Reading someone end a greeting with “to those who observe” makes my ass itch.
Lightsaber menorah seen on Pinterest. Sorry to the creator, I know I shouldn’t use stuff from that copyright infringement cesspool.
Some criticism of “to those who observe”
It’s that time of year when folks in marketing-forward careers want to wish potential customers/clients good cheer and blessings. These folks often encounter a dilemma, though. If they wish someone a happy <insert holiday or religious occasion here>. will said well-wishes backfire? To put it bluntly, will Christians get offended when you wish them, Ramadan Mubarak?
Enter the subject phrase. Let’s say it’s the first night of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got more than a few friends who are Jewish. While some are more religious than others (imagine that, it’s more than just Catholics who do that), most celebrate Hanukkah.
This should be so bloody easy. The years when Hanukkah and Christmas directly intersect are rarer than rare. It’s December 14th, wish your Jewish friends well on their festival. Same for Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. Wish your Hindu friends well in October or November (Diwali is determined based on a lunar calendar).
Overthinking
There’s no need to overthink this. Christians shouldn’t get upset that your circle of friends and associates extends beyond them. “But what about the ones who might get upset” you ask? I get that you might not have the immediate, oh-fuck-that-guy reaction I would. So, let’s consider the situation.
First, just how many people are we talking about? I note with interest that one of Earl Higgins’ 100 Catholic Things To Do Before You Die is to put a “Keep Christ in Christmas” sticker on your car. A lot of Catholics just ain’t gonna do that. Same for other followers of the Prophet from Nazareth. Still, we wish them “Merry Christmas.” We might even say “Happy Holidays” if we’re unsure just what they’re happy about during the winter holiday season. If they don’t observe another religion’s special time/celebration, their brains process it and move on.
Second, why are you worried about those who do care you recognize other religions? We’ve pretty much established that your “to those who observe” target audience is pretty small. Why do you give a shit? Is your mortgage brokerage limited to Our Lady of the Holy Bigots Catholic Church, or the First Evangelical Church of My Religion is the Only One? If so, well, you probably hit the X in the top right corner of your browser on me already.
Third, who are you looking for in terms of clients/customers? Muslims, Hindus, and Jews get in auto accidents and need PI attorneys. Their kids get into shit with cops and need representation. They buy houses and borrow money. While I admit that wishing someone, Ramadan Mubarak, isn’t all that much effort, it’s a start. The more we acknowledge the individual ingredients of the gumbo, the better it tastes.
Happy Almost Mardi Gras, to those who observe!
