Happy

I've reached a saturation point with political correctness, I think.  This year I've noticed that folks have started to say "Happy Holiday" for Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving?  I wasn't aware that anyone would be offended at the concept of giving thanks.  I suppose that in a society as complex as ours, we must acknowledge all points of view, but personally I'm having a problem with catering to the chronically ungrateful.

Nope, from now on, I'm calling things like I see 'em.  That goes for Christmas as well.  I used to justify saying "Happy Holidays" by convincing myself that it's just shorthand so that I don't have to say "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" every time.  One problem with that is that doing so equates the birth of our Savior with a party marking another successful revolution of our planet around the Sun (also His doing, by the way, but it doesn't hold a candle to the whole God-becomes-man-to-die-for-our-sins thing).  The real problem with that approach is that my real reason for saying it was to avoid offending anyone. 

It's not my intention to offend anyone; it really never is.  If I wish someone a Merry Christmas, I mean it.  I want them to take joy in celebrating the birth of the Christ child and all that it means.  If, however, I say Merry Christmas to someone who happens to be of another faith, I'd be tickled if they wished me a Happy Hanukkah or Joyful Kwanza or Adequate Festivus in return.  I think that in our zeal to avoid confrontation we miss out on some really important conversations.  Not every difference of opinions qualifies as an argument.  How many times have I missed out on an opportunity to give my testimony because I was avoiding confrontation?

So have yourself a Merry Christmas.