Niki McClure, Managing Editor
It’s that time of year again: Amongst all the holiday cheer and brotherly love is the back and forth battle between the how a holiday greeting is stated.
The main argument is between keeping the greeting general such as saying “Happy Holidays” or saying the more religious “Merry Christmas.”
The argument has also extended past the simple verbal greeting to the way that various holidays are displayed. The most recurring example of this is the controversy over the Starbucks cup and its color, the designs on the cup and whether people think it “properly” celebrates their holiday.
President elect Donald Trump even expressed criticism for the Starbucks cup recently, in agreeance with those who claimed it did not have enough Christmas appeal to it.
Other stores, such as Target or Home Depot, have also been criticized by the public for their lack of holiday displays and greetings in relation to Christmas. Target put out an OCD Christmas sweater where the letters did not stand for obsessive compulsive disorder but obsessive Christmas disorder.
The criticism stemmed from the perception that this was inconsiderate to the actual disorder, whereas Target only meant to express the intense excitement and passion some have for Christmas.
Penn-Trafford students decorate the school to show their holiday spirit.
Again, this was another way a winter holiday was expressed that others had a problem with.
In my opinion, the problem here is universalism. Christianity is the religion, for the most part, that celebrates Christmas and is also the most practiced religion in the United States. The reality to this is understanding that there are a variety of other religions practiced in the nation that celebrate holidays during the months of December and January as well.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Committee works to make sure that no one is discriminated against in the workplace. Under this protection, an employee has the right to refuse to say a certain holiday greeting or wear any apparel for the company that contradicts what they believe in.
So, companies or businesses can choose how much they display or present a particular holiday is a decision they can make as a whole, just as the individual employees can. Therefore, the arguments and criticism is invalid.
If the major businesses are not at fault for holiday greetings/displays being what the public wants, by majority, then who is?
The public or individuals on the receiving end of the holiday greeting can accept whatever that greeting come out as. For instance, if someone tells you “happy Hanukkah,” but you do not celebrate that holiday, you can still respond with thank you. You would not be crossing the line of culturalism, but you would be acknowledging that the someone celebrates a different holiday than you and respecting their first amendment rights.
The media declares, year after year, that there is “a war on Christmas.” This term is overused and misused. People are not offended by Christmas or want those who celebrate it to keep to themselves — they want their practices and celebrations to be respected and understood as those of the majority.
The appreciation and understanding behind what ever greeting you are given this holiday season is what is important, not whether or not you celebrate it.