KEY POINTS:
In the US these days, you can get in trouble for saying "Merry Christmas". Politically correct do-gooders argue that it marginalises people of other faiths, to whom December 25 is just the day after December 24.
Complaints from these allegedly marginalised people are conspicuous by their scarcity and we rather fancy that their faith is robust enough to withstand the implied challenge. In any event, opinion polls suggest that the pendulum is swinging back: two out of three Americans prefer the old-fashioned greeting. And at least some of the rest must think that "Bah, humbug!" captures the flavour of the season.
Having taken all this into account, we have decided to wish you a "Merry Christmas" anyway, but we stress that we mean it in an inclusive, non-marginalising way. If you want to translate it into terms more meaningful to you, go ahead.
Whatever the next few days means to you, it's important to recognise that the family over the fence may read it differently. And, whether you regard it as a religious or secular festival, it's a good time of year to think about others.
Christmas means family get-togethers, which many of us regard with a mixture of delight and horror. So do your bit: smile graciously as you open relatives' tasteless gifts or do the dishes as they snore on the couch. Spare a thought, and a dollar or two, for the less fortunate and the social and voluntary agencies who are looking after their needs. And remember when you're on the road, at the beach and in the bush: you're sharing it with everyone else and there's enough to go around. Take care of each other out there.
