When I speak with my Christian friends, I have no problem acknowledging their holiday in my seasonal salutations. Even awkward interactions can lead to shared warmth in a respectful community.
I hear your pain, Mark and Joan. Still, I firmly believe that most people are not petty, bullying Grinches. I've experienced great sensitivity from my Christian clergy colleagues, who admittedly tend to be more on the progressive side. Some would go to excess even to remove Jesus' name from interfaith services, when I would be totally fine with each religion conveying its message authentically. So until it happens a second time with car dealer, Joan, let's give the benefit of the doubt and assume she was just caught off guard (I suspect she doesn't encounter too many Jewish customers) and might even have felt badly that she may have greeted you improperly, which would explain the chilly reply. I'm probably wrong, but it feels better to assume the best of people.
If someone greets me with “Merry Christmas” I usually respond by saying “Happy Holidays to you.” I do realize that their greeting is meant in kindness, and I do appreciate that. I think the Christmas-Hanukkah season is a wonderful time of year, in which we see lots of smiling, lots of joyfulness and a greater sense of community, and although my family and I celebrate Hanukkah, I love everything about Christmas. That being said, I never understood why it is so difficult for people, especially personnel in stores, to simply say “Happy Holidays” if they don’t know which holiday someone celebrates. I recall that when my children were in elementary school my wife and I attended a P.T.A. meeting to express our objection to the December school concert being called the “Christmas Concert” rather than the Winter Concert or the Holiday Concert. This is despite the fact that Hanukkah songs were included in the program alongside the Christmas songs. We were stunned by the vehement resistance and anger directed at us for even making the suggestion of a name change for the concert. I realize that if you ask many Republicans about this issue they will likely respond that objections to the blanket use of “Merry Christmas” are voiced by “woke” Liberals who are obsessed with political correctness. I am proud to be categorized as a “woke” Liberal and concerned with political correctness. I object to the creation and use of that word and its negative connotation. To me being referred to as “woke” or politically correct signifies attentiveness to important issues of racial and social injustice, gender and racial equality, and possessing sensitivity and respect for the concerns of all cultures. That’s something all Americans should strive for.
At the car dealer for repair thus am, the service person wished me a Merry Christmas when she gave me my receipt. I wished her a Merry Christmas back and said I would be lighting Hanukkah candles. No response back from her except a perceptible chill and a pulling back. I live in a rural red state but w/o much active antisemitism it appears. Next time I will respond with Shalom.
I hear your pain, Mark and Joan. Still, I firmly believe that most people are not petty, bullying Grinches. I've experienced great sensitivity from my Christian clergy colleagues, who admittedly tend to be more on the progressive side. Some would go to excess even to remove Jesus' name from interfaith services, when I would be totally fine with each religion conveying its message authentically. So until it happens a second time with car dealer, Joan, let's give the benefit of the doubt and assume she was just caught off guard (I suspect she doesn't encounter too many Jewish customers) and might even have felt badly that she may have greeted you improperly, which would explain the chilly reply. I'm probably wrong, but it feels better to assume the best of people.
I usually say “Thanks. Merry Christmas to you too.”
If someone greets me with “Merry Christmas” I usually respond by saying “Happy Holidays to you.” I do realize that their greeting is meant in kindness, and I do appreciate that. I think the Christmas-Hanukkah season is a wonderful time of year, in which we see lots of smiling, lots of joyfulness and a greater sense of community, and although my family and I celebrate Hanukkah, I love everything about Christmas. That being said, I never understood why it is so difficult for people, especially personnel in stores, to simply say “Happy Holidays” if they don’t know which holiday someone celebrates. I recall that when my children were in elementary school my wife and I attended a P.T.A. meeting to express our objection to the December school concert being called the “Christmas Concert” rather than the Winter Concert or the Holiday Concert. This is despite the fact that Hanukkah songs were included in the program alongside the Christmas songs. We were stunned by the vehement resistance and anger directed at us for even making the suggestion of a name change for the concert. I realize that if you ask many Republicans about this issue they will likely respond that objections to the blanket use of “Merry Christmas” are voiced by “woke” Liberals who are obsessed with political correctness. I am proud to be categorized as a “woke” Liberal and concerned with political correctness. I object to the creation and use of that word and its negative connotation. To me being referred to as “woke” or politically correct signifies attentiveness to important issues of racial and social injustice, gender and racial equality, and possessing sensitivity and respect for the concerns of all cultures. That’s something all Americans should strive for.
At the car dealer for repair thus am, the service person wished me a Merry Christmas when she gave me my receipt. I wished her a Merry Christmas back and said I would be lighting Hanukkah candles. No response back from her except a perceptible chill and a pulling back. I live in a rural red state but w/o much active antisemitism it appears. Next time I will respond with Shalom.
I know. There is no good response in a place where they only recognize one religion and you feel like an outsider in your own country. Shalom.