Generic “Holiday” Greetings Are Offensive

From a sensible column in the Journal-Sentinel:

Merry Christmas. That’s right, I said it and in a family newspaper no less. I know the politically correct police are running to the nearest ACLU-friendly judge to get a cease and desist order against me, but I’ll say it again. Merry Christmas, and I hope you had a happy Hanukkah as well.

I’m not sure when the Christ-ophobic activists and judges decided that “Merry Christmas” was an obscene phrase that should be banned. I vaguely remember priests, ministers and bus placards urging us to keep Christ in Christmas. Then one day, I looked around and found we’re not even allowed to keep Christmas in Christmas. Instead, we’re given a “season’s greetings” as if winter was a good enough reason to make merry!

Father Bill Kurz, a professor at Marquette University and nationally known author, thinks the constant tinkering so as not to offend is overdone.

“It’s possible to get so open-minded that one’s brains fall out,” he said.

My old radio buddy, Bill Edwards, a staunch Hanukkah fan, agreed with Kurz.

He doesn’t see how anybody could be offended by someone’s wish for your happiness.

“Let’s just say being holiday PC isn’t kosher,” Edwards said. Edwards is more than happy to accept a “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Kwanzaa” from any well-wisher.

Speaking of Kwanzaa, one of Milwaukee’s favorite speed skaters, Olu Sijuwade, took time out from racing to give me his feelings on the holiday debate.

“Kwanzaa is not a religious celebration; it’s a celebration of culture,” he told me.

“It’s purposely put after Hanukkah and Christmas so you can celebrate all three if you want to.” He didn’t think anyone who loves Kwanzaa who would be offended by getting a “Merry Christmas.”

As for the more generic “Happy holidays,” that actually does seem to offend.

“I got an e-mail from a viewer who turned off the Holiday Parade because it wasn’t called the Christmas Parade,” said Ted Perry of WITI-TV (Channel 6). “We didn’t call it that. That’s what the organizers called it. She just couldn’t watch it.”

How odd. In the attempt to offend nobody, the holiday-phobes actually have upset everybody! Well, let me fix that: Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and happy Kwanzaa to all!