There was a story on the news last night about the great debate over whether retailers should be saying "Merry Christmas", "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings". Is the tree called by its traditional "Christmas Tree" or the more politically correct, all encompassing "Family Tree"? The story noted that more than 30% of the population prefers "Merry Christmas". Retailers have taken note of that statistic because no retailer can afford to lose 30% of their customers.
This afternoon I received an email from someone-one of those lovely "forwards" we all love so much. It was a rant about the whole what do we call Christmas thing...and how it's Christmas. We shouldn't be messing with tradition, it said.
Here's my confession: I really feel we should be sensitive to one another's beliefs. Sure, it is "Christmas", but there are those among us, for example, in the workplace, who may be Jewish or even Jehovah's Witnesses, who may not celebrate Christmas, which is, arguably, a "Christian" holiday. At our company holiday luncheon last year the employee choir sang mostly Christmas hymns-Joy to the World, O Come All Ye Faithful, O Holy Night. Even though I was a participant, I felt that was inappropriate in the workplace. Matters of faith in the workplace are a touchy subject. I am a Christian, but I don't feel I should broadcast it at work. In the workplace, if there is to be a celebration, it should celebrate the season and the accomplishments of the year, not be an in-your-face Jesus fest. I know there are those who will disagree with this postion, saying we should keep Christ in Christmas. However, the counter argument could be made that Christmas was not always a Christian holiday. Instead, it began as a response to those celebrating pagan festivals. So, was Christ ever truly in Christmas? The bottom line here is that we should respect one another's personal convictions regarding the holiday. It really seems as though it had gotten out of hand. So, however you celebrate the season-Season's Greetings. If you don't celebrate-have a nice day. Maybe that's the answer to world peace.
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Jehovah's Witnesses will sue you over the holidays. Check out the "Holidays" page on this website.
The following website summarizes over 285 lawsuits filed by Jehovah's Witnesses against their Employers, and/or incidents involving problem JW Employees:
EMPLOYMENT ISSUES UNIQUE TO JEHOVAH'S WITNESS EMPLOYEES
http://jwemployees.bravehost.com
I never sued the Jehovah's Witnesses for coming repeatedly to my Brooklyn apartment and ringing my doorbell only to ask me "Have you ever thought about where you're going after this?" Maybe I should have...
Of course, they quickly left my doorstep when I started in on what I DID believe...it sure wasn't about them...
I'm so glad to know you feel this way. I really thought I was alone in that.
I've tried to look at it from the perspective of how I feel if someone were to wish me a happy Hanakuh (sorry, I just realized I don't know how to spell that, but you get the idea.) I would feel blessed to have been greeted nicely even though it's not part of my beliefs. BUT, Christianity is becoming so "in your face." It's not about wishing someone a happy season when it becomes a debate like this. It's about trying to make a statement that Christianity is more important, or because the majority celebrate it that it is the right religion.
People really need to leave their little corners of the world and venture out and meet people of other walks of life. That could be the key to world peace.
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