Christmas obsession
To the person who told me earlier today that she finds it offensive that some people say "happy holidays" to her now instead of "merry Christmas:"
For those of us Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Pagans, Buddhists, atheists, etc. who care about such things, having "happy holidays" said to you means that the person saying it acknowledges that the holiday season is not just Christmas, but includes other holidays (or if you don't celebrate any religious holidays, at least it's a secular holiday from school work, etc) and they hope you have a good time off. Everyone can appreciate that.
For Christians, well.
For the period of at least a month before the actual start of Christmas, every time you try to listen to the radio, all they will be playing is Christmas music.
If you turn on your television, there will be Christmas commercials with Christmas sales.
If you walk into any store, it is likely to be decorated with Christmas trees covered in Christmas lights, Christmas ornaments, and Christmas green and red tinsel.
Most of the people around you will be talking about their Christmas plans, what they hope to get or are planning to give for their Christmas presents, and asking you the same.
All of us non-Christmas-celebrating people just have to deal with the fact that most of the country seasonally becomes completely obsessed with something that has nothing to do with us at all. So if a couple people wish you "happy holidays," which, mind you, includes the holiday of Christmas... I think you can deal with that too.
For those of us Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Pagans, Buddhists, atheists, etc. who care about such things, having "happy holidays" said to you means that the person saying it acknowledges that the holiday season is not just Christmas, but includes other holidays (or if you don't celebrate any religious holidays, at least it's a secular holiday from school work, etc) and they hope you have a good time off. Everyone can appreciate that.
For Christians, well.
For the period of at least a month before the actual start of Christmas, every time you try to listen to the radio, all they will be playing is Christmas music.
If you turn on your television, there will be Christmas commercials with Christmas sales.
If you walk into any store, it is likely to be decorated with Christmas trees covered in Christmas lights, Christmas ornaments, and Christmas green and red tinsel.
Most of the people around you will be talking about their Christmas plans, what they hope to get or are planning to give for their Christmas presents, and asking you the same.
All of us non-Christmas-celebrating people just have to deal with the fact that most of the country seasonally becomes completely obsessed with something that has nothing to do with us at all. So if a couple people wish you "happy holidays," which, mind you, includes the holiday of Christmas... I think you can deal with that too.