Merry....Happy.....Seasons......I give up

Merry Christmas!  There, I said it.  The annual discussion of what to say to someone or put on our cards has begun.  I don't get it.  Why is it offensive to say Merry Christmas?  I celebrate it and I am wishing a Merry Christmas to someone else who celebrates it, but it's offensive.  Since when has Christianity become such an offensive topic?  We can no longer have Christmas Trees or Easter Eggs, they have been replaced by Holiday Trees and Spring Spheres.  True story.

Last month Lincoln Chafee, the Governor of Rhode Island totally embarrassed himself by  fumbling the lighting of the Chris....err, Holiday.....err tree, in the Rhode Island State House.  After many protests from both sides he did a super-secret tree lighting in the middle of the afternoon and with only a thirty minute warning to State House employees by e-mail.  Last year, the North Andover Fire Department was forced to take down their Christmas lights that spelled out "Merry Christmas", a time honored tradition in that town.  Also last year the Massachusetts State House had a Holiday Tree lighting and a Menorah lighting, huh?

So, why do we need to call them Holiday Trees?  What Holiday other than Christmas has a tree as its symbol?  Judaism? Nope.   They have a Menorah for Hanukkah, the "Festival of Lights" which celebrates and eight day festival ordered by Judas Maccabeus after rededicating the Temple that had been destroyed.  That's what the protesters must be offended by.  Since Judaism does not worship false idols, I highly doubt it.  So what other Holiday can we celebrate the tree?  Kwanzaa?  Since Kwanzaa is not a holiday but rather a celebration of African-American Heritage, I would assume that true Kwanzaa advocates don't have a problem with the tree, they also may be Christian and have a tree in their home as well. 

I guess the discussion now comes to the First Amendment argument.  Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. So the State Houses are not requiring everyone to put up a Christmas Tree.  I will take it a step further in that the Christmas Tree is not even a true symbol of Christmas in its natural sense.  There was no tree in the manger with baby Jesus.  I will take even one step further with the question to the people that are so offended by the tree, do they approach their bosses and tell them that they want to work on Christmas Day?  Of course not.  If Christmas is so offensive then take it all the way.  Don't be a coward and just attack the symbols.

According to 2012 Census data Christians make up almost seventy five percent of the United States population.  So why is Christianity constantly under attack no matter the holiday?  No other Holiday comes under attack more than Christmas.  When the Muslims celebrate Ramadan, I don't hear anything.  When the Jewish celebrate Rosh Hashanah, nothing.  Why?  Because Christians don't care what other religions do and that is how it should be for Christian Holidays.  The First Amendment also gives people the freedom to protest, so it is unfortunately something we will need to live with.  But leave my Christmas Tree alone.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy New Year

3D

If you don't take it from me, ask my wife.