One of the most ridiculous assertions at the heart of the Religious Right’s ludicrous claims that there is a “War on Christmas” in America is the notion that retailers and individuals who say “happy holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas” are insulting Christians and participating in a nefarious plot to, in the words of the American Family Association, “eradicate anything that reminds Americans of Christianity.”
More likely they’re just being respectful of the fact that all their customers or neighbors may not share the AFA’s religious beliefs. But that doesn’t keep Religious Right activists from turning “Merry Christmas” from a friendly greeting into some kind of statement of political defiance. For example, the latest Ted Cruz campaign email comes with the subject line “We Say Merry Christmas” and a p.s.:
Set an example for the "tolerant left," and while wearing your festive Cruz for President gear, or any gear for that matter, make sure to say Merry Christmas every chance you get!
In between, Cruz offers a chance to win the world’s ugliest-ever ugly Christmas sweater featuring his face in a Santa hat floating over the White House and flanked by Tea Party “Don’t Tread on Me" snakes.
Plenty of political content on that sweater, along with secular snowflakes, which are the kinds of things that usually set off the AFA’s alarm bells. Hey, AFA, doesn’t Cruz belong on your “naughty” list for not keeping Christ in Christmas?
