Just go ahead and say Merry Christmas already!

In the last week I have overheard two conversations in which the theme was that political correctness has gone too far and now we can’t even wish each other Merry Christmas anymore.

Um… no. 

Government – civic, provincial, and federal – is not in the Merry Christmas business. Secular public schools should not host Christmas concerts based on Christian mythos. City busses should not glow, exclusively, with Christian greetings. And meetings of public officials should not open with Christian prayer. Public institutions should not put one religious belief ahead of another.

We are not a Christian country. We are a secular country with a Christian majority. And, this majority (perhaps because they are kind Christians) got together and agreed to be bound by the rule of law. This majority agreed to put certain freedoms above all else – even a majority government. Specifically, we all got together and agreed that everyone in Canada will have fundamental freedom of conscience and religion. 

When you see Christian messages being removed from government offices you should not think to yourself, “There they go, taking the Christ out of Christmas.”

What you should be thinking is, “Yah, baby! Way to go. Thank you for defending my individual right to celebrate Christmas and to sing Silent Night and to a wish a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.”

Eschewing Christian exclusive wishes and affairs in public institutions is, in fact, an affirmation of your right to wish merry Christmas to whomever you like. By not giving primacy to any one religion, state institutions are defending the individual's right to hold whatever belief they want.

Say it! Do it! Merry Christmas! Ho ho ho!

Or Happy Hanukkah. 

Or whatever. 

Political correctness in public institutions doesn't stop you from wishing people Merry Christmas. It guarantees your right to do just that.

Live long and prosper.