Y'all, know my personal motto ... Lettuce is the Devil. You know I shudder at the thought of salad of any kind.
That being said I don't rally the ACLU every time someone offers me a bowl of romaine. I haven't lobbied congress to ban restaurants from putting salad on the menu. And I don't scream social injustice when I spot ranch dressing on the grocery aisle.
So forgive me for not understanding why it's a huge deal for store personnel to say Merry Christmas to their customers. Or for advertisements to include the words Merry Christmas in their ads.
I get not everyone is celebrates Christmas. Really I do. But that doesn't mean you can ignore the fact the vast majority of people believe in and celebrate the day. Just once I want to hear a story about one of these offended people who refused their day off from work. Who loudly proclaimed, "No, I refuse to allow you to pay me to stay home in the name of Christ! I shall work on December 25th or I will quit!"
I promise not to be offended if some sales clerk offers me a cheery Happy Hanukkah. Or I see an ad on TV for super low car prices in honor of Festivus. Heck, I don't mind a discount mattress in honor of Ramadan.
Celebrate or not. That's up to you. But don't let a well-intentioned Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah turn you into disciple of the Political Correctness paparazzi. That swarming mob of self-righteous policemen that have watered down, what was once a tasty punch of freedom and democracy to a tepid broth of bland soup.
So in closing let me say ... I hope you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Festive Festivus, and a tubular Kwanzaa. Heck eat a big green salad if that's you thing. Me, I'm having steak and taters and enjoying the three day weekend bestowed upon my by Uncle Sam.
I'll leave you with a fine little ditty by the venerable Robert Earl Keen.
MERRY CHRISTMAS Y'ALL
17 comments:
Merry Christmas.
I just gotta chime in that when I worked in retail (for eleven years) that I often said Happy Holidays. Contrary to popular belief it was not because the store mandated it-- I've never yet heard of a store prohibiting Merry Christmas and I have a lot of friends and family that work in retail. (The media would have you believe otherwise). I said it because it's a nice greeting and I found it easier to say quickly when dealing with the hundreds of customers. Only in the last few of those years did people take offense at my well-intentioned greeting.
Though, often forgotten, is that the word HOLIDAY actually came directly from HOLY DAY (as in Christmas, plus the other holy and feast days around there, including when the Wise Men arrived.) So, it's actually just as religious to say Happy Holidays.
May you enjoy your Holy Day, Travis. =)
I would imagine that the vast majority in some places do celebrate Christmas, Travis. In our dear little Perth, settled by pensioned Scotsman/solders, many do.
However, I've taught in Ottawa, with a class that were 70% Muslim.
Each city, of course, is different.
In my shame, I told one of the professionals I hired 'Merry Christmas', to which he queried, 'You know I'm Jewish, Jenn?'
I decided to make it up to him and gave him a Christmas present. I met his receptionist in the foyer and she <A HREF="http://www.jilks.com/snowpoop.htm'>placed this on his desk</A>.
I printed this poem and put it on a jar of mini-marshmallows!
Merry Christmas, Travis. Your incredible tolerance of lettuce is a shining star of exemplary behaviour for all.
It always amazes that people are chastised by some for offering a friendly (historical) greeting. There's someting so wrong in the very idea. What happens if someone takes offense to "Good afternoon"? Will we be expected to stop offering that greeting?
A wise man once said that people who take offense where none is intended are fools. And most people who take offense where it is intended are usually fools.
So people should just chill out.
Nice post, Travis.
Merry Christmas - enjoy that steak!
Merry Christmas!!! May you have the biggest turkey in Texas with nothing remotely herbivorean in sight!!
Take care
x
I knew something was missing from my Christmas radio music this year.
This song.
Merry Christmas Travis.
I would also like to say that if anyone works where their company has a problem with Merry Christmas, you should see what its like working for the guv'ment (state version that is).
fixed Jenns link for Christmas
You know I'm celebrating Christmas! And, I'm smoking a pork loin! There will be a salad on the table, but you don't have to take any. It is a free table after all.
Again, Merry Christmas and may the Light of the season live in your heart and home.
Merry Christmas, Travis. May lettuce never darken your plate and my your steak be extra tasty. =o)
Merry Christmas, Travis.
Merry Christmas!
Hope your Christmas was merry and your steak done to your liking! Sorry I missed you in Amarillo, but, believe me, it was the whirwindiest of trips! ;)
Happy Christmas, I sasy live and let live, if you want to celebrate whatever then go ahead!!
Merry Christmas!
I think you make a good point, especially about if someone is really offended by Christmas they certainly shouldn't take a day off with pay.
Post a Comment