Which is more annoying?
Commercialized religious holidays? Or the greetings that don’t jibe with your religion?
For me, it’s the people complaining. About either.
Because they’re that attached to the historical myth they were indoctrinated into… that they forget what the rules of the organization even were. For instance, amidst the “being kind” and “doing unto others”, I don’t think “go off on a tirade to the crew and pilot flying your plane for wishing you a particularly joyous day on December 25th” was in there.
The story is one of many similar examples. A dude boarding a plane got sick of hearing “Merry Christmas” to the point of losing his shit and lecturing the entire crew before finally getting kicked off (I like to think the passengers were applauding when he was). People – attached to an idea about spirituality – lose sight of what that actual spirituality means because other people have turned it into a commercial product and perfunctory, almost obligatory greeting. Is it a little thoughtless? Sure. But someone saying “Merry Christmas” isn’t them trying to brainwash you into Christianity. I bet that whole flight crew collectively sees the inside of a church two times a year, tops. But if that many people are saying it that you blow a fuse, they must say it to everyone. Which means it’s not about you. Which means you’re probably taking it a little too personally.
I myself say “happy holidays” now because it’s my way of being considerate.
Also, I don’t want ’em going Bad Anti-Santa on me.
‘cause I’ve never forgotten my first experience with non P.C. holiday greetings.
I was young, dumb, sheltered, and my newly painted blonde coif was slowly seeping into my brain and hijacking my identity. Armed with all of these wonderful qualities, I took up a gig for some play money at the mall with a friend – handing out flyers. Then, an acquaintance from class stopped by with his mom… and I made the biggest faux pas you can make. I said “Merry Christmas” in my most effervescent tone.
They were Jewish.
I know, I know. But keep in mind, I was still in high school and in a phase of life where fashion, dating, sports, and popularity were pretty much priority. No one talked that much about religion. Even for the kids who had a more useful future-oriented focus than my own, I didn’t often hear much from them about it either. So, although I still get a little cringe of shame to this day about that, part of teenager me is still thinking “but how was I supposed to know?”
I suppose that’s the idea when it comes to doling out holiday greetings: assumption.
Instead of assuming, now I try (usually fail – but try nonetheless) to put myself in the place of others. And when it comes to the holidays, I try to imagine how I would feel if someone told me “Happy Hannukah” or whatever instead of “Merry Christmas”. The results? Well… the results are that I may need your help on this one, because I don’t have a special umbilical cord tying me to Mary’s manger womb – and I’m thus rendered un-offended when I hear anything akin to a different kind of holiday greeting than the one I grew up on and regurgitated. What matters more to me is taking tweezers to any religious text and just picking out the parts that ask you to basically be a good person who doesn’t pick fights over bullshit. And then living by them. Instead of just telling others to.
So let’s spend the next 360 days reflecting on what it is we’re defending.
And why – if we’re not even willing to live by its code.
Also, have a happy New Year’s!
(Oh wait… can I say that? Is that P.C.?)