Murphy's Logic: A Merry Christmas is good for everyone
December is a month of many celebrations -- Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the pagan season of Yule.
Most of us celebrate one, or more, of them for religious and/or cultural reasons.
Christmas is by far the most widely observed in our part of the world. Although deeply religious in origin and still widely in practice, it is also a season of civil importance and economic impact -- the backbone of the retail sector.
One need not be a theologian to see the irony in exploiting the birth of Jesus to sell stuff -- it’s gone way beyond gift-giving, and now well beyond Christianity.
But for all of its retail and other excesses, the season still brings out the very best in people. We see more acts of charity and kindness at this time of year than practically any other, and not just among practising Christians, for whom the season retains its deep and special meaning.
It’s appropriate to recognize, respect and acknowledge religious days of great importance to others.
But in our society, one need not be of Christian tradition to wish someone a “Merry Christmas,” nor should such a greeting cause offence to those who do not observe the religious holiday.
A Merry Christmas is good for everyone.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Train derailed in Sarnia after colliding with a truck
Police are investigating after a transport truck collided with a train in Sarnia.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.