There’s a fine, speech-defending column at the Chicago Tribune from Jamie Katz on saying “Merry Christmas.” Here’s part of it:
….It’s all right to say Merry Christmas. In fact, it’s lovely.
I happen to be Jewish. And I’ve lived most of my life in New York City, where, on the whole, contrary to rumor, people of every faith, language and hue do a pretty good job of getting along.
Not once, ever, publicly or privately, have I heard anyone – Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Cherokee, atheist or Aqua Buddhist – say he or she was insulted by a sincere holiday greeting that included the word Christmas.
Of course, if you’re aware that someone celebrates a different tradition, it’s nice to acknowledge that too. And if you have no idea whether he or she prefers Kwanzaa, Hanukkah or Omisoka, you can always say, “Happy Festivus for the rest of us!” or even “Happy holidays!” It’s not that bad.
Well said. I say ‘Merry Christmas,’ unless, like Katz, I know someone celebrates a different holiday. One starts with what one believes, and it’s a measure of intolerance to expect someone to sacrifice belief for supposed tolerance.
(If, for example, someone said Happy New Year to me around Rosh Hashanah, I wouldn’t be offended; on the contrary, I respect someone for his or her commitment and happiness in it. A multicultural society is exactly that — multicultural. It’s not a society that cajoles people into a standard that’s not meaningful to them. Rights derive from individuals, not to be sacrificed for a homogenizing community.)