We are obligated to spread our holiday cheer — but we can’t really be spreading holiday cheer if we are too worried about offending someone.

I work as a receptionist at a day spa, which means I spend a lot of time face to face with people, and as people leave the spa after their massages or facials, I have to be careful about what I say during this time of the year.

I can’t say “Have a Merry Christmas” as they leave, because what if they don’t celebrate Christmas?

So I’m stuck giving the cookie-cutter well-wishing phrase “Have a happy holiday.”

There isn’t really anything wrong with that phrase, because whatever holiday it is that you celebrate I do want you to have a happy one, but I hate coming off so politically correct.

But the other problem is that I don’t want to offend the Jehovah’s Witnesses who I work with or who come into the spa by wishing them any sort of holiday.

This is a lose-lose situation.

We have become far too politically correct. We shouldn’t feel like we have to constantly censor ourselves for fear we are going to offend someone. Being politically correct can be a good thing. But it loses its credibility once it is taken too far.

You wish me a happy holiday and I think you are really saying, “Please don’t be offended but I’m obligated to say this during the season.” I’m doing the same thing.

We are obligated to spread our holiday cheer — but we can’t really be spreading holiday cheer if we are too worried about offending someone.

People think that I am Jewish all the time — it’s the nose — and it doesn’t bother me. I don’t get offended when people wish me a happy Hanukkah, but I feel like I’m going to offend people by wishing them a Merry Christmas if they aren’t Christian.

My suggestion is that we start remembering what the holidays — any holidays — are about and start worrying less about offending people. We can’t spend our lives walking on eggshells because then we will miss the important things.

I wish you all good holiday times.

> Comments