Some Christians find ‘Happy Holidays' hard to swallow

Sparta - The television ad for a car manufacturer features a choir in the traditional angle-like stand, dressed in the colors of the season. Even the music is that of a familiar Christmas carol, but that’s as far the ad goes to celebrate Christmas. In an effort to be politically correct, the lyrics of the jingle have been changed to, “We wish you a merry ...holiday. ” Christians around the country are starting to voice their resentment at municipal and state officials’ attempts to minimize, or altogether ignore, the real meaning of Christmas. Conservative and religious groups say their goal is to “put Christ back into Christmas.” The controversy over the greetings, “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays,” “Christmas trees” versus “holiday trees,” “Christmas sales” or “holiday sales,” is plaguing the country this Christmas (or is it “holiday”) season. Federated Department Stores, the parent company of Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, became a target of conservative and religious groups who are upset that the stores use generic slogans rather than “Merry Christmas” in their holiday decorations. In a Dec. 2 article in USA Today, Federated Department Stores said it has “no policy” on Christmas, but noted that “Season’s Greetings” and “Happy Holidays” embrace “all of the various religious, secular and ethnic celebrations” in November and December. Target stores under fire Target stores are under fire for banning the Salvation Army Kettles and volunteer bell ringers while Coca-Cola removed its logo of Santa Claus, which dates back to 1931, from its products in an effort to be politically correct. “Retailers and those running the ad campaigns are afraid of offending those who are not Christians,” said the Rev. Harry De Kolf of Stanhope. “The net result is that retailers cave in so as not to offend anyone, but in doing so they are offending the large population of Christians. “As Christians, we need to make our convictions known; that Christmas is a significant event in our lives,” he continued. “I get upset thinking about this country giving up its Christian beliefs and principles on which it was founded.” Some school districts in Florida and N.J. have banned Christmas carols altogether. In Sparta, on the other hand, the Lake Mohawk Avenue School included Christian and Jewish songs in its annual winter concert held last week. In a holiday program in a Chicago elementary school, however, Jewish and Jamaican songs were performed, but no Christmas carols. And a Kirkland high-school production of A Christmas Carol was canceled, due to the character Tiny Tim’s prayer, “God bless us everyone.” Sussex County resident Robbin Lentine thinks the nation is becoming politically correct to a fault. “I think that the U.S. as a whole is leaning so far in the direction of political correctness that we have forgotten, or chosen to ignore, the fact that the vast majority of people in this country are in fact Christians, and celebrate Christmas. ‘America needs to wake up’ “Hanukkah menorahs don’t offend me,” Lentine continued. “No one is attempting to call it a ‘Holiday’ menorah, so why are we trying to pretend that Christmas decorations represent any other holiday but Christmas? I think America needs to wake up and get a grip. Its time to stop walking on eggshells about this. We need to be able to admit ‘yes, I’m a Christian and Christmas is about Christ.’” Last week, this paper fell into the controversy when it printed a 25-day countdown to Christmas calendar. In a letter to the editor, Robin Miller Curras wrote, “I am sympathetic to businesses that say ‘Happy Holidays’ rather than ‘Merry Christmas,’ because it is wrong to assume that everyone is Christian. It blew my mind however, to read a ‘Countdown to Christmas’ in the Dec. 1 issue and not read one mention of Christ.” The censoring of Christmas debate will no doubt continue. However, in a country steeped in traditions, it may be a long time before the term “holiday” tree replaces the age old “Christmas” tree. After all, the change to “freedom“ fries didn‘t exactly roll off American tongues. “Christmas is a specific Christian holy day and should be observed as that,” said De Kolf. “By whatever name our merchants and politicians refer to the tree and other decorations and events surrounding this holy day, it cannot take away the importance and significance of Christmas. Living as Christ taught us is what is most important. What the tree is called is immaterial,” he concluded.