Being the last week of work before Christmas, I heard a lot of Happy Holidays so far this week. My patients for the most part, being from a rural area still say Merry Christmas, but I have been amazed by the number of fellow physicians, pharmaceutical reps, and other professionals who have changed over to Happy Holidays.

One of the many things that I love the most about living in a small town in rural America, is that I very rarely have to be politically correct. I can, don’t get me wrong, its just so much nicer to hug a patient when needed, to spend time in prayer with a patient or friend in need, or simply to laugh at a slightly off color piece of political humor.

So, given my preoccupation with Christmas Memories of my youth, the number of Happy Holidays and Season’s Greetings that I am hearing this week is seriously putting a damper on my Christmas spirit. I am tired of not being able to express my traditions and my faith in the name of being politically correct. By the way, who decided that my beliefs are so threatening to other people anyway. I can wish you Merry Christmas, and still be happy that your traditions embrace celebration such as Quanza, Hanukah, Yule Celebration, or no celebration at all.

To me, raised in a traditional American Protestant faith, Christmas is a time of reflection on the birth of our Lord, giving to others, packages in paper, and even Santa. (although I am well aware, that many of the traditions I hold dear have pagan roots rather than christian)

I hope that in some small way, we as a society could choose to move passed political correctness, and rather embrace the differences that each member of our society brings to the mix. America is a mix of cultures and traditions. Maybe, my children will be able to spend time in celebration how they wish instead of worrying if they are offending someone else.

Whether you are married, single, gay, strait, old, young, bitter, or embracing the season; May each and every one of you have a Merry Christmas. Whether that phrase means the same to you as it does to me, is not the motivation behind me saying it. Merry Christmas as a phrase means that I wish you a blessed, peaceful time spent in whatever manner makes you the most happy and cherished. Whether, that time and memories are from Hanukah or a Wicca festival, I will honor and respect your right to wish me holiday blessing how you choose, if you won’t be offended by my traditions.

So, in the words of the Night Before Christmas, “Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night…”