It's that time of year when political correctness may prompt some of us to pause before extending Christmas wishes. This certainly has been a hot button with retailers in recent years, resulting in corporate policies that dictate what words may be exchanged at the cash register.
The folks at this website want to diffuse some of that awkwardness by offering for sale the pictured pin. For those who hesitate to poke holes in cashmere, the thought is also captured in the form of a car magnet.
May I gently suggest that the issue is not a matter of "political correctness" (surely a phrase long-past its shelf-life in any event), but merely a recognition of the fact that not everyone celebrates Christmas. The ridiculous backlash against Best Buy for the simple act of wishing its Muslim customers a happy Eid al-Adha (just as that company has routinely run ads extending Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa greetings) is a reminder that the trumped up "War on Christmas" moral panic (to which the "Wish Me a Merry Christmas" button campaign is a contribution) is not about protecting the majority from "political correctness", but about silencing the minority and enforcing conformity to one particular cultural-political ideology.
I don't begrudge anyone else their preferred holidays. Nor do I take offense at other people inviting me to share in their Christmas merriment (though, as a rule, I don't do merry). All I ask is that others likewise don't begrudge my different preferences (It's OK to wish me a Happy May Day), and don't take offense when I decline to join in their celebration.
(I hasten to add that my comment isn't in any way directed at Tim, who I respect as a person of good faith in every sense of that term, but merely inspired by the button campaign, the good faith of which I view more skeptically.)
Posted by: Eric Fink | November 29, 2009 at 12:39 PM
Contents of christmasmas.com
Posted by: christmasmas | November 30, 2009 at 09:15 AM
Contents of christmasmas.com
Posted by: christmasmas | November 30, 2009 at 09:16 AM
I think Eric's right.
The linked website (and the buttons it is hawking for $2.50 each) are not about diffusing awkwardness at the cash register. They're about fighting back against the supposed national "Attack on Christmas" launched by "liberals."
See, for example, this: http://www.wmamc.com/attackonchristmas/
Posted by: Eric Muller | November 30, 2009 at 05:13 PM
I was recently checking out at the cash register of a major national retailer when I unexpectedly sneezed (though with sufficient time to properly insert my nose into my elbow per HHS best practices and recommendations).
To my surprise, the cashier simply gave me a blank look and, in a very robotic tone, advise me that corporate regulations prevented her from "offering a 'Bless You' in response to any type of customer-initated olafactory event."
"That's okay," I gently responded. "The debit card I just handed you is rumored to be contaminated with highly virulent WHO, IMF, CBS, SOS, CNN and DoD-sythensized Ukrainian dog flu germs so we all only have minutes to live anyway."
Just another day in paradise (a very ecumenical word if there ever was one, indeed).
Posted by: Chad | December 03, 2009 at 10:17 AM