Like clockwork, every December brings with it someone complaining about a supposed "war on Christmas." They go on about how people will say Happy Holidays rather than Merry Christmas, and maybe they'll hear about a school that rescheduled an annual concert until February or gave it a generic winter theme. This will make them angry, and in the spirit of defending Christmas they will inadvertently miss the point entirely.
Yes, sometimes people will try to embrace a generic holiday in order to be more inclusive. It doesn't really work, since Christmas has become such a major part of western culture that you anger more people than you do include others. Sometimes, those efforts don't make sense, such as a local store advertising "holiday trees." Since Arbor Day is the closest thing to a second holiday that also uses trees, it sounds silly, Christmas trees are part of the Christmas tradition and haven't been embraced by other cultures.
While I fully admit that there will, annually, be a few different stories about people trying to push a generic holiday, overall it's not like Christmas has exactly been diminished. The store I mentioned earlier had other sections that were happily labeled Christmas, and cities still decorate with lights and giant trees, and you'll still find plenty of people wishing each other a Merry Christmas as they see each other in the streets. It's something that's embraced even by the more secular crowd for a simple reason, in the depth of winter everyone needs a bit of light, and it's the type of holiday that provides that.
Which is why the people angry about a supposed "war on Christmas" are missing the point. Every time someone complains about someone saying Happy Holidays, every time someone gets angry about people trying out a more generic holiday celebration, a bit of anger is brought to a time that should be joyous. It takes a time of year that should be about togetherness and turns people against each other. It takes the light that Christmas brings to the darkest days on December, and extinguishes it.
Seriously, for Christians, it's the birth of Jesus. That means it's a time of joy and celebration. If you're not Christian, it's still a time of joy and celebration, as things like togetherness and family can be universal, and even the most secular person needs a day dedicated to getting together with family and friends, sharing gifts, and just enjoying each other's company. Christmas, ideally, is supposed to bring out the best in people.
Focusing on whether or not someone says Happy Holidays, however, misses the point. I know, some people are uncomfortable with the holiday, and that's their problem. If you are someone who celebrates it, this shouldn't affect you. The spirit of the holiday should go beyond some words and what some people might celebrate in their own homes. If you celebrate, you should be able to accept their choices, whether or not you agree.
I know, there's something ridiculous about complaining about people getting angry about something. But, for me, it's sad to see people taking what should be a happy time of year, and using it to get angry about something that doesn't matter. To these people I say, Happy Holidays.
