Saturday - December 25, 2010Happy Holidays!When I worked at Dell Computer in the late 90's, I was dumbfounded that one of my co-workers complained that the company christmas party was called a "Winter Holiday Party" on the invitation. "People are afraid to put Christ in Christmas!" she exclaimed and went on to lament that christianity was being assaulted from all sides. She could hardly be mollified by another friend explaining that not everyone that worked at Dell was a Christian and it was an attempt to be polite. In fact, that seemed to get her more worked up. Finally, I interupted her rantings and asked her, "You do know, don't you, that Michael Dell is Jewish?" I think she finally calmed down, but I'm sure in the back of her brain she thought it was all an atheist liberal plot. The first time I remember hearing complaints like this was when I was very young and the Jim and Tammy Bakker Show was on TV. My parents didn't like us watching it, but I saw a bit of it one time when they were admonishing all the children to NEVER EVER EVER use the term "xmas." It seemed a pretty stupid argument to me as a 6 year old that a piece of sales literature should be burdened with so many extra letters when they're trying to get your attention, and I hardly thought that Jesus would think that his name should be used to sell mattresses anyway. That's when I figured my parents were probably right and I shouldn't be watching that show. It seems to me that the cries to boycott those businesses who say "Happy Holidays" are growing more and more strident. I would have thought that businessmen should be encouraged not to cater to only one religion, but these complainers would hold that only Christians should be recognized. I don't as a matter of course have any animus to those who believe in magical beings. I think most are well-intended in their beliefs, but I do think that no matter how strongly an individual holds his beliefs he should always remember that they are his beliefs and he has no say in anyone else's. Whenever people complain about someone in the government saying "happy holidays" or someone in business putting up secular christmas ornaments, I worry. Too many seem to want to coerce keeping Christ in xmas. If you are one of those who are so worried about what other people believe, then have a happy holiday. For the rest of you, have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Go Back to the Start, Do Not Collect $200 Send me your two cents | |