The War On Christmas (26)

CossackCat: PART 3

I’m a non-Christian. I’m a Jew. Christmas is not a religious holy day for me. But I’m an American, and Christmas is a national holiday in my country. It is, therefore, my holiday – though not my holy day – as much as it is for my fellow Americans who are Christian. That's why it’s not surprising that it was an American Jew, Irving Berlin, who wrote "White Christmas," one of America’s most popular Christmas songs. In fact, according to a Jewish musician writing in the New York Times, “Almost all the most popular Christmas songs were written by Jews.” Apparently all these American Jews felt quite included by Christmas! 

By not wishing me a Merry Christmas, you are not being inclusive. You are excluding me from one of my nation's national holidays. 

But even if Christmas were not a national holiday, I would want pilots to wish their passengers "Merry Christmas,” companies to have Christmas parties, and schools to continue to have Christmas vacations. Just because I don't personally celebrate Christmas, why would I want to drop the word "Christmas" when the holiday is celebrated by 90 percent of my fellow Americans? 

It borders on the misanthropic, not to mention the mean-spirited, to want to deny nearly all of your fellow citizens the joy of having Christmas parties or being wished a "Merry Christmas." The vast majority of Americans who celebrate Christmas, and who treat non-Christians so well, deserve better.

So, please say "Merry Christmas" and "Christmas party” and “Christmas vacation." If you don't, you're not "inclusive." You're hurtful. 

I’m Dennis Prager.