Who ruined Christmas?

My answer-- EVERYONE fundamentalist. Christians, Jews, whatever-- it's all YOUR fault.

I work in retail and I like to say Happy Holidays because it makes me more comfortable. I try and think how I would feel if I lived in a country where the predominant religion wasn't my own, and I try and be sensitive. If someone says "Merry Christmas" to me first, I return it with a smile on my face. Or, often times I see a woman wearing a cross, which I assume to be a safe, go-ahead to say "Merry Christmas."

One time a woman wished me "Happy Hanukkah" -- I said it right back! With a smile! I want them to have a wonderful holiday season and it's certainly no threat to my Christian faith. I mean really, no one is currently celebrating "Club a baby seal-iday" so I am not troubled!

People have ruined Christmas though by making it another partisan, stupid political issue. I blame Bill O'Reilly. I think he started this whole mess by whining about people saying "Season's Greetings" or "Happy Holidays" a year or two ago.

Now fundamentalist rabbis are threatening lawsuits if airports don't take down Christmas trees (which is stupid since the supreme court ruled that secular images like snowmen, trees, Santa and reindeer don't constitute a church/state problem since those aren't church symbols)! And we have nasty Christians brandishing the phrase "MERRY CHRISTMAS" as if it was some sort of weapon.

I know that we've had people in Bath & Body who've gotten a rude glare for saying "Happy Holidays" -- which is pretty big in this part of the world since we are generally a non-confrontational people.

There's talk of some companies requiring people NOT to say "Merry Christmas" to customers. Why can't people cool it? Stop freaking about how people celebrate and for quit having a coronary over a sign about 'Holiday trees' instead of Christmas trees. You'll buy it, take it home and make it YOUR Christmas tree. End of story- no big deal!

I'm tired of apologizing. I apologize constantly for the vocal, visible nut-job Christians. You know the ones who claim "God hates fags" or someone makes the "logical" jump that God hates murder, so they kill an abortion doctor. But dangit, Christmas is one holiday I refuse to be ashamed of-- I don't want to spend all season apologizing for being a Christian who says Merry Christmas.

So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanza-- what have you. Anything but clubbing seals and I can probably get behind you. Jesus is the reason for my season, but that doesn't mean I'm trying to force him to be the reason behind yours!