Joy of Christmas

This season we are once again presented with a controversy that seems to rear its head more and more this time of year…

Should you say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays?”

It’s a simple question, but the answer is far from easy…

“MERRY CHRISTMAS Everyone,” calls Daniel Dudley at the Red Bank Christmas Parade.

People aren’t shying away from Merry Christmas this year in Red Bank.

A push toward the more inclusive “Holiday” by some major retailers has brought a major back lash.

Many Christians feel there is an active War on the religious theme of Christmas…

Marcine Austin is also enjoying the Christmas parade.

She says, “Christmas should be the time of year for everybody to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth.”

Live Nativity scenes across the country, even in downtown Chattanooga, have been questioned.

And… as some public organizations try to call last years Christmas tree this years holiday tree, Christians are pushing back, saying they want to keep the Christian tradition in the holiday.

Pastor David Bouler of Highland Park Baptist Church says, “Christmas is about Jesus.”

The church sponsors a sign along Interstate 24 that proudly declares “Jesus is the reason for CHRISTmas.”

Pastor Bouler says he’s not fighting Happy Holidays, but he wants to celebrate a Merry Christmas too…

Bouler says, “Don’t take away our freedom to lift up Christ, don’t take away our freedom to enjoy Christmas.”

UTC Religious Studies Professor Charles Lippy says a diversity of cultures and religious beliefs is part of what makes America great.

But he says a push to be politically correct, in many cases, may have gone to far…

Lippy says, “We’ve become overly concerned with not wanting to offend anybody and I sometimes think we anticipate what folks will find offensive whether anybody actually does or not.”

Ninety-six percent of Americans celebrate Christmas and many of them are non-Christian.

Lippy says most people like to be given well wishes and whether or not you say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” really isn’t that big a deal.

Instead, he says, people should simply be comfortable with the greeting they give.

Back at the parade a group of children call “Merry Christmas!!!!” as their float passes by…

Pastor Bouler says everytime someone wishes him “Happy Holiday” he smiles and wishes them a “Merry Christmas” right back.