Politically correct madness

It’s that time of the year again, the winds get colder, the the nights get longer, shopping malls are more crowded, and all the stores have the distinct smell of turpentine and cinnamon sticks. Yes it’s Christmas, or as more people are calling it “a holiday.” Almost everywhere you go, you’ll most likely be greeted with the phrase “happy holidays!” Which is supposed to be a neutral greeting that is appropriate for anybody celebrating any occasion. The idea of using the phrase doesn’t bug me at all. If somebody wants to use a neutral phrase to avoid isolating any particular group, then more power to them. What I have a problem with are the stores, people, tv-shows and anybody else that are too afraid to use any other term, because they’re trying to avoid being politically incorrect. Most stores you walk into are decorated in wreaths, have a 40 foot decorated tree with some poor bastard that lost a coin toss sitting next to it dressed as santa. Yet whenever anybody greets you they’ll belch out the “happy holidays” phrase. Now if you happen to be thinking to yourself “so what. They don’t want to be pushing their religious beliefs onto everybody.” Which makes about as much sense as setting your house on fire because you wanted to change the wallpaper. Then ask yourself, what’s the point in being cautious of offending somebody with a 4 syllable phrase, when you have symbols of your holiday up for everybody to see? Would you apply the same rules to every other group of people?

Chances are if people aren’t offended by a few displays of whatever holiday you’re celebrating. Then they aren’t going to mind you wishing them a happy whatever. It makes no sense at all to try and be sympathetic to peoples beliefs and views with a neutral phrase, while you’re standing in front of 40 foot tree pumping out about 1,000 watts of electricity, and a drunken bastard in a red suit yelling at some lady to come over and shut her baby up if she wants a decent picture. A lot of people have gotten this crazy notion that as long as they don’t mention christmas, they won’t step on anybody’s toes. When really most people wouldn’t give a shit either way. So during this wonderful month of December whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the birth of Pan the goat demon. Don’t be afraid to wish anybody a happy or merry whatever! I even wished a Jewish guy a Merry Chistmas after cutting me off in traffic with exceptional results.