As the sleigh bells ring and the snow is glistening, ole St. Nick is about to make his appearance once again. And when he does, what do you say to him: Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays?In an attempt to be all-inclusive, the word “Christmas” has been targeted in the last few years as a possible politically incorrect greeting. In many worlds, Christmas has been replaced with the words “holiday” or “winter.”School districts in Colorado Springs have adopted the new seasonal lingo, changing “Christmas break” to “winter break.””Five years ago, we changed it from Christmas break to winter break,” said Joe Cole, the communications coordinator for District 49. “That was pretty much a national type thing or at least across the state that did that. It was more of a separation of church and state type of decision.”Corporations also have jumped on the politically correct bandwagon. Many businesses that used to hang a “Merry Christmas” banner are now playing it safe with “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings” banners.The routine company Christmas parties are now holiday parties. According to necorpevents.com, a Web site-based company offering tips on how to plan meetings, events and conventions, companies planning a party should “keep every aspect of your party as a holiday party, not as a Christmas party … make sure you give it a neutral holiday tone so that everyone can enjoy.”Some corporations are now planning their all-company events during the fall or summer months to avoid offending employees.Have we taken this politically correct ideal too far?”The word “Christmas” is at the root of our heritage as a nation and has been for over 200 years,” said Pastor Pat Jeffrey of Grace Community Church in Falcon. “It is part of the basic values of our history and the moral character of the country in which we live, and before we remove it we should understand what it means. This heritage and the values it represents enhance our country rather than diminish it.”Not only is there controversy surrounding the word Christmas, there is also confusion, Jeffrey said. Some people use the word Christmas to describe the time of year that starts early to mid December and ends near New Years. For others, Christians especially, Christmas is about one day. “Many people today do not know what “Christmas” really means,” Jeffrey said. “It is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. It is not just a word describing a time of year.”Melani Thompson, whose children attend school in D 49, is secure with the meaning of Christmas but she said she also is open to others defining Christmas in their own way. “It’s all political correctness,” Thompson said. “But why go to all this trouble to take this word out?”I think there are ways you can take something that you don’t like and turn it into good,” Thompson said. “Same thing with Christmas. When they start taking out and taking it away … that bothers me because it was harmless to begin with. And that’s where I’m trying to find a balance.”To some, balance is being sensitive to individual differences.”By using the term “holiday” for the season, you’re showing honor and respect to all of those groups,” said Gary Betchan, a member of the Colorado Springs Freethinkers. “I don’t believe it’s the intention to disrespect an individual group.”Betchan said conflicts result because of the retailer’s desire to draw cross-cultural customers.”I think Christians are free to say Merry Christmas on the street,” Betchan said. “Most of these conflicts come about because a corporation like Wal-Mart wants to appeal to Jewish people … Pagans … Muslims … and they want to appeal to black … and nonbelievers. If they put out a big ad that says “Merry Christmas,” that’s not going to (entice) Pagans to buy a solstice gift and … Jewish people to think, “Oh, I need a Hanukkah gift.” But by using the word “holiday,” they can appeal to all those groups. That in no way limits the rights of a Christian.”Betchan said the people complaining that Christians have been forced to give up all references to “Christmas” are the religious extremists.Jeremy Leaming, a communications associate for Americans United for Separation of Church and State in Washington, D.C., agrees that the controversy surrounding the word stems from the “religious right lobbyists.””The Alliance Defense Fund and the Jerry Falwell-backed Liberty Counsel started announcing in mid-October their efforts to combat the so-called censorship of Christmas,” Leaming said. “I believe those groups are primarily mounting such efforts to raise money and rile their base, and convince the public that we are living in times that look like the greatest persecution of Christianity since the days of the Emperor Nero.Leaming also defends the public school system’s choice to use the word “holiday.””Not everyone is Christian, and not everyone celebrates Christmas,” he said. “Public schools have an obligation to make all families in the community feel welcome at events. Groups that have nothing better to do than whine about what schools call their holiday concerts or events should not be taken seriously.”The courts have held that seasonal concerts in public schools may include a mix of secular and sacred songs. If all the songs are religious, a school-sponsored holiday pageants looks like something from Sunday school, and that’s inappropriate.Thompson wraps it all up: “Christmas is Christmas. It can be about Santa Claus. It can be about the Lord. It can be whatever you want it to be.”
