Celebration under the gun

[wetdryvac]

Y'know, I tried keeping track of all the holidays and whatnot - finally giving up when I couldn't remember if solstice was Dec 18, 21, or 22 - but Christmas? My family celebrates that without turning it into some pedagogical horror or proselytizing buggeration. In other words, some of us believe on thing, some of us another, and as is generally

Comments

[briar_witch]

I feel the same as you do. So long as no-one is trying to convert me I don't care if they wish me a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hannahkah, or told me to have a good Solstice (though frankly I'd be thrilled is someone wished me a good Solstice). I can recognize the good intention behind it. It's the good intent that counts, not whatever religion it might be in particular.

What strikes me as being especially hypercritical, are those who insist that we should all say "Happy Holidays" so as not to offend everyone, then they'll say "Happy Holidays" when clearly the only holiday they could possibly mean, due to timing, is Christmas.

Of course, telling someone to have a specific happy holiday could in fact draw unwanted attention upon their spirituality and/or religion if it's something other than the standard Christian holiday. Many pagans for example, are still pretty much in the closet, and telling them to have a good solstice may alert others to their religion, even though it could be argued that it says more about the wisher than the person receiving the wish. People do often jump to conclusions, and it's something to be aware of when out in public.

It's sad that keeping one's religion/spirituality is even a necessity, yet so many people insist their religion is right and are all too willing to scapegoat and punish those whom they disagree with.