Happy Holidays, dammit!

It's that time of year — when the right decides to gin up fake outrage at a fake "war on Christmas."

You'll hear it on Fox News or on random chain e-mails and the obligatory Facebook wall "Please share!" posts. People somehow are getting the idea that Christmas is being taken from them. And that truly mystifies me.

Is someone preventing YOU from having a merry Christmas? is there some sort of grinch who is stopping you from going to church or celebrating what you want, how you want? If so, let me know so I can expose them.

For some reason, "Happy Holidays" strikes a nerve — actually, it's not for "some reason." it's because people have been led to believe it's a evil plot. If you are anything like me, you have friends from all walks of life. From the people you work with, to the people you encounter on the street. And you know that not everyone spends their Christmas the exact same way you do; if you don't believe me, check out what they serve at their meals and see if it mirrors yours.

I know that there are people who celebrate Hanukah instead; I know others who are Muslim and celebrate neither. And I know others who celebrate Christmas in the most everyday way.

So when I tell people to "have a great holiday," it's just out of respect to everyone, not some sort of subversive attempt to kill Jesus (again) or whatever it is Fox says I'm supposedly doing.

And as for the part about being "oppressed," I have to agree with Jon Stewart on this one: I hope that Christians can overcome their oppression, which is clearly so evident. Maybe one of them will even get to be president someday — or maybe 44 times in a row.

Happy holidays,
B.