Has anyone else notice how assinine political correctness has become this Christmas..err…holiday season? This year we can’t have Chrsitmas trees—they have to be holiday trees—even though the practice of having an evergreen in our homes during the Christmas season is said to have been introduced by St. Boniface, a Catholic monk, in 7th-century Germany. Legend has it that St. Boniface used the triangular shape of the fir to teach the concept of the Holy Trinity—a Christian concept.

When I was growing up I remember that in general we wished people a Merry Christmas. If we wished it to a non-Christian they would simply and politly say “Thank you,” and not accuse you of forcing your Christian beliefs on them. One of my best friends is Jewish and he and I have always exchanged Christmas presents, despite that fact that his religion doesn’t recognize the holiday.

So now we have to say “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” I can live with that. In fact, having worked in retail during high school and college, I’ve become accustomed to saying that to strangers. (I do, however, wish people a Merry Christmas now when I sell them a Christmas tree—I figure that if they’re buying the tree they must celebrate the holiday, at least on a secular level.) What really irks me now though is when someone interprets your wish of a “happy holiday” to them be a double entendre. Yesterday at work an email was sent out campus-wide from a governance body wishing eveyone a “happy holiday.” A reply of “I wonder what holiday you mean?” was quickly sent by a member of the community, sparking a two-day discussion of the appropriateness of holiday greetings and statistics on the growth rates of non-Christian religions in the U.S.

Have we come to a point where we cannot sincerely wish one-another a joyous holiday anymore? This truly saddens me as the holiday season is supposed to be a time of joy and togetherness, no matter what your particular beliefs.

So, to all my readers: have Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanza, Happy New Year, and a joyous holiday season overall. If I’ve offended you, sue me! After all, that’s the American way.