So what's the issue, right? Why should you care if I tell you Merry Christmas? After all, I'm just being nice and wishing you a joyous day in the birth of the Christ. Oh, wait, I'm not a Christian!! I don't believe in Christ. Awkward moment enters.

The religious right is on a rampage over the right that retail owners have to say "Happy Holidays." They honestly think that people are trying to suppress Christmas celebrations by using a phrase that's inviting to all members and offensive to no one. Methinks they have too much time on their hands if they are really using this as a worthy issue to attack...errr...debate. 85% of Americans are Christians, true. That still leaves 15% of people who are not Christians. These people shop and these people celebrate....but they do not celebrate Christmas. Now, is it offensive for someone to wish them a Merry Christmas? You wouldn't think so, nor probably would they. However, is it common courtesy to respect individuality by acknowleding that they are, indeed, celebrating something? Of course! Which is where "Happy Holidays" comes into play. It's a phrase that can be used for all people who are celebrating a holiday. It shows that retail owners are in the market of doing business. When you are selling products to consumers, you don't want to target just one group of people. You want to open up the door to as much diversity as possible. By going the extra mile and showing that you are about individuality...you're expressing good marketing. And after all...isn't marketing what Christmas is all about now? When the religious right stand up and talk about the real issues surrounding the suprression of Christmas, maybe then they can be taken seriously. Why are they not complaining about the commercialization of the phrase "Merry Christmas?" To quote an esteemed member of 4thkingdom...

pepper2000- Christmas used to be a religious holiday, but it has been transformed into a consumerist binge. I can't think of anything less Christ-like.

Let's talk about Halloween for a minute. That's a holiday. But you sure don't here the religious right complaining that Wal-Mart's not using the phrase "Happy Halloween." Why not is not a hard question to figure out.

So, get over it. Retail stores want to make money. Worry about what saying "Merry Christmas" is really suppressing...and it's not the birth of christ..it's the loss of a cha-chinging sound.