People always find a reason to start an argument, but the Christmas season should be reserved as a time of joy, a time of togetherness, and most importantly, a time of peace.
The raging debate on the possible replacement of the phrase “Merry Christmas” with “Happy Holidays” around the country in order to further secularize the holiday season arises every December.
This, more than anything, makes me wonder just how far someone will go to nitpick and whine about something entirely unimportant, instead of appreciating the true meaning of the holiday.
During the holiday season, everywhere you look there’s a Santa Claus ringing a bell outside of a store or on a street corner, asking for nothing more than a donation to give to those who are less fortunate than others. Any and all kinds of people dedicate their time to serving in soup kitchens or food pantries to feed someone who wouldn’t have anything to eat if not for their generosity.
The holiday season is a time of goodwill and caring for people of any religion or lack thereof, and petty debates about what to call this time of year shouldn’t get in the way of the compassion that should be spread worldwide.
I could understand if there was a real reason for such debates, but there is really no purpose in such an arbitrary altercation.
Any phrase wishing season’s greetings, “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Hanukah,” “Happy Kwanza,” or even “Happy Holidays,” is never said with any wish of ill-intent or with the specific purpose to discriminate.
If an atheist sneezed and a Catholic kindly told them “bless you,” they wouldn’t scoff at the blessing and start a fight about being discriminated against. They would graciously accept the kind-hearted blessing and move on, despite the discrepancy in beliefs. It’s the same with any season’s greeting, whether it has a religious connotation or not.
When someone uses a religious greeting any time of the year, they’re not trying to convert anyone or impose their beliefs on someone.I’m not saying that “Merry Christmas” is a better option to use during this time of year than “Happy Holidays,” but that both greetings are equally acceptable in any context during this season.
No matter how someone greets you during the holiday season, he or she is just trying to spread the joy that is Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, or any other holiday celebrated during this time.
If people are too focused on one measly word or phrase said to them, they lose the meaning, the purpose, and the true spirit and intention behind the saying.
If all people focused on the altruistic love behind the holiday season, they would end up having a happy holiday no matter what greeting they were given.
Brianna Glase is a Managing Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.