The Grinch is alive and well!

I work for a great company, a great boss, and I really enjoy my work. So, I was stunned when my boss told me we were having an office "holiday party" instead of the traditional Christmas party. "What?" I cried? "Did some whacky new policy come down from the corporate office?" He said, "No, but if someone is offended because we call it a Christmas Party, they might sue." They might sue? You can sue for being offended? I get offended on a daily basis, but I never knew you could sue for it. I might retire early!
I asked him if anyone was planning to sue, and he said they were not. He also assured me no one had complained, nor was he aware of anyone who was going to complain this year. Further questioning revealed the corporate office was still having a Christmas party, but he clearly had the same concern about them being sued. Now keep in mind, our office is only four years old. Every year we have had a Christmas party and there have never been any problems.
So, this is where the current climate of political correctness has brought us. We are now trying to stave off lawsuits by proactively removing anything that might "offend" people. Good luck! You can't get 5 people in the same room and discuss anything of significance without offending one of them. And, I guarantee the idea of having a "Holiday Party" offends me. Christmas is a national holiday for crying out loud! Since when is it offensive to celebrate a national holiday?
And another thing, Christmas is not just some "Joy to the world and peace on Earth" day. It is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ (*gasp* He is talking about God again. That is two posts in a row. I knew he was a religous nut!) Hey, think what you want. If someone is offended by an office Christmas party because they don't believe in Christianity, they can choose to not attend, or put together an office party for their own faith.
But, if Christmas really has become some non-religious observance of universal peace and happiness punctuated by shorter days and cooler weather, then why doesn't someone change it? Why doesn't Congress pass a law renaming Christmas to "Winter Holiday" or some other non-specific holiday observance? Why don't the retailers start selling Holiday trees and drop all other references to Christmas completely? Oh wait, Target already tried that and was overwhelmed with protests and a drop in holiday sales. Neither would Americans stand for it if Congress tried to change the status of Christmas, and create a different national holiday. Conservative estimates are that over 75% of Americans consider themselves Christians, and anyone who would argue this country was founded by Christians refuses to look at history honestly.
It is time to stop apologizing for the things that make America unique, and Christmas is one of those things. Every country has its own indentity built around the idealogies and beliefs of the majority. I am sick to death of people taking advantage of the benefits of America when they find it convenient, and then having the nerve to get offended by things like Christmas. We have a word for people like that. Grinch!