Dear editor,
I have been thinking about all this “political correctness” about Merry Christmas.
The apparent theory is to change it to Happy Holidays to be all inclusive of all cultures thus not offending any of them! Are we suppose to change Christmas tree to Holiday Tree? Christmas cake to holiday cake?
If we don’t want to offend anyone let’s look at other holidays in Canada and see what we can do. New Years Day is OK, as it seems to be universal. However, St. Valentine’s Day — Oh, dear, it is about a saint so let’s change that to Partners Recognition Day, thus offending no one.
Then of course there is St. Patrick’s day (damn, another saint) so let’s just call it Green Leaf Day (that might satisfy all the pot advocates as well)!
Then, of course, that pesky other religious holiday called Easter that will have to go and maybe we can change that to Spring Celebration Day. Of course after that we do have Victoria Day — can’t have that named after a monarch, after all I heard she was really a cranky old lady so we must come up with a name that for that holiday that will not offend — maybe just call it the May Holiday.
Then, of course, comes Canada Day — what a horrible offence to those that are not Canadian so perhaps a better name would be National Day. That is pretty ambiguous!
Of course, Labour Day is so outdated and certainly could be offensive to those ladies that are pregnant or even those that cannot get pregnant (it could offend them as well) so maybe change that to Workers’ Day; that way there is no chance of misunderstanding.
I have difficulty understanding why I must relinquish my history as a Canadian so I don’t offend others who bring their cultures to this country with them and continue to celebrate all of their holidays in their traditional fashion such as Chinese New Year, Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, etc.
I don’t have a problem with these cultures celebrating their culture, so —damn it — allow me to celebrate mine in my own country!
I have never been known to be politically correct and make no apologies for that. I am Canadian and I loudly shout MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
Linda Halliday-Sumner,
Cumberland
