For me, not wishing someone a "Merry Christmas" has nothing to do with "political correctness". For me, it is just a matter of politeness.

Let me explain. Although not Jewish myself, I grew up in a suburb of Philadelphia that was predominantly Jewish. Many lost members of their family in the Holocaust at the hands of Christian Germans, Poles, and Russians. (And please, do not object with a version of the "No True Scotsman" fallacy. Their murderers often called themselves Christians, and the long history of Christian anti-Semitism cannot be denied.) These Jews did not celebrate Christmas, and many objected strongly to the presumption that everyone did.

In such an environment, if you did not know what people celebrated, it was simply rude to assume one way or another. Thus, I grew up wishing people "Happy Holidays" unless I was sure. Most people I knew did the same.

When I moved to Canada, I was surprised by the number of people who wished me "Merry Christmas" even though I am not a Christian. To me this seemed, and still seems, quite impolite. My usual response is to smile and say, "You, too", although occasionally I am annoyed to the point of saying "Thanks, but I don't celebrate Christmas." This usually leaves the greeter open-mouthed.

It is important to recognize that the idea of a "War on Christmas" is a fiction being promoted by the most reactionary members of American society, such as Bill O'Reilly. I would guess that most people who use an alternative greeting, such as "Happy Holidays", are merely trying to be polite.

I'd also like to address your discussion of "pro-abortion" and "pro-choice". Those who favor legal access to abortions may, in fact, be opposed to abortion personally, yet favor the right of others to decide for themselves. To claim they are "pro-abortion", then, is simply incorrect. If the goal is accuracy and not demagoguery, then "pro-choice" is appropriate characterization.

Jeffrey Shallit
Computer Science