Saying Merry CHRISTMAS needs no defense.
If someone says happy holidays to me, I always respond with Merry Christmas.
I was somewhere the other day and saw a big 40 foot long Merry Christmas banner outside o business.
Cool
I got no problem saying Happy Holidays to people I dont know that well.
Why would I tell someone who might be Jewish “Merry Christmas”?
Now if I was a store owner, give the majority of religious here are Christian, I would go with the odds and have a Merry Christmas sign out front.
As long as the govt doesn’t abridge our or any institution’s Right to say it or display it, that’s what matters.
But if someone I dont know so well says happy holidays, i will say the same back.
I don’t need to PROVE anything. And I would think someone an idiot if they said “Happy Hanukkah” to me, not knowing my religious beliefs.
Last year, I was attending a local “parade of lights”. Kids on the float said happy holidays. I responded, “Merry Christmas!” and was reprimanded that this was exclusive, religious, and otherwise unacceptable.
So yes, it does need defense.
I just say "In the Name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen!"
Otherwise, I say Merry Christmas.