In today’s society with increased sexism and racism, among other things, sensitivity has developed in regards to current events or identity issues. Now, a kind gesture near the holidays to say “Merry Christmas” becomes a religious issue. What happens if that person isn’t Christian? What if they’re Jewish and celebrate Hanukkah? What if they’re Muslim? If someone happened to say “Merry Christmas,” it likely was a kind gesture to send good wishes for the holiday season; not a slant at religion. In today’s world full of social media where comments and posts can be published freely at a moment’s notice, however, almost anything can be taken as an insult. It’s easy to not think about what one posts, but when their words enter the Internet, they become difficult to take back. As a result, many issues can arise due to potentially crude comments towards groups of people, especially religious groups, what with religious conflicts currently instilling fear in much of the world. We can’t let the fear of what could be cloud our ability to live life to the fullest. If we feel like wishing someone a merry Christmas, we should be able to do so without fear of retaliation or judgment. Not only is Christmas a religious holiday, but it’s a general time of year where everyone reflects back on the year, is in a giving mood, and thinks about what they are thankful for. The giving spirit is in the air at Christmas, along with a tolerant mood as everyone comes together to be thankful for what they have and for everyone in their lives. Any rivalries or broken relationships are put to the side, or should be, to bring honor to the end of a long and successful year.

So, how do we handle this as a society? Do we submit to our fears and just say “Happy Holidays” or “winter break,” or do we not let thoughts of judgment cloud what is important to us? These are questions that everyone should consider as our world becomes increasingly sensitive to the possibility of offensive comments that may not even have bad intent.

So… happy holidays?