It seems that every year, it becomes slight more taboo to wish someone a “Merry Christmas” if you’re not entire sure that the receiver is Christian. Additionally, more and more often, there seems to be a move to neutralize the Christmas spirit and celebrate winter holidays. A co-worker described it as taking ‘Christ’ out of the ‘Christmas’. I’m not overly religious (perhaps that should read religious at all), but it’s getting to the point where it seems that Christmas is being stripped out of every day life, in the name of political correctness. And this is a problem.
When Canada signed a new constitution act in 1982, the Charter entrenched the idea of multiculturalism, where anyone/everyone was invited to celebrate their culture. It’s an easy argument that religion and culture are pretty much the same thing. So, then why are we trying to remove Christmas? Regardless if your stance on religion, or particular belief, it shouldn’t offend anyone to see a Christmas tree up in a public building or vehicle. By the same token, it shouldn’t offend to see the menorah either. The whole point of multiculturalism is that we celebrate each other for who we are, not try and hide the fact.
We celebrate numerous religious and cultural holidays over the course of the year, and we’re better for it. Merry Christmas to one and all, Christian or not, believer or not.
