Opinion: PC 'holidays' dampen Christmas spirit

For many, Merry Christmas isn’t politically correct.

Christmas Day is a national holiday, but apparently the name of the holiday is offensive. Christmas has been acceptable until now, but suddenly the name “Christmas” is offensive to some.

As I think about writing the annual Christmas column, it is difficult to ignore the furor between those whose intent appears to be to expunge religion from public exposure and those who are equally intent on stopping the movement before it goes any further.

It’s tough to know what to say about this Christmas flap.

Previous efforts to remove Christ from the holiday have been waged in the schools and on other government property. Although the battle still goes on, the separation of church and state doctrine seems to be on the road to becoming a hard-and-fast part of the U.S. Constitution.

I personally doubt the existence of the mythical church/state provision in the document; however, I understand why some would argue its presence.

The trend is edging toward children being allowed to sing Christmas carols only in the privacy of their own homes. Also, snowflakes and holly are replacing manger scenes and other religious symbols on public property.

Regardless of whether the absence of Christmas in schools and on other government property is reflective of the original intent of the Constitution, church/state arguments are typically based on issues of some substance.

The present struggle, however, has nothing to do with constitutional law.

As I see it, it has nothing to do with anything except political correctness.

Unless you have been high atop a mountain in Tibet for the past few weeks, you know that pressure is coming from somewhere to end use of the word Christmas in public.

This includes efforts to stop calling the season’s symbolic tree a “Christmas tree.”

Saying “Merry Christmas” is being discouraged. Where Christmas would be, substitute “holiday” or “seasons.”

Unless you have been on that Tibetan mountain, you know it isn’t necessary to add the disclaimer, “I’m not making this up”. This is for real.

The major locale for this latest political correctness altercation centers on stores. Some of them, yielding to pressure from somewhere, have removed the word Christmas from advertising and displays. Some have instructed store clerks to substitute “Happy Holidays” for what I must assume to be the offensive “Merry Christmas.”

If the U.S. Supreme Court should eventually decide that it is unconstitutional for children to sing Christmas carols at school, other than the likes of “Frosty the Snowman,” I will disagree with it, but I’ll go along with the decision.

But never will I go along with removing the word “Christmas” from the American lexicon. Although many politically correct pundits have written glowingly about how enlightened the new trend is, other folks have organized boycotts against stores responsible for what they believe to be offensive.

I have no idea how effective or ineffective the boycotts may have been. However, the retail decision- akers might want to ponder the results of a CNN-USA Today-Gallup poll indicating that nine out of 10 people polled favor “Merry Christmas” to all other “holiday” greetings.

Some of those folks might be prospective customers.

Some have said this controversy is a lot of smoke with no fire. It may be, but it has received a lot of publicity.

The spirit of the season has been diluted with arguments about what might or might not include religious overtones.

Amid this spat, the message of the season can become lost. The one for whose birthday this holiday is named came proclaiming peace and joy for all. The spirit of giving is what Christmas is all about.

As for me, I join the nine out of 10 polled and say to all readers, “MERRY CHRISTMAS.”

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.