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Reflections December 2014

Life Is for Living

Wish Merry Christmas as a Solution Rather than a Problem

By Neil Wyrick

We do live in a pluralistic society – so accepting the fact rather than fighting it makes common sense. "Peace on earth, good will toward men" is what I am trying to communicate each joyous December season. Hardly seems to me to be something to go to a verbal war over.

"Merry Christmas" which toward the month's end, you will have heard for the umpteenth time. What does it mean? There is certainly a religious connotation to it but is that all bad? What is behind this expression is also a verbal gift of love.

The word "Merry" in bygone times meant "brightly colored," "attractive," "pleasant "or even "fragrant." Those who complain that the word Christmas has “Christ” in it do have a point. So I figure since I am a Christian, when I speak to someone who is not they should not hold it against me for wishing for them all the joy this season gives to me.

It's little wonder that we adults have gotten ourselves into the pickle of trying to handle this not-so-simple greeting. When trying to explain Christmas in today's culture we are apt to find ourselves with the same dilemma described in the following story.

A young lad had just responded to an explanation of what Christmas is all about by saying, "Let me see if I have this straight. Christmas is baby Jesus’s birthday, but I get the presents."

But then how did the term "happy holiday" gain such prominence? The answer is simple enough. When the attitudes and actions of city after city underlined and made bold the secular, it was inevitable. When Nativity scenes were packed away to gather dust, there was little left but neutral limbo.

So I have a question. Should we neutralize the 4th July to make the anarchist happy? And if so, what's next?

Why not have a campaign of inclusion where Christians, Muslims, Jews and others happily and with total respect cry out ""Happy Hanukkah" or "Ramadan Mubarak" or "Happy Kwanza" when the calendar and the other persons faith makes such greetings appropriate. That if I am talking to a Jew, I should say" Happy Hanukkah" and he back to me "Merry Christmas." It sure does and is infinitely better than the mushy "happy holiday."

We should not have to run an emotional gauntlet to recognize that these are not moments of attempted conversion but personal expressions of gladness.

So let me put it this way: let's educate each other to appreciate each other's special religious holidays. Ignorance produces ignorant behavior – and that to the detriment of all.

If we know someone else is a Jew or Christian or Muslim or whatever, simply give them their greeting with enthusiasm and not even a hint of offense. And the same from them to us. This way, without everyone wearing their feelings on their sleeves, we clothe ourselves with happy tolerance – and that to the good of all.

Let's face it. We do live in a pluralistic society – so accepting the fact rather than fighting it makes common sense. "Peace on earth, good will toward men" is what I am trying to communicate each joyous December season. Hardly seems to me to be something to go to a verbal war over.

Therefore, at the risk of being redundant, let me close this column by wishing you a very happy, merry, joyous Christmas and while I am at it, a happy new year.

 

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