Monday, December 22, 2008

Merry Christmas

I take great delight in wishing others a Merry Christmas. It is an exercise of two of my most cherished Constitutional rights. The right to free speech and the right to worship as I please.

It is also a demonstration of why offensive speech is not the same as speech that causes someone harm. There is no right to go through life unoffended. Indeed it would be impossible for me or anyone to know exactly which things would be emotionally sensitive territory to a given individual. I think civilized people can be expected to recognize that wishing someone Merry Christmas is an act of celebratory sharing and behave accordingly.

So, in this season of vandalized nativity scenes, lawsuit threats over religious displays on government property, and the attempted revival of the "Fairness" doctrine, I am truly grateful to be able to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Well, I must say it is an interesting way to say Happy Holidays!
To each his own, I suppose.

Dr.D said...

I am with Mom. I am offended when someone says to me, "Happy Holidays!" What holidays? The only holiday that I acknowledge at this time is Christmass, so if that is what you mean, out with it!

Call Me Mom said...

Welcome to the blog ecrunner.
Thanks Dr. D. I would welcome specific holiday names. Happy Hannukah for instance. But a generic Happy Holidays? Don't you have enough intestinal fortitude to identify the holiday you're celebrating?