Posted

Dec 19th 2008

IS LOVE AND PEACE!

So, Merry Christmas! I love the Holidays, except I don't like all the money I loose because I'm over ambitious and spend money like CRAZY! Hey! I spent a whole year saving up for this... kinda...
I Hope you guys get what you want and a little of what you need because while things that you want are nice and all, I'd go for the pack of socks ANY DAY! (;; I'm always running out of socks).
OH! And I'm only 1 watcher away from 150 watchers! Thank you!

But, that's not the point of this journal...


Lately it has been brought to my attention around the place I work and the town I'm in that I rarely see anything "Christmas" related (minus the couple of adds that say "Get your Christmas Shopping done!" and tree lots). Rarely do people tell me, "Merry Christmas!" It's always "Have a happy holiday" or "Happy Holidays." Now, I do celebrate Christmas but it's not as religious as it used to be so it's more about the actual spirit of Christmas which is showing people you love them and treating them with gifts because you were thinking of them. Of course this should be done all year round, the whole showing people you love them, but there is something special about Christmas and its festive atmosphere.

** When I say "you" I mean the "general you" not you...who is now reading this journal.. I hope D:**
I've devised a little bit of insight from my own brain, mind you it is only my opinion(formulated from my past experiences and current) so I don't want you to think that I'm telling you this is how it is or should be, it's just how I see it. Again, my Opinion! Don't want to hear it? Stop now.

I understand about being politically correct because people don't want to offend others. Sometimes being politically correct means you push your own ideals away and adapt the norm so no one gets hurt. However, the people who get "hurt" or "offended" are those who are being "closed minded" by not accepting other's opinions. Many people want the stores and places to say "Happy Holidays" because the word "Christ" implies a religious tone. I understand that everyone has their religious beliefs, or non-religious beliefs, but jumping to the conclusion of "Christ" in "Christmas" automatically meaning someone is preaching is kind of out there. I'm not particularly religious, but wishing someone a "Merry Christmas" is just like saying "Happy Holidays" but without that tinge of fear of, "Oh God, what if I offended that person!?" Why should I be self conscious of what I say when we have freedom of speech? This is /not/ to say that some things just shouldn't be said because they are truly offensive, like but not limited to racial slurs or foul language specifically directed at others, but that's all up to the morality of the person saying it.

To give a non-religious example:Halloween. That is a holiday that has nothing to do with religion, but one day out of the year every store has Halloween all over. However, the part of America that is Mexican celebrate Day of the Dead and we should include that in October to include those people too. We should stop saying "Happy Halloween" all together to be politically correct and not offend our Mexican-Americans. Don't you find that when trying to avoid offending people, it winds up being knee deep worry and distress on what to say to people and then it turns into a sort of stereotype or putting people in extreme categories(which I find even worse than saying a phrase).

Next, as you already know, a majority of people who celebrate Christmas aren't even religious so the whole "Christ in Christmas" is invalid in these points. When I am working and people tell me Merry Christmas, I think to myself, "Thank you for not being scared to express yourself." There is a freedom to express ourselves in this country; that also includes Christians and Catholics no matter how much everyone wants them to be pushed away. You want your rights, and they want theirs as well. If someone takes the time out of their day to wish you a Merry Christmas, you should be rather happy they did. Christmas has to deal with Peace on Earth and Good Will towards men just like any other Holiday during this time. I'm always happy when people wish well upon me. Aren't you? It's like that unexpected Thank you at a restaurant or everyone saying Have a Great Day when you leave a store.

Drum-roll please! Here it comes, my opinion! Watch out and put on your "Anti-Offended Glasses" because I warned you!

According to some information I've gathered, Not saying "Merry Christmas" and saying "Happy Holidays" is supposed to include all the holidays around December. Inclusion is it's goal in the purest of forms. Which is fine, but many people say it to exclude Christmas so they don't hurt anyone's feelings. I don't hear, and wouldn't mind hearing, people saying Happy Hanukkah, or Happy Kwanzaa, or Happy/Merry [insert another holiday here]. Aren't these expressions just wishing people a good time?

Telling people to say "Happy Holidays" to avoid being politically incorrect is wrong. The spirit of this time of year is to be forgiving and to give what you can to other people. Sometimes all strangers can give you are some warm wishes and that is all a "Merry Christmas" is.


THE END. OKAY? I SAID IT. LET IT RAIN UPON ME YOUR THOUGHTS. But, I shall only acknowledge those who are as respectful as I have been. Anything malicious I will ignore and delete