The Christmas Spirit

The Christmas Spirit can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. For example, we have the ever-popular finger flipping, veins extruding as they scream streams of obscenities at the dude that just snarfed the parking spot Captain Murderous Rage had sat for 15 minutes waiting for while the other dude loaded packages into their rig, got in, sat there while the car heated up, got out to check the rear tire, remembered he had not returned the cart so did that, returns to his car, gets in, puts on the reverse lights...then puts it back in park so he can light his cigarette, all while Mr. Angry waits for the spot that will ultimately be stolen by someone who randomly drives up at the exact....right...moement...
Or it can mean the Christmas spirits...egg nog, Jack Daniels, Black Velvet, etc. that lead to wise behavior such as driving while intoxicated, getting it on with co-workers at the office party, and things of that nature.
Seriously...in a world of anger and hatred, there is one nicety that is still observed at times. People still habitually say "Merry Christmas" as a gesture of goodwill in a season where we seriously NEED some goodwill. And for some reason it is really getting under my skin when people object to it.
It is a courtesy, a gesture of good will. It is about on the same level as saying "Please", "Thank you" and "you are welcome"...or "I'm sorry" when you steal someone's parking spot they waited for somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 minutes. It is just a courtesy.
It is kind of like when I hold the door for someone. Often enough if they are female they will crack "I am fully capable of getting it myself."
Good for you. Guess what...I am holding it not because you are a woman but because you are a person. I habitually hold the door for men, women, children, for the young, the middle age and the elderly. It is not a sign that you are incompetent, it is a sign of respect for your status as a human being. Stop looking for opportunities to find ways to be insulted. Just enjoy the courtesies when they come, whether it is a hello or aholding a door or saying Merry Christmas or just not putting you in traction for the remainder of the holiday season, take it for what it is, an expression of more good will than you usually get and quit your complaining about it. Frankly, I am insulted that you are insulted by it.