Michael Rotellini
Mrotell1@uwyo.edu
“Merry Christmas” isn’t an inappropriate phrase. Merry Christmas isn’t a religious agenda to convert people to the Christian faith. Merry Christmas isn’t something to shame people about, yet I find that it’s becoming an increasingly hot topic around the holiday season more and more.
People say that I should say the phrase “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” so I can wish people well without offending anyone who doesn’t celebrate Christmas. I can see the idea behind this but I think it is a bit ridiculous to tip toe over peoples’ feelings in the name of preserving an all-inclusive phrase.
I feel that people are becoming overly sensitive over these kinds of issues, becoming nit picky rather than taking the phrase for what it means.
The whole point of saying “Merry Christmas” is not to disparage anyone who celebrates something different, rather, it is to wish them well. I have never seen someone say Merry Christmas to anyone with the intent of hate speech or while meaning to hurt anyone.
Nowadays it seems like people are trying to turn it into an insensitive phrase used by people who want to disparage those not participating in Christmas.
Trying to change this salutation to something that seems supposedly more inclusive like Happy Holidays is in itself disparaging to those who use Merry Christmas, making it also a bad word.
I will be honest- if someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah I wouldn’t think “hey, they are trying to convert me” and I wouldn’t ignore it because it’s a different holiday. I would take it and wish them well! Same goes for people saying Happy Holidays. Even though I would prefer to say Merry Christmas, I understand it’s all in good faith (no pun intended).
My main argument is this- don’t take away “Merry Christmas” in the name of being politically correct. People have become very sensitive to this issue and I have to say if you have a problem with it, you’re being a bit ridiculous, especially for the spirit of the holiday.
This is meant to be a sign of well wishes and it is groups that try and make everything so one-dimensional that it takes away the festiveness and uniqueness of the holiday season. I want people to say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, happy festivus or winter solstice. Be comfortable and happy to express well wishes in whatever way you like, but don’t try and create a problem where there isn’t one.
Remember that this time of the year is meant to show the good in people, charity and love for your fellow man or woman. Please don’t try and find fault with Merry Christmas but instead, rest assured in the fact someone wants to wish you well.
