Have a Holly-Jolly-Whatever-You-Celebrate
Thanksgiving is not my favorite holiday. I make the best of it. I hope you all make the best of it. There is much to be grateful for, and much to ponder about a harvest festival of this kind in a modern society. May you have all you need this winter, including the company of people who like and respect you. They might even love you!
Immediately after over-eating, America begins its annual over-shopping season.
“War on Christmas”
In 2018, I wrote about the so-called “War on Christmas”. If you missed it, follow the link to Don’t Arm the Christmas Wars.
The whole concept of there being a war on Christmas is bogus. Christmas drops its red and green all over America starting in the fall. The request to not assume that everyone is celebrating Christmas is a request for a tiny little act of kindness that Christians begrudge to people who are not Christian. This year, the War on Christmas folks are already arming themselves. Here are the stores that have been singled out for not bowing to “happy holidays”.
Being told “Merry Christmas” is not an issue for most people who grew up Christian, even if they have since become atheist or converted. Many have memories of the holiday and may celebrate a secular version of it. It is an issue for many people who grew up in a minority religion, especially ones targeted by the American Christian Right.
My advice to you is to do one of these things, whichever feels most authentic to you. Think about how you’d prefer to react before going shopping this December. Santa will be everywhere and he will be watching (wink!):
When a stranger says “Merry Christmas”
Smile and say nothing.
Frown and say nothing.
Smile and say, “Thank you”.
Frown and say, “Thank you.”
Smile and say, “Merry Christmas to you.”
Frown and say, “Merry Christmas to you.”
Shop someplace other than stores who have made a point of telling their employees that they are “free” to say “Merry Christmas”.
Write to the customer service departments of the stores, who have made a point of telling their employees that they are “free” to say “Merry Christmas.” Tell them why you shopped elsewhere.
About boycotts:
If you are boycotting a retailer or cancelling a subscription or stopping use of an app, do so in a way that matters. If you don’t normally spend money there, your boycott is an empty promise. If you spend money there, your boycott matters to the business. Tell the business.
If you don’t eat fried chicken, there is no point in telling the world that you boycott Chick-fil-A. They won’t miss you. You are virtue signaling.
Same with the videos I saw of people throwing away Goya foods. The goal is to not buy anymore from a Latinx businessman who repeated election lies in 2020. You can still eat the food you have; you paid for it out of your food budget. If you found a different bean company going forward, you are clear on the concept.
Boycotting supporters of the Republican President-elect* is something you might consider this December over-shopping season:
This page has white-listed and boycott-worthy companies.
Footnote: * I am boycotting the name of the Republican President-elect. The less his name is on the web, the better. I choose to name him by his title. I choose to hold the Republican Party responsible for his actions. In January, I will change to “the Republican-led government”. Other people are writing “45” or negative nicknames. Your font, your choice.
Happy holidays!