Greetings,
In the 1950’s as Christmas decorations became more popular, especially things like the cheap, paper, hooked together letters to string up over doorways and in windows, there was a big debate over the use of “Xmas” instead of “Christmas” and “Seasons Greetings” or “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” The debate was between groups of Christians as to whether those phrases were “taking the Christ out of Christmas.” It was not a political debate, and it did not involve, for the most part, people who were not Christian. By the mid 1960’s the debate died down as most people were more concerned with hippies, free love and the Vietnam war.
In recent years there has been a revival of the debate over the use of Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings instead of Merry Christmas. This time however, the debate is very much social, legal, and political and involves many people who are not Christian. Now there are lawsuits and boycotts of businesses and a variety of regulations, especially regarding schools. There is an intensity and anger in the debate now which was not there before. Huge numbers of persons are fiercely asserting one side or the other.
I must confess that I am not concerned with which phrase is used. I am somewhat concerned if someone tells me I cannot use a particular phrase, but only because of the First Amendment issue of freedom of speech. However, I cannot believe that this is a debate which Jesus would have. At most I expect Jesus would say, “Say what you like, regardless of the consequences. If they persecute you, then rejoice for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.” Certainly, when so many people in the world are hungry, suffering violence, war, and do not have proper shelter, health care, or jobs, which phrase just is not very up there on my list of concerns.
One is also aware that “X” for “Christ” has a very old history – the “X” represented the ChiRho, “Xr” of the Greek alphabet for “Chr.” The use of the word “holiday” is a very old English variation on the term “holy day.” Happy Holydays! And as any fan of “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” which of course is actually “A Visit from Saint Nicholas,” knows, the original phrase was “Happy Christmas,” not “Merry Christmas.” (Unless you have one of those modern edited versions of Clement Moore’s poem which switched out Santa’s “Happy” for “Merry.”)
So, as indicated, I am not really interested in the debate except from a freedom of speech issue. However, I do find entertaining the following which is making the rounds on the Internet last year. I share it with you, along with certain addendums, not to get into the phrase debate, but because I find it humorous from a politically correct / incorrect perspective.
To My Democratic Friends:
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday or scientifically observed occasion , practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2011, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere, nor to suggest that the Western Hemisphere is in any way preferable to the Eastern Hemisphere, nor that to refer to the Eastern and Western hemispheres in any way suggests superiority or inferiority, or preference over the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, ethnic origin or preference, color, age, gender (or any variation or combination thereof), physical ability or any challenge thereof, religious faith or determination of no-faith, or sexual preference of the wishee.
To My Republican and Independent Friends:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ 2011.
Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday or scientifically observed occasion , practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2011, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere, nor to suggest that the Western Hemisphere is in any way preferable to the Eastern Hemisphere, nor that to refer to the Eastern and Western hemispheres in any way suggests superiority or inferiority, or preference over the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, ethnic origin or preference, color, age, gender (or any variation or combination thereof), physical ability or any challenge thereof, religious faith or determination of no-faith, or sexual preference of the wishee.
To My Republican and Independent Friends:
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ 2011.
Yours & His,
DED
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