Happy ‘Holy Days’ and Atheist Bigots
A chain e-mail has re-emerged to encourage folks to patronize businesses that openly express “Merry Christmas” and not “Happy Holidays” — the politically correct expression used by the big chain stores to avoid conflict with non-Christian consumers.
Happy Holidays, which is derived from “hāligdæg”, an Old English (Middle English) word — from hālig holy + dæg day
So should Christians really be offended when are greeted with “Happy Holy Days” instead of “Merry Christmas”?
The concern for me dates back two years ago when a public school changed the lyrics to “Silver Bells” replacing the word Christmas with “festive”. So after no longer enjoying their “Christmas Break”, kids on “Winter Break” were now having songs changed.
“Holiday Trees” replaced “Christmas Trees” — what other religion has a practice of decorating a tree in their celebration?
Last year ended the sixty-plus year tenure of a Michigan nativity scene. The presentation was on a public road but was maintained privately. After some threats, the lawsuit landed and the nativity scene came down to maintain “the separation of church and state.”
There is an extremist fringe that scream loudly that this clause is not to prevent a national religion, but ensure that government can’t have anything whatsoever to do with religion — even indirectly.
Take down the crosses on the side of the road, eliminate state holiday recognition of Good Friday and force the Ten Commandments into the shadows — these are crown achievements by the individuals.
I’m friends with several atheists and agnostics and this aggressive behavior must be buried deep within because they never illicit this intolerance to religion anymore that I illicit vocal condemnation of their religion.
Unfortunately many companies fear lawsuits and bad press, so this faction of atheism and secular culture is motivated and successful. I personally think most of these atheists look like anti-religious bigots and truly oppress many of our rights to practice our religion.
So every time you hear “Happy Holidays” in place of a gentle “Merry Christmas”, follow my lead and respond with a courteous “Happy Holy Days to You Too”
