Free Speech and Expression of Holiday Greetings
The position taken in this article relative the expression of holiday greetings is solely
my opinion and is not meant as an official interpretation of the laws as they stand today.
This article is being written to address the restriction of specific holiday greetings such
as Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and others. The right of free speech as identified in
the 1st amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives individuals the right of free speech. The
language of the first amendment is stated below:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof, or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right
of the people to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of
grievances.”
This article is being written to express disappointment in the fact those individuals,
companies and organizations have been restricted from giving holiday greetings, as has
been the practice in this country for years. Today individuals and groups are complaining
about reference to specific holiday greetings such as Merry Christmas. We have come to
the point in this country that when someone complains about something we take
measures so we do not offend any one group or individual. This occurs most frequently
in companies doing business with the public. People or organizations that complain
about our freedom to express holiday greetings based upon our beliefs and past practice
should not intimidate companies. We have the right of free speech and as long as it does
not violate the rights of others and laws, we have the right to say any holiday greetings
that we choose to express.
Free speech limitations only involve expressions where the content violates
established laws such as slander. We cannot make false or incomplete statements against
individuals or organizations. If we do so we are subject to being sued, as should be the
case. Expressing our holiday greetings does not violate these conditions. We should
feel free as individuals and companies to express the holiday greetings that we have
practiced in the past. Any attempt by individuals or organizations to restrict this right
should be fought.
When companies succumb to pressures from individuals and organizations to change
the way they have operated in the past does not speak well for the management of the
organization. Companies should stand up for their right to express their holiday greetings
as they see fit. The attempts being forced on companies for fear of offending someone is,
I believe, an effort to restrict another right we have and that is the right of exercising our
preference of our religious beliefs. While there are those who have no religious
convictions, they should not be offended by our expression of holiday greetings. We
respect their right to not believe and they should respect our right to believe and express
holiday greetings as we deem appropriate based on our beliefs.
In summary we have the right to express holiday greetings as we feel and people
should respect this right as we respect their right to not believe. We have great rights of
expression under the 1st amendment and as long as other laws are not violated, we should
freely exercise our rights of free speech and exercising the rights we have for our
religious beliefs. Attempts by individuals and organizations to restrict these rights given
to us by the U.S. Constitution should be fought. We need to get back to the way things
used to be in exercising the rights we have under the constitution and not allow
individuals or groups to impose their beliefs or non-beliefs upon us. We should not be
restricted in expressing our opinions and beliefs simply because someone feels offended.
In this respect the laws may need clarification as deemed by our elected officials to
clearly state the rights as identified in this article.