Blotchy man beats holiday war drum

From what I hear, angry shouting head Bill O'Reilly has been inciting outrage among his viewers over the use of the phrase "Happy Holidays" in place of "Merry Christmas." Cry me a freakin' river, Bill. I've got this to say to you:

Shut up, shut up! Just shut up!

SHUT UP!!!

I know way too much energy is being wasted on this non-issue, but allow me to elaborate.

Though Christmas is a religious holiday, for some reason, one of its principal modes of observance in America is as a shopping season. This is a situation that makes retailers very happy. But if only 3 of 4 Americans identify themselves as Christians, that's a whole quarter of the population they need to reach out to. So they try to be generic.

If they can sell a Christmas tree as a Chanukah bush, maybe they can get you to buy stuff to decorate it, and then maybe they can get you to buy more expensive stuff to put under it.

Let's say you find a card that says "Happy Holidays!" You can send it to anyone, including your non-Christian friends, and so you buy more of them. For the guy selling the cards, it is a joyous season, indeed!

There is no conspiracy. The bottom line is... the bottom line. "Happy Holidays" sells.