We are a multi-faith nation

Opinion: December 21, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

The annual controversy surrounding greetings for this season, “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy holidays,” is enough to make me say, “Bah, humbug!”

I’m in no way an Ebenezer Scrooge, that mean-spirited tightwad in Charles Dickens’ 1843 classic “A Christmas Carol.” But, seriously, I’m tired of hearing it.

Those who suggest that it is somehow disrespectful, anti-Christian or atheistic to say “Happy holidays” or “Season’s greetings” this time of year are being pretty petty and, in some cases, very biased.

Individuals, retailers, corporations and organizations that choose a non-specific greeting are not trying to distance themselves from Jesus Christ, as some have claimed.

In many cases they simply are taking into account that there is more than one holiday during this “season,” and some companies find it less complicated and less expensive to prepare advertising, marketing and signage that will endure a long shopping season that runs from before Thanksgiving to New Year’s.

When I was in the radio/television business years ago, our promotional spots tended to use “Happy holidays” because it prevented the necessity of having someone come in the day after Christmas to re-record spots that said “Happy New Year.”

Overlapping holidays

Of course, there are other religions whose holidays sometimes overlap with Christmas.

There are years when both Hanukkah (Jewish) and Ramadan (Muslim) coincide with the Christian observance of Jesus’ birth.

Boycotting stores that don’t say “Merry Christmas” in their advertising, or the berating of broadcasters and various celebrities because they use the term “Happy holidays,” are pathetic protests.

But, in America everyone has that right.

The hullabaloo over this issue is almost nonsensical, considering that Christmas has been so commercialized and distorted that the “true” meaning for many was lost a long time ago.

It is astounding that some of the same people who were upset that Jesus was being ignored by some department stores also were irate that a few schools had banned Santa from coming into classrooms.

What does Santa Claus have to do with Jesus? Or did I miss the part of the Bible that says, “Behold, a child is born ... and his name shall be called Santa, St. Nick, Kris Kringle and a Jolly Old Fellow?”

I don’t mean to be cynical about this because I understand the irritation some feel that too many Christians don’t give proper reverence to the day honoring the birth of the one they call Savior.

To them it is sacrilege that there are those who, to be “politically correct,” would avoid uttering the word “Christmas” when greeting people even if they are of other faiths.

It’s not a matter of political correctness.

It is a demonstration of tolerance, a way to be considerate of others and their religions. In fact, it is being Christian.

People should do what is comfortable for them.

Use whatever seasonal greeting is appropriate for you, and don’t go out of the way to criticize others for doing the same.

Be secure enough in your own faith that you don’t have to use Christmas as an excuse to put down others because they worship differently than you.

Respect them, no matter how you greet them.

Besides, I don’t think God is worried about what words we say to each other, as long as they are kind and heartfelt.

Why don’t we let him be the judge of our actions — during this and every other season?

Happy holidays, everybody. And I truly mean it.

Bob Ray Sanders is a columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.