"Happy Holidays" vs. "Merry Christmas"

[Steve]

I do not understand this controversy lately about commercial establishments deleting the word "Christmas" from their promotions/advertising.  I have seen letters in the Tulsa World and stories on TV about people wanting to boycot stores like Target, Sears, etc., because they don't scream "Merry Christmas!!" at you when you enter or have nativity scenes in the store.  I am 48 years old and I really see no difference between Christmas 1965 and Christmas 2005, as far as retail promotion is concerned.  Who cares if Sears doesn't display a big "Merry Christmas" banner.  The true meaning of Christmas is for home, family, and your church, not local retailers.

I think this whole so-called controversy was just dreamed up by the Jerry Falwells, Pat Robertsons, Rod Parsleys, etc. to encite division and increase $ donations to their coffers.  After all, these people and their organizations thrive on this type of thing and depend upon it to finance their million dollar homes and so called "ministries."