[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: What's wrong with "Merry Christmas"?

[Kathryn Lambert]

Heidi Tandy <heidi8 at gmail.com> wrote:                               
 On Mon, 31 Dec 2007 3:09 pm, Kathryn Lambert wrote:
 >  I am a very liberal person, as most of you probably have, um, 
 > guessed... ; )  But this whole "Happy Holidays" thing really gets on my 
 > nerves.
 >
 >
 > Yes, there are other holidays being celebrated during the winter 
 > months. But, you know what? I would rather have a Jewish person wish me 
 > "Happy Hanukkah", even though I am not Jewish, than wish me a banal 
 > "Happy Holidays". It means nothing - to me, or to the person saying it.
 
 Heidi wrote:


Do you really think so?
 
 You are, of course, free to feel that it means nothing to you, but why 
 do you presume it means nothing to the person saying it?
 
 I'm actually truly curious as to why you feel this way, because when I 
 wish people a Happy Holidays through about six weeks of the year, I 
 *really mean it*. I want them to have a wonderful and happy holiday, 
 whatever they celebrate during those six-ish weeks. I ask, "What are you 
 doing for the holidays," and I am genuinely interested.


<<SNIP>>


***Katie again:


Well, I actually did write later on in that post that *if* "Happy Holidays" actually means something to the person saying it, that's great and fine. BUT - my point was, it means nothing to me. Why should someone be offended by me wishing them a genuine and heartfelt "Merry Christmas", rather than a lame and PC "Happy Holidays"? 



If "Happy Holidays" actually means something to you, than it is neither lame nor banal...because there is a meaning and a feeling behind the words. But since I wouls much rather wish someone "Merry Christmas", the words would be empty of meaning if I said "Happy Holidays" instead. That's my real point - if I am wishing you good wishes, cheer, happiness and love...why should it matter that I am saying "Marry Christmas"? It will be obvious to anyone that I mean what I am saying, I am genuinely happy and full of cheer, and as I said, if the response was "Happy Hanukkah" or "Happy Ramadan" - I certainly wouldn't be offended by that, because I would know that person really meant what they were saying and I would appreciate their good wishes for me. 



I think we're too hung up on the *words*, when what we should be concerned with is the *meaning*. Just my .02, Katie









       
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