Christmas is Offensive

At least that's what some politically correct people say. They are worried that someone might be offended if they hear a Christmas carol sung. They're worried that someone might be offended if they are wished, or even see the words, Merry Christmas. And God (you believe in Him) forbid that we display a Nativity scene. We can't have Christmas parades anymore. We have Holiday parades or Parades of Lights or Festivals of Lights or call it by some other PC phrase because it might offend someone to use the word Christmas.

I like Santa Claus. I like candy canes and elves, and giving gifts. I especially like getting gifts; I won't lie about that. I love the music of the season. It doesn't matter whether it's Bing Crosby singing White Christmas or Adeste Fideles, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the Tractors Santa Claus is Comin' (In a Boogie Woogie Choo Choo Train), the Glenn Miller Orchestra and Silver Bells, or Nat King Cole singing O Holy Night (I get shivers everytime I hear this song). I love the movies whether it's the classic The Bishop's Wife, the new classic National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, King of Kings, or too many others to mention. I love Christmas and all that goes with it, whether it's secular or religious. I like it.

The PC crowd worries that someone might be offended by the religious aspect of Christmas. You know what? They are right: someone might be offended. It's me. I'm offended. Honestly, I don't care if someone wishes me a Happy Holiday instead of a Merry Christmas. That won't offend me. What does offend me is someone deciding that I can't sing Silent Night because someone might be offended. If I were told that I can't sing because I make Roseanne sound like Maria Callas might hurt my feelings, but I'd understand. I can sing, it's just not one of my better talents. But to be told I can't sing because someone, somewhere might be offended by hearing about the birth of Christ is suppressing my freedom of religion, not to mention my freedom of speech. And that offends me. It's not just that I can't sing it, it's that no one can.

I understand that not everyone believes as I do. And there is the rub. Some people have no faith, others have faith, but believe in something other than what I believe in. I don't have a problem with other religions, unless they want to kill me, then we have a problem. I embrace other religions because I like learning about other things, other cultures. They enrich our national culture. Without other cultures we wouldn't have Christmas trees (Germany), Christmas cards (England) or Christ himself (ancient Israel). Without Christ, there would be no Christmas at all. And that's the crux of the whole PC thing: To take Christ out of Christmas. To take religion out of the holiday. Well, to some of us, that's the entire point of the holiday. The rest is just icing on the cake.

We have got to do away with this PC nonsense. That's one of the things that is dividing this country. We don't dare talk about masters and slaves anymore even if we're discussing primary and secondary computers. One day we will wake up and the Holiday parade will be moved to October. Doesn't have to be held in December, it's a holiday parade, it can be held anytime. Let's move it to spring and combine it with that other religious Christian holiday and get rid of it too.

America is a rich, culturally diverse nation. We should be able to celebrate all religions and not exclude anyone. But that's not what's happening. We are so afraid of offending one person that we risk offending everyone. There are a couple of things the PC crowd forgets: 1. America was built on Judeo-Christian beliefs; 2. In being politically correct, you're telling at least one group of people that they don't count; 3. You can call the holiday anything you choose, but it is still Christmas in the hearts of millions of Americans; 4. By telling me that I can't celebrate Christmas is infringing on my religious freedoms; and 5. Politically correct people give me the impression that they are mean, nasty, anal-retentive, obsessive, and sad, pitiful people.

To paraphrase Abe Lincoln: You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you can't please all of the people all of the time. Human nature being what it is, someone is bound to be mad about something. So let's stop this PC nonsense and get back to doing what we do best: being culturally diverse Americans who want to celebrate Christmas in whatever manner they choose.

This being a politically correct-free corner, I would like to be among the first to wish you a very Merry Christmas and the very best of the season. If you are among the PC-minded, I will add this wish to my greeting: I wish that your heart, like that of the Grinch, grows at least two sizes and that you learn tolerance and how to enjoy the richness of all cultures and religions.