Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Happy Holidays???



Merry Christmas

Happy Hanukah

Kwanzaa

Eid Mubarak
 
Winter Solstice

Boxing Day
 
Santa Claus

Season’s Greetings

Happy Holidays

These are just a few greetings for this time of year.  I’d like to preface today’s blog with my apologies ahead of time.  My intention is NEVER to offend.  But I have the feeling that I may hurt a few feelings or just ruffle a few feathers.  But please hear me out before you judge.

I hate… I mean HATE… all the spams I get regarding any greeting other than Merry Christmas.  First reason… I hate redundancy.  Redundancy because I’d say about 70-80% of the people I know espouse that we should be stating Merry Christmas in honor of the birth of Christ.  Well… Christ wasn’t born on December 25, but I totally get the symbolism.  I grew up Roman Catholic.  WE get the symbolism.  That being said, how many people do I know that aren’t even practicing Christians and just shout out that sentiment?  I don’t mean those of you that truly do live within the boundaries of the 10 commandments and actually practice what they preach.  I respect you guys.  I’m referring to all my other acquaintances, friends and even… just maybe…. Family.  Sorry… 

I don’t know about you, but I was raised that my religion was the religion above all.  That there is only one person above me, my mom/dad and my grandparents.  That was God himself.  But… I don’t know about you guys, but I was also taught that God is all forgiving and loves all His creatures: regardless of the size, shape, creed, color, taste in music, style in clothes and sexual preferences.  Okay… so I may be adlibbing a bit, but you get the picture.

I was brought up by strong catholic women in my life who taught me to treat everybody as equals – until they do you wrong – and even then, still love and forgive them.  By my dad, I was taught to learn about other religions and be open to other ways of thinking.  This combination may have screwed me up a bit… but that’s another conversation for another day.  LOL…

So… If we should love and respect others, why can’t we celebrate all the different “holidays” in December equally?  I try to acknowledge all the holidays individually, but I’ve resorted to saying Happy Holidays and now am made to feel guilty about it.  I shouldn’t.  So stop pushing the spam down my throat.  I do have friends that are from all over the world and have varying religions or outlooks on life.  Please allow me to respect their celebrations, by respecting my greetings.  So regardless, wether you celebrate the birth of Christ, Old Saint Nick, Santa Claus, Hanakuh, Kwanzaa, Eid Mubarak, Winter Solstice or don’t even celebrate, when I say Happy Holidays, just smile and say your greeting back at me with love and sincerity behind the words, not as a venomous lesson.