“Happy Holidays” disregards rights to religious freedom
I’ve been brought up in a Catholic household and in Catholic schools my whole life, including BSM. Like the 72% of students at BSM who are Catholic and also go to this Catholic school, in addition to those who practice other Christian religions, we’re going to wish our neighbor a “Merry Christmas” this time of year.
However, in this 21st-century America, we have secularists throwing a veil over the phrase “Merry Christmas” since it lacks their political correctness.
Sure, it might just be only two words, but saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas” doesn’t carry the same religious sentiment that “Merry Christmas” does. The term “Merry Christmas” is meant to be used as wishing those around you cheer and joy while we prepare ourselves for the birth of Jesus Christ-the more generic “Happy Holidays” doesn’t quite cut it.
Of the 228,182,000 adults in this country, 173,402,000 are of Christian faith. That means America is a Christian-majority nation, and because 3 in 4 American adults celebrate Christmas, we’re going to assume that the fellow man we say “Merry Christmas” to is of Christian faith. Now, Hanukkah does occur around the time Christmas does, but like Christmas, saying “Happy Holidays” adversely affects Jews as much as it affects Christians, since the phrase takes away that religious reference, too. In addition to that, what other holiday occurs during the 20 days in between Hanukkah and Christmas?
The media is caving into the secularists’ roar of suing every school in their sight as well, by replacing “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays” in their adverts so as not to “offend” any of their consumers. For crying out loud, this Chevrolet ad features a certain employee Nick, who resembles Santa Claus, saying “happy holidays’ instead of “merry Christmas”. Santa Claus is an icon of Christmas, and he’s not wishing others a “merry Christmas”, the holiday he’s known for!
Though folks are simply exercising their constitutional first amendment right to peacefully practice their religion, the secularists claim saying “Merry Chirstmas” is bad for America since religious references exclude a small minority of people from society. Come on. That’s why the first amendment was created by the founding fathers, so all people and organizations could privately and publically use phrases like “Happy Hanukkah” and “Merry Christmas” and not be attacked by others for it.
Finally, the question I have is this: Why do the secularists have a burning need to intervene in religious affairs? Why can’t they just leave Christmas alone? According to the Secular Coalition of America’s mission statement, everyone is entitled to freedom of conscience and to practice religion — a solid upholding of the first amendment, yet similar left-wing organizations such as Humanists of Minnesota have a mission hypocritical to the SCA’s, which is to go around and “educate the public” on the goodness of humanism. That’s not promoting freedom of conscience; it’s infiltration of conscience if someone’s actively educating someone else instead of standing for an idea, and it certainly doesn’t help the freedom of religion cause.
No person should be sued or attacked for lawfully practicing their constitutional rights in this great nation. Depending on what your views are, have a happy Hanukkah, a happy winter solstice, or a merry Christmas.
David K. • Dec 20, 2013 at 3:44 am
You’re right, but unfortunately it’s for all the wrong reasons. It doesn’t have anything to do with a majority of the country being Christian, because at the end of the day it doesn’t matter what religion the person is to whom you are wishing Merry Christmas.
As someone who would classify themselves as “nonreligious” I can appreciate that when someone wishes me Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah/Happy Holidays/etc. they aren’t trying to force their religion on me and are instead merely offering good wishes for this time of year. Christmas happens regardless of whether or not you celebrate it, just as Hanukkah and every other holiday does. Wishing someone a Merry Christmas just means you’re wishing them well for the Christmas season.
People need to learn to take things in the spirit in which they’re given. The same goes for “Happy Holidays”. If someone wishes you Happy Holidays, don’t get offended that they didn’t use your preferred religion’s greeting for this time of year. They’re wishing you a happy holiday season, why would anyone get upset over that?
Noah C • Dec 16, 2013 at 8:15 pm
A well-written piece but I find much of this to be completely off base. It isn’t that secular people can’t leave Christmas alone, but many of them feel that the holidays are a time to impel Christianity on the average consumer. I think the writers firm faith in Christianity may have caused him to express a little more than his opinion on Christmas here, as if he had a problem with those not practicing. Additionally, the Humanists of Minnesota are merely trying to make everyone feel accepted in our state.