coercion

[Carol]

Susan wrote:
> <snip> 
> I am not suppressing YOUR right to say Merry Christmas to whomever 
> you please. I think it's discourteous at best.
> 
> And I'm not even boycotting places that say Merry Christmas..it's 
> others on the list who are essentially suggesting organizing against 
> stores and institutions who DON'T wish ALL CUSTOMERS - regardless of 
> their religion -- a religious greeting. That's coercion.

Carol responds:
If Christianity were exclusively a religious holiday, wishing you a
Merry Christmas *might* be discourteous. But it's become extremely
secularized in the last fifty years, to the point now that it's even
losing its name and distinctiveness. Most Christmas shows on
television, most Christmas-themed movies, most Christmas cards (even
the ones that wish people Merry Christmas rather than Happy Holidays
or Season's Greetings) feature Santa Claus or Christmas trees rather
than a Nativity scene or Madonna. *No one* who wishes another person a
Merry Christmas, so far as I know, is pushing their religion on the
other person. They're just expressing good wishes. As I've said, you
can wish me "Happy Samhain" and I won't be offended. I'll say "the
same to you" and appreciate your good wishes. And< IMO, "Merry
Christmas" from a stranger should be taken in the same spirit.

Carol, sad to think that a joyful greeting is now perceived as
coercion and wonders how many people other than Susan seriously hold
that position