Merry....Happy....oh, to hell with it.

It's that time of year again where everyone starts freaking out about what kinds of greetings and wishes are appropriate for us to give to each other.

Facebook posts are popping up like crazy from those who are pissed off that people want to wish others "Happy Holidays" because they feel the only proper thing to say is "Merry Christmas."

As someone who is not Christian, I will say that I was never offended if someone said Merry Christmas to me, I would have a little twinge of "gosh I wish this person knew that I believed differently" - we all want to be recognized, no? If you know me, you should care enough to know that I am not one of the "Big 3" religions. On the other hand, if you don't know me, I would think that one should not assume something like that, especially since, like it or not, we have become such a diverse society.

How would you feel if I walked by you in the mall and wished you a Happy Hanukkah ? I've actually witnessed such an exchange, where the recipient was not Jewish. His reaction? "Why the hell would you assume I am Jewish???" Yes, he actually said that out loud. So what makes it acceptable to assume that someone celebrates Christmas or any other religion-specific holiday?

Most religions have some holiday this time of year, and I do not wish to make judgements about a stranger's beliefs, so you're getting a Happy Holidays from me. I want to include everyone in that, my Christian friends too.

Saying Happy Holidays does not make Christmas a dirty word. It does not make the person saying it anti-Christian. It doesn't make Christmas go away.

These posts that I am seeing are just becoming terribly hateful, and those that are posting them come across as racist and ignorant. Since all this hullabaloo started, it has begun to feel like the only reason somebody goes out of there way to say Merry Christmas is to make sure you know that they think nobody else with a December holiday deserves any warm holiday wishes. Who's making Christmas a dirty word now?

One more thing, if you want to get upset about something, how about all the Black Friday violence? That seems a whole lot more offensive than wishing everyone a happy holiday.