Liftingfaces

“Happy Holidays” (repost)

I’ve debated this issue with friends and family alike. I think we are, as Americans, becoming a homogenized brand of generic culture conformists. And what I mean by that is clearly depicted in the term “Happy Holidays.”

Somewhere in the past decade, we’ve been told that it is bad to acknowledge religious beliefs in social settings (just give it time, and eventually “In God We Trust” will disappear from our currency, too).

Apparently Merry Christmas is too exclusive a phrase, as it doesn’t account for Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa, or Ramadan, or the myriad other holidays out there, celebrated around the world and here in the USA.

Phooey, I say. If you celebrate Christmas, by all means wish your fellow patrons a Merry Christmas. If you’re too lazy to figure out what your friend celebrates and think a Happy Holidays card is a safe bet, shame on you.

And for the families out there who might somehow be offended by this gesture of holiday cheer, simply reply with a Happy Hanukkah (or whichever holiday it is that you celebrate) and share a chuckle with a stranger. Who knows, maybe you’ll even have enlightened them to a new holiday.

And to the rest of you, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!