May I Wish You a Merry Christmas?
by I think that regardless of our backgrounds and traditions, we should be able to greet each other with the holiday greeting of our heart and that we should welcome the greetings from others who give them as well from their hearts.
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May I wish you a “Merry Christmas?”
I hope you don’t mind. I started to have doubts before wishing people a cheerful “Merry Christmas!” It came from being involved with organizations that are in the public light and responsible to other organizations for funding. We also have to be very conscious of our image since we are an educational institute as well as a cultural one. That means we always have to tread the path of least offense — that is a scary path to walk and you worry about wandering off it.
It also comes from a sincere desire not to offend others.
It does mean that I kept catching myself as I was about to say “Merry Christmas” and ended up instead with a slightly more neutral “Season’s Greetings”.
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I’ve thought about it for a while and reconsidered. When I wish people “Merry Christmas” I am not actually wanting to convert them to my religion but I am expressing my own joy of the season and my friendship and love of mankind. I would not be offended if people of other faiths and traditions were to greet me with their own special seasonal greetings. I think it is great to see other celebrations of faith. Many I know occur between November and February – is that too much to consider “The Holiday Season”?
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So wish me “Season’s Greetings” “Happy Hanukah” “Blessed Ramadan” or whatever is in your own heart and I will accept it as your heartfelt holiday greeting and sharing of your own joy.
I would hope you understand my own joy when I wish you a “Merry Christmas!”
M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S !
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Post CommentJane Jane
On December 19, 2009 at 9:45 am
Merry Christmas.
deep blue
On December 19, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Very well written. We are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars. . .standing on one ground above Earth, I wonder why we couldn’t coexist with each other. I am thinking that if the prophet Mohammed, Jesus and Gautama Buddha would meet along a crossroad there would hardly be any sign of violent reaction or else we have to regret our religion. Merry Christmas my friend.
Joie Schmidt
On December 19, 2009 at 3:51 pm
Very nice!
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
Frances Lawrence
On December 19, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Well written. We have to make sure that the path of least offense doesn’t leave everyone feeling stunted. Here in UK we still have a religious element to school assembly and RE is taught in schools. We celebrate everything together, it doesn’t deminish our own religious beliefs to enjoy sharing the celebrations of others.
Darrell W Penner
On December 19, 2009 at 8:08 pm
Thank you for your kind comments!
Here in Metro Vancouver, Canada we have a large variety of backgrounds including those of faith. Perhaps the scales still tip at Judaeo-Christian for a strong core, but with many not being strongly so. I think sometimes people don’t ask if there would be offence before deciding that there would be one.
standingproud
On December 21, 2009 at 1:38 am
And a Merry Merry
Christmas from me to you.