Merry Christmas or Merry Tossmas?
I don’t know about you but I am tired of this debate over whether to say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”.  Since when did Christmas become a dirty little word that should not be uttered in public?  Surveys show that 95% of Americans celebrate Christmas.  Yet, we are giving in to a vocal minority that is determined to remove Christ from Christmas.  Some businesses strongly encourage employees to avoid saying “Merry Christmas” and in many public schools across the country, children are not allowed to sing Christmas carols during their holiday music productions. 

In recent years we’ve seen many national retailers give in to political correctness.  Just take a look at the throng of Christmas … I mean … holiday magazines in you mailbox.  Many national retailers refuse to even use the word Christmas in any promotions.  And when was the last time you saw a “Nativity” on a public square?  The threat of lawsuits from the ACLU and its allies is making religious expression at Christmastime increasingly difficult.   Fortunately, those forces have no control over us as individuals.

This is not about trying to force one’s religious beliefs on another.  First, Christmas is a holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.   Regardless of your religious or political beliefs, you can not change that fact.  And for those of us that do believe, this is about protecting our “Freedom of Religion” as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.  For the record, note I said “Freedom of Religion” not freedom FROM religion.  That is a topic for another blog.  I guess what burns me most is Christmas is the only religious holiday under attack.  I don’t see these special interest groups trying to change the name or meaning of any other religious holiday.  That would be politically incorrect and insensitive. 

Last year I ran across a humorous, yet serious, video which puts this all in to perspective.  It’s entitled Merry Tossmas.  Take a look and you will see what I mean.  You may recognize Stuart Shepard.  He was an award winning Chief Meteorologist for WLEX-TV in Lexington for a number of years.  He is now the Director of Digital Media for Focus on the Family Action.  Dr. James Dobson’s group has also started a national petition to retailers called “I Stand for Christmas”.

I’ll be the first to admit, signing a petition or saying “Merry Christmas” doesn’t make you a better Christian.  There are more important “Ways to Keep Christ in Christmas”.  The truth is; Christmas isn’t just one day a year, its every day.

If you see me out and about, feel free to say Merry Christmas! 

As always, thanks for making WYMT-TV your source for news and information.  We appreciate your trust.

Merry Christmas! 
 
Neil Middleton
WYMT Mountain News
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