How many times has the greeting “Happy Holidays” been given over the past few weeks? Why are traditionally moral and good people subject to the whims and fancies of a few secularists who wish to impose their ethics, or lack thereof, upon Christians?
Not a long time ago, the word Christmas was everywhere during the month of December–in town squares, in cities, in offices, and in private homes. Christmas was arguably the most beloved of American holidays, giving rise to the “Christmas season,” in which people got into the “Christmas spirit.”
Sophomore Saurabh Sudesh said,”I think it is politically correct to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas, despite Merry Christmas not having any sort of religious connotations when used as a greeting to it. It’s a simple issue, but surely one that some people feel is legitimate.”
Then, something strange began to happen. The very thing that made the “season” special started to disappear from the public arena. Stores no longer held “Christmas sales” and “Christmas” became a dirty word and was replaced by “holiday.” And so, the War on Christmas had begun.
People have grown so accustomed to the change that people have lost sight of just how significant it is. “Christmas” is loaded with meaning and rich in spirit. It imparts rich feeling unlike “holiday”, which is a bland word that means a day or two that people get off school. Saying “holiday” and meaning Christmas is like saying, “a long dead politician” and meaning Abraham Lincoln. Technically, it’s not wrong, but the whole significance is lost.
Although some may claim that the so-called “separation” between Church and State precludes any public celebrations regarding Christ’s birth, this view is incorrect. The Founding Father’s views on public policy and other fields were deeply influenced by their religious views, according to the Republican from Texas, Rep. Ron Paul. Indeed, this war on Christmas seems to be expanding to every celebration, even Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.
This is all the more reason for people of all faiths to unite against the forces of secularism in a season tinged with religious meaning. If these people remove Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa from the public sphere, what is to stop them from removing Christianity or Judaism from public life?
Junior Tatiana Anthony said,”I think that Happy Holidays is a suitable, if unnecessary substitute for “Merry Christmas.” I appreciate that people are trying to include holidays other than Christmas in their well wishes, but at the same time I don’t think that it is something that was being called for too strongly.”
It is a slippery slope indeed, and this is why political correctness must be stopped, not only in the name of Christians, but in the name of all Americans.