Oh, here we go!!!!!!! I needed to vent a little and inform certain people of how DUMB this is all turning into.. This is no way shape or form written to offend anyone, and if it does I am sorry, however I have a feeling most people will see that this was written with an objective mind. Also keep in mind although I consider myself of Christian belief, I don't consider myself a part of an organized religion. Everything *d in this article is backed with sources.. Please feel free to check out some of the sites on the bottom I referenced for more proper info. Thanks!
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So with December in full force, tis the season for debates on what to call "the time your family celebrates together". For the past --thousand or so years, Christians called their day of celebration Christmas, Jewish individuals Hanukkah, and those of African descent celebrate Kwanzaa, which has been properly named since the 90s*. Many cultures and areas had their own Holy days that they celebrated in many different ways, but some were never officially named or if they were named, the names did not flourish out of the mouths of too many Americans.

As many of you may have noticed the current debate that is running rapid through the states themselves, as well as overseas, is the debate of calling those swell evergreens decorated with lights Christmas trees, or while shopping having staff wish you a **gasp** Merry Christmas instead of the newly declared politically correct saying, Happy Holidays! Before I was born.. MANY years before I was born, a Christmas tree was called a Christmas tree*, and a Menorah was called a Menorah. These are both symbols of the particular event a family, or community celebrated together- NOT a general belief or idol that was used to force that event down the throats of millions- they were and ARE simply symbols.

Going back to my seventh grade English class, I recall a passage my teacher shared with us about calling Christmas and Hanukkah time the Holidays to generalize it and refer to it without hurting anyones feelings. In this discussion my teacher had referred to an article or a book that she had found that gave the definition of the word holiday and when, and how it became a coined phrase.

The word Holiday itself is based on the Old English words HOLY & DAY, halig daeg, thus representing special religious days. I have quoted this line from a website I found and could not word it any simpler.. In Canada and the United States, a holiday is a day set aside by a nation or culture (in some cases, multiple nations and cultures) typically for celebration but sometimes for some other kind of special culture-wide (or national) observation or activity.*

Quite frankly, the only ones who should have any type of a problem with the reference of Happy Holidays, are the same people that should be offended by Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, & Happy Kwanzaa- that group would be true to life atheists. In response to that, they may respond with a quick witted Happy Winter Solstice, but be prepared not to be offended as you have the freedom to believe in what you believe in as does EVERYONE else this season.

One thing EVERYONE in the United States seems to be consumed with recently is being politically correct. In God We Trust is posted on our money*, and when we pledge allegiance we are one nation under God. This is technically whichever GOD you believe in. If you DONT believe in a God, that is your right, however you mustnt take offense to the fact that the country you live and thrive in was and is FOUNDED on Christian beliefs and principles*. By the way, the word allegiance is defined as the act of binding yourself intellectually or emotionally to a course of action, and the the loyalty that citizens owe to their country (or subjects to their sovereign).* Not for nothing, but I am damn happy that I am living in the United States, there are some political things that I may not agree with, but thats the beauty of living here, instead of in a third-world country where I may be stoned for disagreeing with my leadership.

As far as in God We Trust being printed on our money, if I was alive during the Civil War* I am sure God would have been the only thing I could have faith in, and cling to in such trying times- whether I believed or not. Not to mention, I look at it as a reflection of our nation and the struggle it went through to achieve freedom, freedom of our lives, our speech and our religious beliefs. I am sure our men and women in service are praying to God every day for themselves and their families, whether they believe the same one or not, for safety and strength and for those they lost whom they were close with, and for the day theyll see their families again. James Pollok, director of the mint in Philadelphia stated, No nation can be strong except in the strength of God, or safe except in His defense. The trust of our people in God should be declared on our national coins, in 1861, and the phrase IN GOD WE TRUST was officially made the motto of the United States in 1956 not too long after the Korean War*. Hmm, notice a trend on when our nation doesnt seem to mind generalizing religion/ religious beliefs?

Since April 30, 1789, the day George Washington took his oath of office*, our nation continuously elected president after president who happened to be believers of the Christian belief.* This week, our current President shared the traditional Christmas at the White House event, and at the end thanked the viewers, and performers and reminded is all to remember the true meaning of this season. Fortunately or unfortunately, he made reference to the birth of our savior, but as the past 43 presidents and not to mention national statistics have proved- the United States is still primarily Christian.*


My feelings wrapped up in a nutshell is, truthfully, all the methods of symbolization were used and named before I was born, while I was growing up, before my kids were born. They should remain the way they are for generations after me and after my kids as well. There is nothing wrong with wishing someone Merry Christmas, even if they arent Christian, just as there is nothing wrong with wishing someone a Happy Holiday if they are Christian. Does it really matter what God you believe in? Or which tradition you practice? Is it really worth worrying if you are going to offend someone or demoralizing someones belief somewhere? Life is to short. **** it up and realize where you live. Be grateful for what you have and that you are with the ones you love. Remember those that will not and cannot be with their loved ones during whatever HOLIDAY they celebrate, and be grateful for those that are overseas protecting self worth, and value of life and freedom, so that others may truly enjoy freedom of religion and HOLIDAYs. . And do us all a favor, before you get upset, think about this the next time you- or someone you know- gets offended by such trivial things, take the half an hour to research what you were offended by and realize that matter how warm wishes are expressed, at least you were being offered well wishes. If this nation wasnt so consumed with arguing a moot point maybe we could stop and appreciate each other. John Lennon said it best, when he said we would truly be able to Imagine all the people sharing all the world... And the world will live as one.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Holidays, and Happy Winter Solstice!


www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org
www.historychannel.com/exhibits/ holidays/christmas/trees.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holiday
http://www.slate.com/id/2111014/
http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=allegiance
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/gw1.html
www.whitehouse.gov/
http://www.census.gov/prod/www/religion.htm
http://www.adherents.com/rel_USA.html..religions
http://ap.grolier.com/article?assetid=0094530-0&templatename=/article/article.html
http://www.merseyworld.com/imagine/lyrics/imagine.htm