Be happy.
“Happy Holidays.”
I say it with a smile. I intend a “Happy Holidays” greeting to be neutral, pleasant, and inclusive.
But Happy Holidays” isn’t neutral because neutral isn’t really neutral.
Fox News still talks about the “War on Christmas” because many Americans feel that Christmas traditions are under attack. They say “Merry Christmas” on Fox. When used as the universal greeting,”Merry Christmas” affirms Christianity’s status as first and default. Who could object? Aren’t we all Christians here in America?
“Feliz Navidad” is a complication. It is Christian, celebrating Jesus’ nativity, but in Spanish, therefore recognizing the presence of the other: brown skinned, presumably “not their best,” criminal, and probably in the U.S. illegally. But Christian. Depending on the context, Hispanics are either an ally against secularism or a defilement of American blood, language, and heritage.
“Happy Holidays” is inclusive of everyone who celebrates any of the many holidays of this season. I am comfortable with the greeting, but should not be. Some Americans consider it an implied insult and aggressive secularism. Either Christianity is the common denominator religion, and therefore unique, or it is just one of many. Equal respect is implied disrespect, when neutral equality is a demotion.
Tucker Carlson, back when he had a very popular show on Fox, explained the situation to Democrats.
“If you are wondering why so many Christians are willing to support this president, despite his personal life, this is why: because whatever his flaws he has made it clear he is not the enemy of Christians. In fact, under certain circumstances, he will protect Christians. For people whose values are under assault every day by powerful forces in America, and that’s not overstating it, and if you are one of them, you know that means everything. . . .Christians don’t feel they have a duty to be destroyed by people who hate them.”
I don’t consider diversity and equality to be an attack on White Christians, but Tucker Carlson does, and he speaks for a great many people. They feel “powerful forces” are eroding their status, and they are right. The country is becoming more ethnically and culturally diverse. Polite respect in the modern era leads us to avoid voicing presumptions about others. Don’t presume religion, ethnicity, gender, marital status, nationality, or politics. But I recognize that this comes across to some as stripping them of an important part of their identity, and is therefore disrespectful, indeed hateful. How dare I not presume they are Christian?
It can be a minefield out there.
I don’t presume that people are Christian. I presume they could be any religion or no religion, and that that is OK with me.
Cultures and religions around the world have celebrated the return of longer days and the earth’s renewal on or about the winter solstice for thousands of years. Whether you call it Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali or whatever, it’s a celebration of light and love. Better to celebrate them all than take offense at all but one.
People like Carlson are in the business of bringing out the worst in people but he’s a long way from competing with Trump, whose message this year is: “Merry Christmas to all, including the radical left scum...” On the other hand, that’s an improvement over his 2023 Christmas wish: “May they rot in hell.” About all I can say is, “Return to sender.”
Here in México I expected to hear Feliz Navidad, with an overlay of Jose Feliciano’s voice. Instead I usually hear Felices Fiestas, or Happy Holidays. My phone company and other service providers all sign their seasonal greetings that way and it’s what the local government puts on the street signs and lights. It feels comforting.