I recently had to write a Christmas Holiday e-card for the company I work for. One of the stipulations of the design, was that I had to use the phrase Happy Holidays. I could not use Merry Christmas because we needed to be politically correct and not offend any customers. Our customer service staff ends their phone conversation with the same two words. While I can understand this stance for a corporation which is the face of many people, and not just one, the movement towards politically correct greetings in December is ridiculous.

When someone greets me, I would like them to say what is meaningful to them*. Alternatively, saying what is meaningful to me in a gesture of understanding and unity would be pleasant as well. However, using a generic term to cover all religious holidays so as to be all-inclusive is bland. I'm a Christian, so I celebrate Christmas. I will say "Merry Christmas" because it is what I believe in, it is what I am passionate about. I'm not saying, "This entire month is dedicated to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ the Messiah, so believe and be saved... heathen!" I'm saying, "Merry Christmas, be happy, share in my excitement, enjoy the day off!"

I want people to speak what is true. Communicate, be honest. It would be fake and small to greet with a cop-out and compromise. I don't celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa (and chances are neither do you) so why are you telling me to celebrate them both, plus Christmas, with Happy Holidays? I have no problem with people celebrating those other holidays, but I don't so I'll stick with the one I do: Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas--again!