Kontos Column: Merry Christmas. Yes, I said it.
By Dan Kontos
In a very short time, it will again be December 25. In case I don’t see you in person, allow me to wish you a very Merry Christmas.
Oh no, Dan! Someone, somewhere, just got offended.
Yes, I know, but that doesn’t mean I understand. There are all types of people out there, and especially during this time of year, several of them try to change those of us who consider ourselves traditional bedrock Americans. Good luck, he said with dripping sarcasm.
We’re told that Christmas is somehow a divisive time of year. That wishing someone a Merry Christmas is somehow offensive. We watch all of the traditional trappings of this joyous holiday slowly replaced with the watering down of the real message, with an unrelenting insistence that we can only say happy holidays, and with the steady replacement of the customary yuletide trappings with more secular and commercialized paraphernalia.
To my fellow Christians, which I proudly proclaim to be myself, I urge you to remember the true reason for the Christmas holiday. This isn’t really about Santa, Rudolph, or even gifts under the tree. It’s about celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
We rejoice this time of year, celebrate with friends and family, share in the bounty that God has given us, and try to spread the love to others. We say Merry Christmas, not because we are proselytizing or excluding non-Christians from our celebrations, but we are wishing the same joyfulness that we feel upon others.
On a micro-comparable scale, it is akin to wishing someone a good morning. We don’t reserve that saying for only “morning people.” We are wishing that the person you are speaking to truly experiences a happy morning. If you are one of those miserable grumps who snaps at everyone until you’ve had your third cup of coffee, don’t get mad when I wish you a good morning. I’m not proclaiming it is particularly a good morning, I’m just wishing that yours be a good one – whether you deserve it or not.
Christmas is both a federal and state holiday. Wisconsin even recognizes Christmas Eve Day. Do you take umbrage at Labor Day, New Years Day, or Independence Day?
It’s not about failing to be “inclusive.” I’m not offended if someone wishes me a happy Hanukkah, or happy Rohatsu, or happy solstice, or even a merry Festivus. This is despite the fact that I’m not Jewish, Buddhist, a Wiccan, or even a Seinfeld fan. I’m not even offended by the ubiquitous and politically-correct happy holidays. To them all, I say Merry Christmas, or perhaps a “Same to you,” “Cheers,” or even “Mazel tov,” with a smile.
For those of you well-intentioned people who shy away from the traditional Merry Christmas greeting, or even using the “C-word” at all, that’s your choice. But if you chastise me for not choosing to do the same under the rationale that someone else may possibly get offended, you are actually part of the problem.
You see, the few people who are truly offended (because they look for reasons to be offended) can’t be protected from themselves. These curmudgeons are ill-tempered and perpetually spoiling for a fight. All you are doing is feeding into their bumptious and delusional worldview that everyone else is wrong, and only they can dictate the way things should be.
They fail to feel the love and elation, and by-gum, if they can’t be happy, you can’t either. Misery and joylessness breed self-loathing and sorrow. While I pity them, I will not enable them, and you should not either. Go ahead and be a gloomy Grinch, but leave the rest of us alone. This is a jubilant time for us.
To them, I say, humbug, and Merry Christmas.
So, with that, let’s meet in the opinion section to talk about all of it, boldly, unafraid, and with a healthy respect for each other. Remembering the Americans still trapped in Afghanistan for 133 days on December 25th. Merry Christmas and God bless.
Dan Kontos is a paid columnist for the Metro Wire. He chooses his own topics and his opinions do not necessarily represent the staff of the Metro Wire. He lives with his family in Whiting.
We are seeking a liberal columnist. Anyone with interest should email [email protected].
