's going to be the official greeting for the Messiah Obama's Birthday?

11) Comment by nimby? - 13/12/2012

if the clerk smiles , makes eye contact and says "thank you for shopping at (insert)" , they've done their job , anything else is a personal touch , someone being nice , respect the sentiment . tis the season ...

12) Comment by NearBarbarian - 13/12/2012

Great letter, K.D. Cheers!

13) Comment by phil - 13/12/2012

ALL I have to say is MERRY CHRISTmas! -and happy new year.

14) Comment by SacredCow - 13/12/2012

I worked retail for one miserable holiday season, and I'd have to suggest that any well-wishes you get from a store employee (who is likely working long hours on their feet, dealing with ill-mannered people who think they're the center of the universe) should be taken as a gift. Replying to "happy holidays" with a condescending lecture about Jesus is 100% guaranteed to have the opposite of your intended effect. Happy ChristmaKwanzikkuh to you all!

15) Comment by DMJ - 13/12/2012

Great letter, K.D. On a slightly un-related note, whenever a stranger wishes me Merry Christmas, I reply, "Happy Hannukah!" Not because I'm Jewish (I'm not) but to remind them that not everyone shares the same faith. Christians seem to forget this quite frequently or, more accurately, they choose to ignore it. Ignorance is bliss, it seems. Happy Festivus, everyone!!

16) Comment by Tea_Slayer - 13/12/2012

jdk944, I would consider the following "hectoring an unfortunate sales clerk on Christmas and Jesus" and not a "'simple' exchange" From the original letter: '“Happy holidays!” said the clerk to me the other day. I wanted to answer, “Hey, I don’t think so!” But when one of the workers at the store wished me what her job required, instead of getting mad or upset, I just answered her, “Not really. This is the birthday of Jesus, and that is the whole reason we have the holidays.”

17) Comment by jdk944 - 13/12/2012

So now a "simple" exchange in conversation over this has become, according to McNamara, "hectoring an unfortunate sales clerk on Christmas and Jesus", to use his/her words??? REALLY??? As Bighug says, we've already been through this and discussed. Is The Advocate short on letters to post??

18) Comment by Bighug - 13/12/2012

I agree with the letter, but didn't we just read the same thing a couple of days ago?

19) Comment by Being_Stupid - 12/12/2012

I am okay with Happy Holidays. It reminds me of vacation at the Holiday Inn.