HAPPY HOLIDAYS - NO OFFENSE MEANT

By Lee Degenstein
November 2006

“‘Tis the season to be jolly” and “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”, or so the songs go. It’s the time of the year when we try to enjoy the holidays without offending anyone while staying within the boundaries of Political Correctness or PC. You know. “peace on earth, good will toward men”. What about the women? So much for being PC.

When I was growing, up the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day was known as the Christmas season. Now it’s known as the Holiday Season or worse yet, the gift giving season. The season, whatever you choose to call it used to be so simple and enjoyable. In America up until the late 1970’s, you could pretty much say Merry Christmas to just about anyone and not offend them. I always thought “Merry Christmas” was all inclusive. Saying Happy Holidays or Season’s Greetings seems so impersonal and non specific.

This time of year there are so many holidays to choose from. There is Christmas, Chanukah, and Ramadan. Don’t forget Three Kings Day and our newest holiday called Kwanzaa. What’s up with Kwanza anyway?

Kwanzaa was invented in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Department of Black Studies at California State University, Long Beach. According to the official Kwanzaa website, the holiday is “an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from 26 December thru 1 January, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name”. It is not meant to be a replacement for Christmas. To me Kwanzaa seems like an instant holiday. All of a sudden Kwanzaa was here!

It’s sad but this time of year has become nothing more than a pain in the neck for Political Correctness. We seem to be on our PC toes during holidays. In 2006 you will rarely hear the phrase “Christmas Sale” spoken or written anywhere. That has been replaced by “Holiday Sale”. The people who protest the use of the word Christmas, will most likely be among the first in line to get into the stores that are having those sales.

There was a time when a school, hospital, business or local government could erect a Christmas tree and nativity scene along with a Menorah and be done with it. But not in 2006. Too many of those institutions have been sued over omitting a religion or custom. Some have stopped displaying holiday decorations all together to avoid litigation. What a pity. Where’s the holiday spirit?

It’s for many of these reasons that Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday. It’s so easy, you can say “Happy Thanksgiving” to just about anyone without offending them. The only possible exceptions would be Native Americans formerly known as Indians and of course turkeys formerly known as turkeys. Then again if you spend any amount of time wishing turkeys a Happy Thanksgiving, you have some serious issues to overcome and more to worry about than being politically correct.

It’s a great time to be thankful for what we have and to be with friends and family. You tend to overeat, only to be followed by falling into the dreaded turkey induced tryptophane coma. Inevitably you have to deal with being with the one person at the Thanksgiving table you swore you would never speak to again.

You know who I mean. Every family has one. You know who I mean, the obnoxious family member that keeps reminding everyone he has a better job, makes more money and has cuter children than you do.

Perhaps best of all, you catch one of his kids picking their nose at the table, and point it out to everyone present. This is primarily why I still like to sit at the kids table doing surveillance Then there are those wonderful parades on TV which look the same every year only to be followed by the always exciting treat of watching The Detroit Lions, who also look the same every year. Thanksgiving rules!

All this in spite of the fact that the Pilgrims, whom we have made out to be historic icons, were both lazy and corrupt. History tells us that they stole from, fought with and killed Indians, I mean Native Americans. Many Pilgrims almost starved during the first two years they were here. Several of them refused to work in the fields growing and harvesting crops to exist on. It was easier for them to steal food from the Indians and they did. We as a society seem to overlook those facts. Instead we tend to stare at those marvelous hats the Pilgrims wore. I always thought those large buckles were kind of spiffy too.

As you know, the Indians ended up in pretty good shape. Today many tribes now own casinos across America and reap huge profits tax free. I don’t see any Pilgrims laughing now.

So Happy Thanksgiving etc., personally I am looking forward to Memorial Day this year followed closely by Flag Day. And so unto you I say, “Happy Holidays” to all and to all a good night!


Lee Degenstein has covered the financial markets for print and broadcast media for more than 15 years. Mr. Degenstein was also the news director and morning anchor at two major radio stations in New Jersey. He has been a reporter/contributor to United Press International, The Associated Press, The Mutual Broadcasting System and New York 1 News. A former winner of the Associated Press award for 'best business story' he lives and works in New York City. Mr. Degenstein can be reached by email at: lee723@verizon.net

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