Happy Festivus or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Everyone Equally

Normally I blog about funny or touching stories from my past, but I need to step away from that for a minute to talk about something that's really been bothering me.

Last week, I saw a Facebook status that said:

"There are a lot of countries that don't say Merry Christmas, if you don't like saying, or hearing Merry Christmas, take your ass to one of those countries!! If you have balls, Re Post!! and MERRY CHRISTMAS AMERICA !!!!!!! Love it.....!!!!!"

By yesterday, the hate had been stepped up a notch:

"We Can't say 'MERRY CHRISTMAS' anymore,We Now Say 'HAPPY HOLIDAYS !'We Can't call it a 'CHRISTMAS TREE', We Now Call It a 'HOLIDAY TREE,Because it might offend someone! They call it 'CUSTOMS',We Call it 'TRADITIONS'.This is 'OUR COUNTRY!' If U Wanna Live & Work here have Some RESPECT! If U Dont like it, GO HOME! If u agree with this, PLEASE post as ur status. OH, By the way.. ☆°◦※◦°MERRY CHRISTMAS!°◦※◦°"

I don't understand what it is about this that people think is okay. Let me be perfectly clear. I completely understand why some people might be upset that it is no longer considered politically correct to say "Merry Christmas" - but that is also not what bothers me about these posts. Specifically, it is the implication that it is individuals from other countries that are causing "Happy Holidays" to become the standard December greeting.

Here are some facts:

• In the United States, according to a 2008 census, only 75% of people classify themselves as Christian (which is down from 87% in 1990). This means that one out of every four people in the United States would classify themselves otherwise - Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Scientologist, Jehovah's Witness - the list goes on. Also, a staggering 46% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 34 indicate that they have no religion at all. What is important to note here is that Christianity is declining in America, and the use of "Happy Holidays" in place of "Merry Christmas" is not meant to be demeaning or disrespectful - quite contrarily it is meant to be all-inclusive, showing respect for whatever beliefs an individual might hold.

• Here are some more statistics: 78% of Caucasian Americans identify themselves as Christians. Interestingly enough, 84% of Latino Americans and 85% of Black Americans classify themselves as Christians. So, judgmental Caucasians, look out. It's clear that you're not quite Christian enough. It's okay though - when the Latino Americans and Black Americans start telling you to "go home" for not being Christian enough, you can probably just hop a boat back to Ireland or Germany.

• Which other countries are we talking about specifically, I also wonder. Because here's a pretty good sized list of countries that celebrate Christmas: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Greece, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Lichtenstein, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, The Netherlands, New Zeland, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Scandinavia, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Wales. In Pakistan, choirs go from house to house singing carols, and the family of the house invites the carolers in for Christmas treats. In Japan, gifts are left by the pillows of children, and Christmas cake with strawberries is common celebratory fare. In Colombia, candles and paper lanterns adorn streets, sidewalks, balconies, porches, driveways. The traditions might differ, but the holiday is the same - so suggesting that people "go home" makes no sense to me, when so many people in so many countries are already celebrating the holiday in question.

I'm not trying to debate whether or not it's right to say "Merry Christmas" - I never was, and I never would. As Americans, it is our right to say and do what we please (within the confines of the law, of course). That's what's great about being an American. So when you say "Say Merry Christmas or go home", that's actually one of the least American things you could say. Living in this country means that you have the freedom to believe what you like and the right to be granted respect from others regardless of if they agree with you. Just remember, there are Americans who celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and Winter Solstice. When they wish you "Happy Holidays", it isn't because they're trying to demean or dismiss the importance of Christ in your life, but it is because they are trying to be gracious by recognizing that you might celebrate one of any number of things.

Lastly, and most importantly, is this. Christians, you do not own December. You just don't, it isn't yours. You have the right to celebrate Christmas, and every other person - in America and in the rest of the world - has exactly the same right to celebrate what they choose. Do not fault them for it.

So, on a personal level, say "Merry Christmas" if you want to. But if you work for a business that requires you to say "Happy Holidays", or if you receive a card this week that says "Season's Greetings", just accept it. As it turns out, the world is bigger than just you.