First Crack at This.

As anyone who knows me can tell you I am a very opinionated person, and sometimes these thoughts offend people...but I DON'T CARE. The last time i checked this is still The United States of America and we have the right to say whatever we want. The first amendment to our constitution is being trampled on in the most egregious way. We are no longer free to express our thoughts or beliefs without offending someone. Over the past several years it has become clear that the majority of Americans can no longer express themselves without causing a social upheaval. The most noticable example of this, to me, is the term Happy Holidays. I am in no way anti semetic, nor do I have a problem with anyone's religious beliefs. As far as I am concerned if you are able to find joy and peace by worshipping our Heavenly Father; then please do. Life is hard enough. So please take pleasure and comfort by exercising your faith. That being said, here we go. For those of us who are Christian, it is the season to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The son of God. Christmas. Not holidays. 83 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians. That means the believe in the immaculate conception, the crucifiction, and the resurrection of Christ Jesus. However, the term Merry Christmas has fallen out of the vernacular in America. The phrase is often preferred when it is known that the receiver is a Christian or celebrates Christmas. In the late 20th century, as Christians in increasingly multi-cultural societies continue becoming more sensitive to and respectful of non-Christians and non-Christian faiths, the phrase has become somewhat less ubiquitous than it was in the rest of 20th century. The nonreligious sometimes use the greeting as well, however in this case its meaning focuses more on the secular aspects of Christmas, rather than the Nativity of Jesus. The term happy holidays is becoming the large, and dangerous, elephant in the room that no one will talk about due to the fear of reprisal from 17 percent of Americans who do not celebrate Christmas. Our country was founded, in part, on the belief that Americans were free to worship their religion in peace. I was not a math major in college but I am pretty sure that 83 percent is larger than 17 percent. That being said, how is it that this small majority of people have managed to get their wishes shoved down our throats? Majority rule in our country is no longer the norm. In the late 2oth century it became popular to say happy holidays instead of Merry Christmas. It is Christmas time, not holiday time. Thanksgiving is a holiday, Chanukah is a holiday, and of course Christmas is a holiday. But we can't recoginze it as Christmas time. It has become holiday season. NO sir, this is an affront to Christians the world over. A very small percentage of people are bothered or offended by this term. I don't care! How in the world has such a small majority of people gained such a large power base? This group, a very small group, has attacked the idea of Christmas and gotten us to remove it from our lives. In the current climate of political correctness everyone's feelings must be taken into consideration. 83 percent vs. 17 percent. Wouldn't it make sense to consider the feelings and beliefs of the larger group. Why do we have to bend our lives and beliefs to suit the 17 percent? I have never met a person of the Jewish faith who was offended by Merry Christmas. I am not offended by saying Happy Chanukah, so who is to blame for this? A very small yet very vocal group of Americans has stepped up and made enough noise to get their views listened to and for lack of a better term, taken over America. They complain that they are being persecuted and how unfair it is to have someone else's views forced on them. Doesn't that seem a little odd? We can't practice our religon or celebrate how we choose, but they can practice, or not practice, whatever they want to. The direction of our country, the greatest country in the world, has taken a potentially fatal turn. It baffles the mind how such a small group can get so much power. How in the world did this happen? We need to stand up and put a stop to this. Someone is always going to be offended by something. So DEAL WITH IT already. Get over it. If you don't like me our anyone else saying Merry Christmas, cover your damn ears. I won't complain about anyone not practicing religon. I don't worry about offending you. I will not allow this group of people to change the way I feel or what I believe. And you don't have to change how you feel or what you believe to suit me. Just shut your mouth and leave us alone. Don't mess with me and I won't mess with you. That being said, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah. And God bless you and your family. More to come later...Steven