Sometimes words are important; they can inspire action by men and women to do great things, or they can be hurtful. Words can soothe a troubled human being, or create the negative emotions of fear and anger. But intention is far more important than words themselves; or at least it should be.

I don’t know how it began, but ‘political correctness’ is idiotic. If anyone is forced to refrain from conversation because of the fear of a word or phrase, our humanity suffers.

I don’t often agree with anything which happens in Texas, which struggles with Alabama as the most racist state in the union; but when someone is right, they are right; and I always tell the truth.

While I believe the uproar over ‘Starbucks’ and their ‘Holiday Cups,’ was ridiculous, I also believe that anyone who resents being wished a ‘Merry Christmas’ is a complete fool. There is no reason to celebrate December 25 unless it involves the birth of the Christ child.

Jeff Anon is the CEO of The Berryhill Baja Grill chain in Texas. He posted the following sign on the front entrance to his restaurants.

“Notice: This store is politically incorrect. We say ‘Merry Christmas,’ ‘God bless America.’ We salute our flag and give thanks to our troops, police officers and firefighters. If this offends you, you are welcome to leave. In God we trust.”

Some who advocate ‘political correctness’ were offended by the sign, and as it states, they need not become patrons.

Anon says that it all began with a simple act of one of his employees in an effort to be cordial.

“Then, a cashier in one of my restaurants told a customer, ‘Merry Christmas,’ and the customer got offended because she said [that] and not ‘Happy holidays!’ That was sort of the straw that broke the camel’s back,” he added.

When I was growing up in Los Angeles, I had many friends who were Jewish. They had no problem with their Christian friends celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. As the years went by, politicians and the media began to practice political correctness, fearing that certain words and phrases may offend other groups, and complaints may cost them donors and advertisers.

I am not a religious man, but I say ‘Merry Christmas’ and always will. I celebrate the underlying meaning of the season. It is a time to think of others before yourself. It is a celebration of family and those we love. The Christmas season encourages strangers to perform acts of kindness for others, which seldom occur at any other time of the year.

This year my wife and I were the recipient of just such an act.

I will be 70 on my next birthday, and my bride is 65 on the day I write this. Christmas Eve brought several inches of snow to our area. We discussed shoveling our driveway and the walkway to our house. We both have back problems, and because we have two four-wheel-drive vehicles, we decided to refrain.

As we watched a movie, we heard a noise outside, and my wife saw a man on our walkway. It was our neighbor from across the street; he had shoveled all of the snow from our home. After she thanked him, she broke into tears.

So I say Merry Christmas to all, and even ‘God Bless America.’ It’s the correct way to express my feelings.

And one last thing. This is for Donald Trump. Our neighbor is a Hispanic gentleman.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

Source

Photo Courtesy of Rachel Kramer

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