Avoid offense this holiday season by using, accepting any greeting preferences

The winter season is a time marked not only by joy and peace, but also controversy.

Kicking off the holidays with the Starbucks’s red cup debacle, the ever present dilemma of emphasizing Christmas over other December holidays grows stronger every day.

One problem that continually arises is the proper season’s greeting to use – Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? States have even taken legal action to voice its citizen’s opinions, such as Texas making a law to protect traditional holiday greetings in public schools. Where do we draw the line on the apparent “War on Christmas?”

To alleviate controversy, we must be open and accepting of all seasonal greetings.

Traditionally, the United States was founded on Christian principles.

The pilgrims, as definition states, were those on a journey seeking religious freedom to peacefully practice their Protestant views. As other immigrants entered the country, however, new cultures, ideas and traditions also entered.

This made Christians insecure on the dominance of their beliefs over other ideas. Those who are firmly against using or accepting anything besides Merry Christmas are being ignorant toward the several other religious festivities that occur in December.

Need I mention that Christmas is celebrated in December because it coincided with existing pagan festivals?

According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, 42 percent prefer “Merry Christmas,” 12 percent prefer less religious terms and 46 percent say it doesn’t matter.

Personally, I have always celebrated Christmas and one could say that I am a tad obsessed with the holiday. This doesn’t mean, however, that my goal is the exclude anyone else from obsessing over their own favorite traditions.

Living in America, we should feel free to openly celebrate any peaceful tradition that we believe in without backlash.

Every dilemma surrounding the holidays, especially the greeting issue, distracts the public from the true point of observing any December holiday.

People who use any greeting are using it out of love and holiday spirit, not to offend the recipient of said comment. Any expression should be acknowledged and appreciated for the feelings it conveys, not the terms it tries to use to avoid or ignore discrimination.

If anything, America should be more concerned about the continually increasing commercialism of the holidays.

We need to make Thanksgiving a holiday where nobody, even those in retail, should have to work.

The debate of displaying Christmas symbols in public areas versus other holidays, such as Hanukah or Kwanza, is one that tests both freedom of religion and, at times, the separation between church and state. Why is the country still dwelling on a simple two word phrase?

If people think that we are losing the spirit of Christmas through red coffee cups and a greeting of “Happy Holidays,” then that spirit — one that promotes hope, love and peace — is already disappearing.

It shouldn’t have to be a moral dilemma choosing a greeting this holiday season. Instead, we should be focusing on the meanings these holidays promote – goodwill toward everyone, faith in a brighter future and appreciation for all of life’s gifts.

No matter what holiday, if any, you choose to celebrate, greet every person you meet with a warm smile and cheerful greeting.