The "War" on Christmas*

I would like to begin this post by first saying that I am not a religious man, by ordinary standards, and that this is not a religious post. But today I exchanged links with another Christmas blogger who has a site (with the same Wordpress theme as this blog, incidentally) devoted to discussing what some have termed, "The War on Christmas" - that is, an increasing trend to transmute all "Christmas expressions" into secular "holiday" or "winter" expressions, for fear of offending those who don't observe Christmas. "Merry Christmas" becomes "Happy Holidays." Retailers abandon a Christmas theme, altogether, or transmute it into a "winter theme." People are encouraged to say, "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas."

I abhor this trend (at the same time recognizing that there is a tendency in some to inflate the extent of this "war") and let me explain why. The reasons have everything to do with freedom, and virtually nothing to do with any one, specific religion - Christianity or otherwise....