Will the Real Christmas Please Stand Up?

Over at Americans United, there's an article on the profit to be gained by exploiting people's fear of a "War on Christmas" which appears centered on what people say in malls and big box stores. Um. Which mall would... No, no, let's actually *think* about this for a second, shall we? The argument is that to combat the secularization of the holiday, it is important to make sure that while you are buying your discount prune pitter/yogurt squirter at Ticky-Tacky Emporiums Inc., their employees say, "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Holidays" or something else sinister.

Now, me, I would think that being Merry Christmassed by someone working too long for too little would only reinforce the secularization of the holiday by suggesting that it's just another commercial thing - all about the loot, as I once heard a priest say in a sad tone. Perhaps a non-secular celebration might be about volunteering to feed the hungry, care for the sick, visit the imprisoned, or even just spend the time at home with friends and family.

But none of those would turn a profit, would they? But what do I know? The places I like to shop don't tend to give me a pre-canned greeting, but something like, "Hey Fool, good to see you! C'mere and look at this." I must be doing something right.