Monday, December 24, 2007

Merry Christmas to All

No, Santa isn't Coca Cola's evil invention.

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Only in America is it an issue whether to use Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays/Season's Greetings. And a contentious issue at that. Some people seem to have this idea that saying Merry Christmas to a non-Christian is offensive or tantamount to proselytising. It's a a non-issue, really-- Kuala Lumpur in December is awash with Merry Christmas signs after the Hari Raya Adilfitri signs come down. My Central Asian colleagues (mostly Muslim, and one Jew) greet me Merry Christmas, and I greet them back with Merry Christmas which they graciously accept.

So the next time someone feels offended at being greeted Merry Christmas on the 25th of December, tell him to go back to work and return all his presents. But do it nicely-- it's Christmas, after all.

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