Making the rounds in social media are the kerfuffle over the Rudolph TV special and the ever-persistent "Merry Christmas" versus "Happy Holidays" greeting, which carries over into Starbucks' coffee cup territory.
Let's tackle Rudolph first.
A beloved classic, the Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer TV special has been around as long as my brother (54 years) and viewed by millions of children, presumably without any damage to delicate psyches.
I think it probably started as a joke, but now there are folks who seriously think this special is bad for children because Santa is a bully and Rudolph's dad acts like a dick to his kid, making him wear a false nose so he doesn't embarrass his family.
Then there's the island of misfit toys, which is a whole other Santa's bag of mishegas.
I think the point here is that in order to have a story, there has to be some sort of conflict to overcome. For Rudolph and Herbie and the misfit toys, it's being different in a world where people (and reindeer) want others to look, think and be just like themselves.
By the end of the tale, Santa and the other critters see the value in being different, and everybody sings as Santa's sleight wings its way through the night.
Despite the hoo-ha, 83% of folks polled still chose Rudolph as their favorite TV holiday special. So I think the controversy is a tempest in a teapot, really. Most of us can appreciate that there was a lesson the grown-ups learned in the end, and that even a train with square wheels and a jack-in-the-box named Charlie can be loved.
As to the holiday greeting thing, can we please just stop?
This is the holiday season, and we have Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Festivus and Kwanzaa, as well as Christmas. So by saying, "Happy Holidays," we're covering all the bases and being inclusive of all folks, a sentiment I'm pretty sure Jesus would be cool with.
Especially since, in all likelihood, the date of his birth was chosen to coincide with Saturnalia, a pagan holiday that celebrated the Winter Solstice. The idea was to get the pagans on board with Christianity by re-purposing a holiday they were already celebrating. (It wasn't until the 4th century that December 25th was designated as the big guy's birthday.)
If the reason for the season is sharing and love of our fellow human beings, doesn't it make sense to go with "Happy Holidays"?
On the other hand, am I going to get my knickers in a twist if someone wishes me a "Merry Christmas"? Nope. I'm going to take it in the spirit in which it's intended, meaning someone is wishing me glad tidings during this festive season.
So, if your coffee cup is red when you wanted it to be green or it doesn't have the greeting you prefer, just drink up, toss the cup and get on with your life.
Happy Merry Holiday Christmas Hanukkah Kwanzaa Winter Solstice Festivus Everyone!
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