I must admit that this post was originally a little rant that I wrote last year in an attempt to bring back some of the spirit of Christmas. Note I said Christmas, not the holidays. Holidays are something that come in the summer when I go to the beach or take a long well deserved trip.
This is Christmas time. Chanukah has long since been celebrated and the Feast of Eid al-Adha has been enjoyed by the faithful of Allah. So let us say with pride and love Merry Christmas to one and all.
Bob
Please feel free to wish me a Merry Christmas, not a happy x-mas, or dreadful happy holiday. Well I may be going a little hard on the happy holiday. You may think Bob, why won’t a happy holiday suffice?
Well I would reply it is the Christmas season, the last time I checked the Chanukah candles have been long blown out. Don’t get me wrong I have many friends of the Hebrew Faith, and wish them a proper greeting when it is their day.
The thing that gets me riled up is that there are so many forces at work that try to simplify and dumb things down, trying to homogenize our culture as North Americans. Other forces plead that they don’t want to offend anyone. Ohhhh there we go offending people with a celebration of family and peace. Better watch out! Give me a break.
This whole “War on Christmas” thing has gone on long enough, the only people who are “offended” are by in large other “Christians”. The politically correct few, afraid to say what they believe. Except when they strive to dumb down what little culture we have left.
Show of hands, how many of you were offended when, someone walked up to you and said Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza, Happy Chanukah?
All anyone is saying when they say Merry Christmas is Peace. Let’s face it most of the Christ is long gone from Christmas these days anyways. Long ago replaced by that fat bastard Santa Claus, in trying to deliver dollars to the corporations that re-imagined Old Saint Nick, we can blame Coke for that one.
The Modern Face of Christmas
Also organized religions keep getting their hands slapped for stealing from the poor or doing other far worse things than I care to mention here today.
But we all regardless of creed or belief can do our part to keep the core of the holiday intact. Remembering what the true meaning of Christmas is, PEACE. If we can all keep that in our hearts our world, even for a day, could be a better place.
To all of my friends out there, Feliz Navidad, Mele Kalikimaka, Hyvaa Joulua, Mo’adim Lesimkha. Chena tova, Idah Saidan Wa Sanah Jadidah, Joyeux Noel, Merry Christmas……. PEACE
Bob
Exploring Winnipeg and Beyond. 
I don’t think we’re quite so hung up on political correctness here in Oz.
Very glad to hear that Nurse Myra. It’s actually not too bad here in Winnipeg yet, but in some of the larger centers in Canada say Toronto or Vancouver where immigration comes from non-christian countries the tide has turned.
We still retain many of our traditions here, I would hate to see them all be lost to the slippery slope of political correctness.
Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
MERRY CHRISTMAS BOB! 😀
Ok ok… I am one of the “happy holidays” offenders! My argument for using it is I don’t want to make the assumption that the person I am saying it to celebrates Christmas, so I figure, even if other holidays are past, I cover whatever it is they celebrate in this holiday season (that I take to be from Thanksgiving through New Years). In my defense, I don’t hear people going around saying “happy Chanukah” or “Merry Eid al-Adha”during those holidays, maybe because fewer people celebrate them. Not that any of us would be offended if someone did. Well… I am sure some Americans would be, unfortunately.
Call it my liberal guilt! However, I don’t think it’s about the war on Christmas – just more on inclusion, does that make sense? You do make a valid point – I highly doubt anyone would actually be offended if I wished them a Merry Christmas.
To you and yours, buddy!
Well I totally get your point Nikki. I very rarely have anyone who doesn’t know me wish me say a happy Chanukah. But on the odd time it did happen I was more than happy to respond in kind.
The whole problem I think is that we are so afraid of hurting anyones feelings that we choose to say nothing at all. I am not for a second advocating the ramming down the throat of Christmas or any other traditions.
I just pine for the good ol’ days when a kid could watch Charlie Brown on TV and know what Linus was talking about. I fear that Christmas like many other traditions will become lost in the mix of holiday miasma.
Maybe I am wrong but hey I figure a good ol Merry Christmas ain’t going to skin anyone’s knees too badly.
My friend on this great occasion, in your tradition, I wish you the finest of Happy Holidays.
XOXO ect. Rinse and Repeat
Santa Bob
The point is well taken, Bob: I, too, would like a world where we don’t take offense as easily and think the best in people off the bat instead of something else. Where we would know that people meant well, instead of worrying about something else.
That is, after all, the spirit of Christmas! 😀
Bob… you rule! 🙂 Totally agree, never gotten that Happy Holidays stuff… sounds weird and as you said…why would anyone be offended? PC gone too far.
So a very Merry Christmas to you! Or as we say in Sweden… God Jul! 🙂
A very God Jul to you as well Ivy.
I raise a glass to you in your honour this Christmas.
Skål
Ho Ho Ho
Santa Bob
A friend gave me a card the holiday day that said “Meowy Christmas.” Perhaps that’s the wave of the future – cats usurping our holidays. And honestly, I saw this coming from a mile away.
Here’s wishing you and your fluffy friends a very Meowy Christmas right back at cha. With the instances of pets owning people in North America it’s a real possibility that we will all be speaking in purr’s and growls anyways in the next few years.
Thanks for chirping in on the debate here, I really enjoy reading your blog. Hope you find what you’re looking for real soon Jessica.
May the season rain fancy feast and cat nip all over your furry house.
Ho Ho Ho
Santa Bob