What's wrong with "Merry Christmas"?

[Mary Ann]

Steve wrote:

> It seems that when I greet someone with a seasonal greeting,
> I should greet them in a way consistent with what I am
> celebrating, and they should respond with something consistent
> with what they are celebrating even if all they are celebrating
> is the end of the calendar year. '...and a Happy New Year to
> you'.

I agree, Steve.  When I wish people a Merry Christmas I'm not assuming 
that they celebrate it.  I grew up in Toronto, the most multicultural 
city in the world, and people who didn't know my religion would wish me 
a Happy Hannukah, or the blessings of Allah, or a Happy Solstice, etc.  
When wishing someone a Merry Christmas (and I don't know their 
religion, if any) I'm wishing them the happiness I have during my 
religous holiday. I'm not pushing my religious beliefs on them.  There 
is a big difference between the two situations.
 
> I doesn't seem as complicated as political correctness has
> made it.

If Christmas as a religious festival is politically incorrect then, IMO 
surely the secular Chrismtas hoo-hah, mainly the rampant consumer 
spending, should surely also be banned.  And the Christmas/Yule tree.  
And the chocolate Yule log.  And a whole load of other things which 
would cripple the economy of many countries.  As someone with a double 
major in sociology and cultural anthropology what drives me nuts about 
political correctness is how it picks and chooses.  The religious 
aspects of Christmas, for example, are considered to be wrong to 
emphasise but the secular trappings based upon that religion (which, in 
turn, are based on the old Celtic religions, therefore banning two 
religions at once) are OK.  Why?  Surely if any religious festival is 
considered offensive then *all* aspects of it should be banned.  Or 
would that be inconvenient, and spoil the fun of a lot of non-
believers?  Hmmm...

If I offend some people when wishing them a Merry Christmas (or Happy 
Christmas, as is said in the UK) I certainly don't mean to do so.  I'm 
wishing them the joy and happiness that the religious event brings to 
me.  If they are still offended, I consider that to be their problem.  
It may sound callous to some but the point of religious freedom, IMO, 
is the freedom to practice one's religion as well as the freedom to not 
practice any or all religions.

Mary Ann, off to bake another batch of Christmas cookies