The Christmas Wars

One of my (religious) relatives posted on Facebook that we should keep Christ in Christmas by feeding the hungry, etc.Edited by ringo, : No reason given.

"Remember the Sabbath, to keep it holy" = "Don't work on the Sabbath"The Sabbath is "holy" because even God can't work 24-7. In that sense, we're putting God into the Sabbath. But it's also common sense.Similarly, the Winter Solstice is a sign that the sun will come back, life will go on. It reminds us to look at the long term instead of focusing on short-term woes. If that isn't "attribution" enough for you, feel free to spackle on a coat of "Christ".

I think that's the exact definition of Political Correctness - tailoring your words for what you can get out of it rather than saying what you mean.Of course, retailers can offend people by saying "Merry Christmas" or by NOT saying "Merry Christmas" so they'd have to analyze the demographics pretty thoroughly to be politically correct.

That's why we qualify it with "politically", which suggest that we're talking about policy instead of just commercial interests. But the principle remains the same. Yes, commercial speech is the same as political speech; it's all about selling a product.What political correctness is not is what right-wing nuts think it is: expressing a belief in equality.

I may lose one customer but I can sell it elsewhere. Edited by ringo, : Fixed quote.

I'm reminded of Bob Cratchit, who was late for work because he was "making rather merry" on Christmas Day. There was gin punch involved.Since "merry" is hardly ever used in any other context, it does seem unusual that devout Christians would espouse it.

The "traditional meaning" is what Dickens used. "Most people" have lost the link that was traditionally there.There's more of wassail than of Christ in "Merry". (On the other hand, Jesus did turn water into wassail.)

More wining, less whining!