To anyone trying to turn Christmas into a P.C. holiday:

(If you’re not one of these people and want to skip this, then go read one of my comics. They’re more entertaining)

I’m not a Christian. And sure, it’s kinda freaky to see a huge, lit up cross (not a burning cross, mind you) on the side of a rolling hill when driving between Sacramento and the Bay Area at night, but hey… so what? I’m not a Christian. I’m comfortable with that, and nothing short of a good reason will change that.

Christmas is traditionally a Christian holiday. Face it. Deal with it. Quit trying to change it. As a non-Christian, I could care less that the holiday is called Christmas, all the while knowing the holiday’s roots. For many in the modern world, and especially for me, Christmas has come to mean more than the traditional celebration of Jesus’ “birthday.” It’s a time of giving, togetherness, family, and friends, and God/Buddha/Zeus knows that the modern world needs to reserve a day to acknowledge such things because Allah/Thor/Ganesh forbid that we acknowledge such virtues every other day of the year.

When companies like Target decide not to use the word “Christmas” to describe the day and season but instead choose to use the word “holiday” so as, assumingly, to not offend those overly sensitive non-Christians, the first question that comes to mind is, “What holiday?”

From Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, “holiday” is defined as:

1 : HOLY DAY (linked)
2 : a day on which one is exempt from work; specifically: a day marked by a general suspension of work in commemoration of an event
3 chiefly British : a period of relaxation : VACATION — often used in the phrase on holiday; often used in plural

So let’s look at definition #2, which basically defines “holiday” as a day off from work to commemorate an event. In this case, if we’re not celebrating “Christmas,” exactly what commemorative event is Target referring to? A day off? Most people get 2 days off a week, so the only people that can call a day off from work a “commemorative event” are those that work every single day, and I doubt those people consider a day off reason enough to give presents.

By definition #3, in which “holiday” is defined as “vacation,” I ask, “If it’s just a vacation, what’s up with all the celebratory crap? The trees, the presents, the tinsel, the lights? What’s it for? Why the hell is there a manger in that woman’s front yard? What are these… ‘Christmas carols’… you speak of?”

Then there’s the first definition. “Holy day” is linked, so when I check out the definition of “holy day,” I read:

a day set aside for special religious observance

Well then. I think that one is self-explanatory, but in case you need it spelled out for you, there wouldn’t be the “holiday” Target is referring to if there was no religious holiday called “Christmas.”

non-Christians that want to “cleanse” the holiday season of all references to and symbols of Christmas’ origins, its reasons for being, and how it’s celebrated by the majority, don’t practice religious tolerance (for the record, I try to practice acceptance, not tolerance… though sometimes you can only tolerate such things as horrible drivers while having a hard time accepting it… but I digress). I’m assuming these non-Christians want no religion favored over another, to have all religions equally respected. Am I right? Wrong? Let me know. But let’s assume I’m right. If I’m right, then non-Christians also have to respect the main reason why we have a winter holiday. They need to understand and respect the holiday’s origins. They need to respect the people who celebrate the holiday in what they see as a traditional manner.

All I’m saying is, pick your battles. I happen to agree with the guy who thinks our Pledge Of Allegience shouldn’t contain the phrase, “under God.” Separation of Church and State and all that. In the case of Christmas, government institutions should definitely celebrate the holiday, but be careful about the religious overtones used in any of their holiday promotions (for lack of a better word). In other words, for example, if George Bush wants to thank God for this blessed time of year in a public address, that’s fine. He’s a Christian man celebrating Christmas. BUT he shouldn’t say that everyone should thank God for this time of year. A simple example, but it illustrates my point.

I think that equal respect and acceptance happens by simply being and showing the good qualities of the matter at hand. In the matter of religion, in a best case scenario, as time goes by people will discover other religions, belief systems, philosophies, etc., and eventually, while the old holidays may retain their names, they may hold different meaning for different people; we may institute new holidays; Christianity won’t be the major religion, but instead one of many popular religions… this is optimism, of course, but fighting every battle instead of picking the important ones is detrimental, in my opinion. Trying to denounce an age-old holiday and its traditional reasons for being is not a battle I consider important. That’s just me.

(By the way, people and companies that want to be “P.C.” don’t help either. Americans love sterility, don’t they?)

I still call my tree a “Christmas tree.” I call the day “Christmas.” I acknowledge that there are “Christmas songs.” I love “It’s a Charlie Brown Christmas.” But when I celebrate, I don’t acknowledge anything Christian about the holiday except for the the day’s origins. Why? Because despite it’s roots, the day means something else for me than celebrating the birth of Christ.

SO. If you’re not Christian, stay non-Christian. Be proud of your pagan/heathen/alternative affiliation (or non-affiation, depending on your beliefs). But please, if you are one of these people looking to “clease” Christmas of it’s religious tones, if you’re looking to sterilize this holiday (and other holidays, for that matter), try tolerating (or accepting!) all the Christian symbols, references, objects, people you hear/see during these holidays… this time of year has a holiday for a reason, and it’s called “Christmas.” You can celebrate the holiday as you will. If you enjoy giving presents, getting together with family, giving charity, etc. without being Christian, great. You don’t have to call it Christmas if you don’t want to, but don’t prevent the majority (which is, to my knowledge, Christian in some form or fashion) from celebrating the day in what they deem to be a traditional manner. It is, after all, Christmas. It’s the reason you and I, the non-Christian, have a holiday this time of year at all.