By Kate Cohen
When I wish strangers “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas,” it’s a battle cry.
I’m not waging a war on Christmas. I like Christmas. But I am declaring my allegiance to one idea of America that opposes another: inclusive vs. exclusive. ...
It is a war, but not on Christmas. It IS a war by Christians on everyone else, and they'lluse any tactic, the stupider the better. Their war is a war on the usual targets, women, non-Whites, Jews, LBGTQ, scientists, atheists,... really everyone who isn't a Christian and a lot of Christians too. Lately, the hate cult has embraced fascism and climate change denial. That means the Christians are waging war on the US and the species.
I always say "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" as I feel it's more inclusive.
I also used to decorate a "Holiday Tree" which made my in-laws very uncomfortable, since I celebrate several days during the holiday season, but they only celebrate Christmas. I replied to one of their scoffings that I would rather call it a "solstice tree" but I was trying to be inclusive.
There were several years when I decorated a (fake) palm tree in my living room in Washington State, to the shock and horror of my in-laws. So, I countered their disgust with the question "Well, Jesus lived in the middle east, where there are no Douglas Firs, but lots of palm trees, so what kind of tree did he decorate on his birthday?" That made them think. I had tried to explain to them that Christmas trees are actually a pagan custom, and that's exactly what they hated about me.
They were ignorant and happy in their ignorance.