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Hmmmm, so I should say Merry Christmas to one of my Jewish brethren? Even if they don't celebrate it? I worked in retail for a long time. Let me tell you, all those people that want to demand stores say Merry Christmas instead of Happy Holidays were some of the most hateful, ill mannered sons of guns I ever met. And after dealing with 'Christmas' shoppers a few weeks, it's enough to turn anyone who has ever worked in retail against Christmas as a whole.

I made sure to tell them 'Have a nice day'. If I got Merry Christmas in return, I would return that. If I didn't so what. But at least I tried to make sure every customer had a good experience at the store, even if they came in upset. You can call that spreading Christmas cheer in a small way, you can call it being kind to my fellow man. I am quite sure that's a bit more important to the intent of Christmas and to the spirit of Christianity than whether or not in a retail job one is allowed to use the 'right' salutation.

And as a former retail worker, I would ask that those that shop this year take a moment to be kind to the salesperson. Don't go off on a rant about how a company is not allowed to say Christmas. Wish them one anyway. Do it with a smile (instead of the constant scowl I am envisioning on some 'conservatives' and their feeling of being slighted). If you can't do that, at least tell them to have a nice day. It may not pay off for you, but it will for the next customer. Take a minute and exhibit the spirit of Christmas even if some store can't say the right words.