'War on Christmas' soldiers shun ‘peace on earth’

  “Here’s your receipt and Merry Christmas! Unless you’re Jewish in which case it’s Happy Hanukkah! But I see you’re African American, so maybe I should be saying Happy Kwanzaa? Not that black people don’t celebrate Christmas. Or Hanukkah – I mean I’m sure there are some Jewish African Americans. Right? Oh! And not that you have to be black to celebrate Kwanzaa! I understand it’s a very nice holiday. I hope they enjoy your… um... gifts… unless you were just shopping for yourself, of course. Merry… um… BYE!”  

In a country as diverse as ours where people – most people – respect diversity and other people’s religions and cultures, isn’t it EASIER to just say “Happy Holidays?”

There are a handful of conservative Christians who are very offended by the prospect of having the holidays be something other than exclusively Christian, and care not if it means excluding other Americans from the spirit of the holidays.

Utah State Senator Chris Buttars is currently working on legislation to encourage retailers to say "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays." (Funny what Republicans are willing to spend tax dollars on and what they aren’t.)

When I hear Senator Buttars’ proposed legislation and other complaints by conservative Christmas warriors, they strike me as being unashamedly selfish. Isn’t it enough that our nation’s biggest holiday is based on the Christian story of the birth of Christ? Do they really have to exclude all non-Christians and other holidays in the proximity of Christmas? It all so very, well, unChristmas like.

I learned better when I was a child in public school – it must have been the 1st grade – holiday pageants were always mindful of Jewish students and Chanukah.  That was the 70s. Since then we have Kwanzaa, and quite a number atheists and agnostics have come out of the closet (myself among them) who wish to celebrate with their families while excusing themselves from the religious aspects. It really isn’t too much to ask that, while celebrating what most see as a primarily Christian holiday, that they make some effort to be inclusive of others. Even a small gesture like saying “Happy holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas”, acknowledging the other holidays surrounding Christmas and people who celebrate them, surely should be considered gracious, not offensive.

I’m sorry some people feel threatened by efforts to be inclusive and respectful of everyone, and in previous years I’ve discussed this as well – I’ve even taken great pleasure in ridiculing [objectionable content] these people:

Progressives are winning. Other traditions will fall, as they must, for other good causes. And they will each begin at the chagrin of those whom tradition favors most.”

I can even see the argument for allowing personal choice – allowing the employees to choose for themselves which phrase better suits their value system. But to bring government to dictate how much religion should be included in a holiday? It’s laughable and exactly the opposite of what government is supposed to do regarding religion – be objective and even-handed. Even the notion of Mr. Buttar’s proposition is dangerous. It’s frightening to think that any lawmaker thinks they could, never mind should, get involved in such matters. As Keith Olbermann pointed on his December 3rd show:

if he could somehow pass a law encouraging people to say Merry Christmas in stores, somebody else could pass a law encouraging people to say merry Christmas in synagogues or mosques.”

When the “War on Christmas” was just a culture war waged by the likes of Bill O'Reilly and that sort, it was amusing, but when the government gets involved it’s not funny anymore. It’s dangerous to individual rights.

What also strikes me is that these Christmas warriors are so worried about retailers supposedly secularizing Christmas by saying “Happy Holidays” yet they ignore the fact that the greatest culprit in secularizing Christmas is the very retail aspect of the holiday.

The most secular aspect of the Christmas holidays is surely the most prominent one as well: the extensive commercialization that no one can entirely escape. Retailers start encouraging people to buy gifts, decorations, cards, and other associated items starting as early as Halloween and the pressure continues right through the after-Christmas sales. The money made from Christmas is too important to the economy for this to change or even to decrease.”

If one is going to raise a religious objection, then why not one against big business that make the holidays about consumerism and capitalism over Christianity? I suppose it’s easier to go after minority religions and atheists who are seen as easy targets and scapegoats in a 76% Christian country, than go after the corporate giants who fund the political campaigns of Republicans like Mr. Buttars.

If they were truly worried about the Christian meaning of Christmas, would their time not best be spent at church or building a manger scene in their own yard?

So where does this leave us? I’d like to end by pointing out how this all shows why the Separation of Church and State is so vital – because without it people would surely abuse their power and the tyranny of the majority would oppress the minorities who also have rights – and yes, we DO have a separation of church and state in this country even if there’s a fringe element that prefers to deny it – despite the fact that people like Senator Chris Buttars declare us to be a “Christian Nation” (whatever that means) – it’s settled law, we ARE in fact a secular nation. And it’s a darn good thing too [objectionable content]

The fact is, people have the freedom to celebrate Christmas however they like… in their own homes. It’s their right. What they don’t have is the right to dictate how other people will celebrate, or not. And, yes, this includes not using tax dollars to promote a religious viewpoint like erecting manger scenes on city property without allowing equal access to anyone else who would like to express a viewpoint.

When people say “Happy Holidays” they say it out of consideration for those of different cultures and religions and those who celebrate differently or don’t celebrate at all. If this makes some people angry then, I’m sorry, but that’s their problem. It is they who are trying to impose their will. If there’s a side to this argument that is in the true spirit of Christmas, and more conducive to “peace on earth”, I submit it’s the more considerate “Happy Holidays” crowd.

So, next time you hear a wish of “Happy holidays!” or are a witness to the wars waged over the phrase, don’t forget that Christmas is a holiday and, therefore, included in that “Happy holidays” wish – it just includes everyone else as well. When it comes to displays and parades and anything else that might be altered to make the holidays MORE inclusive, please do think of this as progress. Because even though Christmas was originally founded as a religious notion, it exists in a secular nation. And “secular” isn’t a dirty word either. Secular includes everyone.

The fewer people we leave out of our holiday cheer, the better people we will be.

Utah State Senator Chris Buttars, Keith Olbermann’s “Worst Person in the World” for 12/3.