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12-7-06
Time to think about Christmas
Jon London
I walked into the store, doing some Christmas shopping and when I had finished I said to the clerk, "Merry Christmas." The clerk looked up and smiled and she greeted me with "Happy Holidays."
"Oh, so you are one of those stores and doesn't believe in saying Merry Christmas," I said.
She cocked her head and looked a bit startled at me. She smiled again and said, "No, I believe in Christmas, but it is good business to try to recognize that people of all faiths, and perhaps none, shop here and 'Happy Holidays or Seasons Greetings' seems to be proper."
She then told me she was the owner of the small store and asked if I had a few minutes. She asked me to follow her back to her office and she presented her case. She explained to me that she was a Christian but had a number of Jewish customers, and she felt they would prefer "Happy Hanukkah", just as Christians would prefer "Merry Christmas", but instead she would say "Happy Holidays" or "Seasons Greeting", in an attempt to satisfy everyone.
We had a long conversation. I made it a point to say that a number of Christians were upset with the holiday not being referred to as Christmas.
She made her point that she was trying to do what seemed to be correct for a business that served a number of people in a number of faiths.
Yesterday I got an e-mail from a rather radical group that asked me to send an e-mail or make a phone call to a national firm because that firm was not saying "Merry Christmas". I did send the e-mail, only I said, "This is a free country and you can make the choice in what you want to say as a greeting to your customers." It is also important to note that the group that wanted me to send the e-mail also asked for a contribution.
I am a Christian and would prefer to say and have said. "Merry Christmas", but I do believe in freedom and can not find any fault with businesses or others saying "Seasons Greetings" or "Happy Holidays". If you were in business and you were trying to please everyone, what would you do?
Think about it.
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