A few weeks ago, I happened upon a news article revealing mall Santas in Australia are prohibited from greeting shoppers with the traditional “ho ho ho,” replacing it with “ha ha ha,” citing the phrase may be offensive to women.
Most would agree that the mandate is utterly ludicrous; there is nothing obscene or derogatory behind Father Christmas’ familiar laugh. Though this may be isolated to Australia, Americans this holiday season will no doubt be pestered by political correctness as well — an issue which is exploding into foolishness.
There’s been debate among retailers in recent years over the proper greeting to use toward customers: “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays.” Most stores prefer “Happy Holidays” to oblige those shoppers who do not celebrate Christmas. Though how is wishing someone “Merry Christmas” — regardless of spiritual or ideological beliefs — a negative thing? No one is wishing ill on others.
I can understand from the other perspective that the onslaught of Christmas themes and merchandise may appear as an ignorance of minority cultural traditions; however, there is no intentional attack on other faiths by saying “Merry Christmas.” It’s not the word that should be scrutinized, but the intent of the word; and the motive behind “Merry Christmas” is nothing but love and kindness.
The politicizing of holidays is simply a sign of the times where cultural clashes are intensified beyond recognition. This past Halloween, New Yorker Daniel Colacrai was asked to remove a hanging dummy from his lawn by local authorities; Floridian Chantal Dolata was placed in a similar situation removing a display from her bar. Both received complaints from locals, concerned that their Halloween decorations were too reminiscent of lynchings. However, the faces of both dummies were not human, both were zombies, and their uncovered hands were white. Still, both were commanded to remove the puppets.
Considering the current climate in the United States pertaining to race relations, with the controversy in Jena, Louisiana and a slew of other noose related incidents in recent memory, it’s not surprising such visuals would stir discomfort. Regardless, it was still Halloween — there are supposed to be zombies and monsters hanging from trees and all other forms of gore and horror; but, objects are symbols and to most of the public such symbols are interpreted by their connotation rather than their intent or denotations.
At the current time, it is seemingly impossible to reconcile centuries of historical and cultural meanings attached to sayings and items with an innocuous intention. Political correctness simply avoids the necessary conversations that different cultures must make. It silences truth and the opportunity to recognize and coexist, rather than merely tolerating cultural differences.