Due
to the season the debate has raged on all over social media about season’s
greetings.
Are
you politically correct and wish everyone “Happy Holidays”?
Or
do you settle with polite and say whichever greeting you are most comfortable
with? I’m not sure how many holidays are between Halloween and New Year’s Day,
but I know it’s a lot more than just Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I
honestly don’t understand why there is such a debate about it.
If
you are a good Christian, and truly follow Christ’s example, then you would
accept everyone, no matter their religion. If you are a polite, caring, decent,
human being, you’d do the same thing. I’m also sure most, if not all, religions
have teachings about being polite to others.
So
during this holiday season when so many of us are celebrating one significant festivity
or another, why can’t we all just spread good cheer? Why can’t we stop debating
about the “proper greeting” and just be kind to one another?
In
all honesty, as a Christian woman, I’d be ecstatic if someone greeted me with a
hearty Happy Hanukah.
Judy
Marcus, a Jewish freelance writer (her blog Opinionated Woman appears on Chicagonow.com Merry Christmas vs Happy Holidays)
posted, on December 7 of this year, a similar opinion. Basically a friendly
greeting is appreciated even if someone says Merry Christmas.
What
difference does the greeting make as long as the giver is genuinely sincere in
offering it? If no malice is meant, why take offence?
As
Ms. Marcus asks in her post, what would Jesus do?
Did
he ever once ridicule anyone?
I
would think the Christ like thing to do would be to greet everyone with friendship.
Personally,
if you tell me Happy Hanukah, I’ll wish you one back. Not because I celebrate
it, but because I now know you do and I’d want your holidays to be joyous for
you.
The
same would go for anyone else.
In
my church we have a saying. The truth hurts the guilty. So to me, people who
are so easily offended by a simple greeting are the people who are most guilty
of not being kind human beings. They are the one passing judgment, (Matthew
7:1-4) quickly pointing out the small ‘mote’ in another’s eye hoping they won’t
notice the huge ‘beam’ in their own eye.
If
you are going to be offended by a simple greeting, what are you doing wrong?
Christ
commanded us to not take offence.
And
that is the problem. Far too many people take offence. At every little thing.
Even when no offence was intended.
If
I were to see Ms. Marcus on the street I would have no way to know, just from
looking at her, that she is Jewish, so I could not possibly know to wish her a
Happy Hanukah until after she expresses that greeting to me.
So
I have a perfect solution for everyone.
Instead
of trying to come up with one phrase that pleases everyone, why don’t we just
use the ones we already have and everyone just greet everyone else with the one
they are most comfortable with. And if you’re comfortable doing so returning the
greeting of someone that is different than your own.
So
I’ll say to any Jews who might read this, Happy Hanukah.
If
you celebrate Kwanzaa, Have a Joyous Kwanzaa.
Whatever
your celebration this season, enjoy it.
Merry
Christmas.
Smile.
Make the day a brighter day.
