“Merry Christmas” to those of you who like the ring of that particular greeting, as well as to anybody who is angered or feels insulted by any other greeting this time of year. “Happy Holidays” to the rest of you who statistically are part of more than two-thirds of the world’s population.This holiday season, I am trying to keep in mind the many things and events about which we are happy and thankful. Unfortunately, the shootings at Newtown are too recent as are the inanity and intractability that border on insanity of the gun lobby’s response. Throw in a little inclement weather, and you have the recipe for a dreary attitude.
Maybe a look at some relatively inconsequential hypocrisy might lighten the day.
This should be the season of joy, merriment, and celebration -- particularly, after we survived the Mayan apocalypse. Despite the spirit of the holidays and in what has become an annual event, the media’s paragon of tolerance and civility – Fox News – has launched its annual appeal to religious intolerance by denigrating those who do not say “Merry Christmas” as anti-[you can supply whatever you want].
Fox calls it a “War on Christmas” but certainly -- and not surprisingly -- is being less than fair and balanced.
Many societies – young and old – celebrate the Winter Solstice. Those celebrations predate Christmas by centuries and mark the rebirth of the sun and daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. Of course, the Winter Solstice is near the New Year, which is celebrated at different times depending upon what calendar is consulted. That makes “Happy Holidays” somewhat appropriate.
World demographics also point to “Happy Holidays.” Christians constitute something less than one-third of the world’s population. Should a Muslim be compelled to say “Merry Christmas”? A Hindu? A nonreligious person? Muslims, Hindus, and nonreligious persons outnumber the Christians. This is before mentioning Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, primal-indigenous adherents, or Scientologists.
If Fox’s evidence of a “War on Christmas” is the greeting “Happy Holidays,” it is disregarding world history and demographics. Additionally, Fox seems to be overlooking the most patent evidence of all -- that is, the blatant commercialization even on Fox itself of such an important Holy Day.
Oh, Fox's response most likely would be those commercials help finance its exposure of the “War on Christmas.” This is not hypocrisy Fox would argue; it is the operation of the free enterprise system.
But compared with the what the NRA is feeding us this season, “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” is simply an entertaining glimpse at hypocrisy and possibly intolerance. Shouldn’t we just feel, express, and live in the spirit of holiday season? “Happy Holidays” is better than saying “kiss off” to those who do not believe the same as we do.
Apparently, Fox News wants us to be more tolerant than it and its viewers are.
"Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays" -- You choose!