A reader in Colorado: “Dear Mr. Derbyshire,–Regarding your posting on The
Corner about your attendance at a Hanukkah celebration; I wondered if you
felt uncomfortable at this celebration. I know I wouldn’t. And if someone
were to say to me ‘Happy Hanukkah’ as we parted company, I wouldn’t be
offended either. I would feel rather honored that they thought enough of me
to include me in their wishes for such an important celebration of faith,
even if I wasn’t a practicing member. That is partly the reason I still wish
people ‘Merry Christmas’ instead of ‘Happy Holidays.’ It isn’t a refusal to
be PC; I see it as more of an invitation to join a celebration, rather than
an exclusion from the same. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New
Year.”
I’m going to have to think about that one. Though for the record, my
kippah-ed host wished us “Merry Christmas!” as we left. And no, I didn’t
feel the least bit uncomfortable.