Merry Christmas!!! Yea, I said it!

What dirty little words I just said.  And you thought I was a nice, proper girl.  YOU WERE WRONG.  So what were these offensive words I said??  MERRY.  CHRISTMAS.

Now, if you feel anything like I do, you're wondering what is so offensive about that?  However, if you're one of the OTHERS, you're already offended by this blog post.  I started thinking just the other day when I wished someone a Happy Hanukkah .  I happened to overhear someone say that Hanukkah was about to begin and I happen to know that this kid is Jewish so I wished him a happy start of Hanukkah.  He said, aw thanks and boom- the conversation was over.

But that got me thinking about others things I'd seen and overheard recently.  You know, people being offended by Christmas music or well wishers and I started wondering what the big deal is.  I guarantee you that no one is trying to be offensive when they're dashing out the door and shout out a Merry Christmas to you.  It's not like they're calling you an ugly, dirty little name or making inappropriate mom jokes.  No.  What's really going on is that people are in a great spirit and are wishing you that same great spirit.  OH MY GOODNESS- OFFENSIVE.  

Terrible, ugly, I know. Now you're thinking you don't celebrate Christmas and why don't they respect your beliefs???  I see several options here.  A) They don't know your beliefs.  B) They're just paying tribute to their own beliefs.  Now if someone wished me a Happy Hanukkah I'd be so angry I'd give them my best scrooge face and bahambug! and cold shoulder.  LIE.  I'd do no such thing.  Despite the fact that I'm not Jewish, I'd say thank you with a big smile and wish them the same.  Because what they just said to me was, in my opinion, thoughtful and not thoughtless and I appreciate that someone took time out of their day to send a kind gesture my way. I'm not even a practicing Catholic- heck- I haven't even had my first communion (GASP!!) and I've never actually read a bible (more gasp!!) and yet, I still wish people a Merry Christmas.  Not because I'm saying you must go out and celebrate the birth of Christ or ELSE but because I think there's something magical about wishing people a merry and joyous time.  Is that so wrong??

 On the list of holidays I find offensive, Christmas is towards the bottom of my list.  Can we all stop for a minute and discuss COLUMBUS DAY.  I find this holiday extremely offensive and antiquated.  Happy Columbus Day!  Um really?  Happy day that someone strange man 'discovered' an inhabited land and led the massacre and destruction of a previously peaceful people??  Should I add that it was in part MY PEOPLE.  And yet, you get a day off work, I can't go to the post office and I'm supposed to honor this man's memory.

I even see some controversy in Thanksgiving (what became of those Indians, after all?) but I think everyone needs to take a step back and breath next time they're offended by a "Merry Christmas."  I mean you no harm non-celebrator.  What I truly mean is "have a wonderful day and enjoy your free vacation time no matter what you do with it."  I'm hardly trying to be offensive or insensitive.  Really.  I promise.  So have a Merry Christmas, from the bottom of my well-intentioned heart.