On its December 13, 2023 website and in its December 21, 2023 print issue, the New Irmo News praised the efforts of Wayne Damron, who provides and distributes over 5,000 “We Say Merry Christmas” magnetic bumper stickers every year. The article reported that “Wayne’s initiative . . . emerged from his frustration with the notion that saying ‘Merry Christmas’ was deemed politically incorrect.” The author of the piece went on to opine that the bumper stickers “serve as a reminder to keep the focus on Christ during the Christmas season. Wayne Damron’s initiative stands as a shining example of individual efforts to uphold and celebrate the true spirit of Christmas. . . .”
Most of your readers are probably unaware that there are at least 14 holidays (holy days) celebrated by various world religions between November 20 and January 24, making mid-winter a generic HOLIDAY SEASON (and not just the “Christmas season”) in a diverse, multi-cultural country like the United States of America.
Choosing to say “Happy Holidays” is not a mindless exercise in “political correctness.” Instead, it is a way of showing respect for strangers whose faith traditions may be unknown or unfamiliar to you, as well as positive regard for your Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Baha’i, and agnostic neighbors. (Jesus had something to say about how you should treat your neighbors, as I recall.)
Do you object to the commercialization of your religious holiday? There is nothing wrong with simply stating “Keep Christ in Christmas.”
And just to be clear, NO ONE is preventing you from saying “Merry Christmas.” Although it can be viewed as insensitive in some situations, it is a relatively benign and festive greeting. Go ahead and wish me a “Merry Christmas!” and I will respond, “Thanks! Same to you!”
On the other hand, when you attach “We say” to the front of “Merry Christmas” the phrase instantly morphs into a belligerent taunt, an in-your-face declaration of privilege and exclusion. Like the rants of many bullies, it reeks of a bizarre combination of imaginary victimhood and appropriated entitlement.
I personally believe that “efforts to uphold and celebrate the true spirit of Christmas” should signal inclusion and welcome, not grievance, division, and rejection. But maybe that’s just me.
I was raised in the United Methodist church where we sang hymns with lines like “We will walk with each other; we will walk hand in hand. We will work with each other; we will work side by side. And they’ll know we are Christians by our love. Yes, they’ll know we are Christians by our love.” There was never any mention of bumper stickers.
Miriam Johnson
Irmo
