The War on Christmas

Every year now, people get upset about the "war on Christmas." I even wrote about this last year. Now, apparently, it has become a left wing vs. right wing thing. Left wing sites like Buzzflash and DailyKos have taken up the defence of anti-SallyAnn Target stores and crecheless mangers, while Bill O'Reilly reports breathlessly on the alterations to Silent Night that weren't. But how did this get to be a right vs. left thing? Surely there are conservatives who celebrate Chanukkah and not Christmas, and left wingers who very much do the "deck the halls with boughs of Holly" thing?

I don't get why this would be a fuss. It is kind of stupid that governments would use the term "Holiday tree" to avoid offending people who are not Christian. They must think awfully little of non-Christians, to think that they are so intolerant as to be offended by the term "Christmas tree." I know I would be offended if somebody renamed a menorah just for me, because they thought I might take offense at the word "menorah." What kind of bigot would they think I am?

On the other hand, who cares if a clerk says, "Happy Holidays"? Gift giving is part of North American Channukah customs, even to the point that Santa Claus has a counterpart in Channukah Harry. Stores know there's a very good chance someone buying a gift may be buying it for Channukah, Yule, Winter Solstice, or for none of the above and somebody's birthday. Boycotts intended to force store clerks to utter the words "Merry Christmas" is an oppressive use of majority buying power that has nothing to do with the gentle arrival of a baby in a manger.

What I'd really like for is for the controversy to go away. Most of the celebrations we are having this year are about how, in the darkest times, light triumphed over the dark. Stuff about "peace on Earth, goodwill to all men." And anyone who wields "Merry Christmas" or "Happy holidays" as a weapon has totally missed, as some call it, "the reason for the season."