Is "Happy Holidays" Too Politically Correct?

This afternoon, weather permitting, the Brooklyn Humanist Community is going to hold a discussion this afternoon about saying "Happy Holidays."

Apparently quite a lot of people find it insulting and annoying to hear "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas." For the most part I have not heard many Jews complaining about this.
Personally, I generally just respond in kind. If a person wishes me Happy Holidays then that is my answer. If they say Happy Hanukah, so do I. If they wish me Merry Christmas, I answer the same. Who cares that I don't celebrate Christmas? It doesn't matter to me. If it is a sincere and friendly holiday greeting I could not care less how it is phrased or which holiday is mentioned.

While I can see why some people don't like "Happy Holidays" because it takes the Christmas out of Christmas, on the other hand there are times and places where it is better to be neutral and just say "Happy Holidays" to one and all.

I certainly wouldn't say "Happy Kwaanza" to every person of color I meet, because it's not fair to make the assumption that just because her skin is a certain shade, she must be celebrating this holiday. So why would I say "Merry Christmas" to everyone without wondering if someone is feeling left out?

On the other hand, as I said, if they wish me a Merry Christmas I will wish them the same.

Two incidents that recently happened on the subway I use most, the Q train, bring this whole issue into another focus.

First, one night during Hanukah, I was on the train with Bruce and Jason when two Hasidim got on the train. They were probably of the Lubavitcher sect that believes the Messiah will come when every Jew is observing all the rules and regulations of strict Orthodox Judaism. So, they proselytize among Jews (but not to non-Jews).

One of the men was going up and down the subway car, asking everyone if he or she was Jewish. If the response was positive, he would hand them a tiny box of some sort (I could not tell what it was..prayers for Hanukah, a set of candles? maybe) and tried to also give them a plastic container of doughnuts. On Hanukah it is customary to eat fried foods to remind oneself of the oil that miraculously lasted 8 days instead of only one.

When he came to me I ignored him and Jason did too. Bruce was sitting a distance away and was taking a nap on the way home. This crass fellow actually woke Bruce up to ask him if he was Jewish. Jason became quite indignant and was ready to have words with this man if he came back to him. The Hasid came back to me and asked again if I was Jewish, and I loudly said, "I don't want it!"

In an instance like this, making a distinction between those who celebrate Hanukah and those who don't, and then pushing their agenda on those who admitted to being Jewish, was quite offensive to me. I would have certainly preferred to hear, "Happy Holidays!"

In another incident also on the Q train that Friday night, the fourth night of Hanukah, a group of about 10 college-age kids got on the train and loudly wished everyone a Merry Christmas. A small group of maybe 2-4 Jewish kids around the same age responded, "Happy Hanukah!" Whereupon the Christmas celebrants set on the Jews and beat them up.

The one person who came to their defense was a Muslim. Now, there is someone who probably deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, and he has the two black eyes to show for it.

In the aftermath of this, it turns out that the Jewish fellow (who had his nose broken by the so-called Christians) invited his newfound Muslim friend to celebrate Hanukah with him.

The aggressors were found to be a bad lot, with web pages showing them playing with guns, and with a sheet already documenting other hate crimes. They are going to be prosecuted for a hate crime, which serves them right. As Mr. Potter said to George Bailey, "Merry Christmas to you -- in jail!"

Here again, supposing they'd come on and shouted "Merry Christmas," and the Jewish kids had said, "Happy Holidays!" Would there still have been a violent incident? Maybe, since these little cross-wearing hoodlums were obviously looking for trouble anyhow. But saying "Happy Holidays" might also have defused the whole thing.

Then again, maybe it's better to name the holiday (thereby naming your religion) and find out then and there who your friends and your enemies are.

If it warms up and the ice goes away by 11 AM, I will bring up these two stories during the discussion. If not, I've at least mentioned them here.