K&R this thread if you can't wait for Christmas season to be over with [View all]

Nothing wrong with spending time with family - although it shouldn't take a holiday for that to happen. But there are several things about Christmas that are constant pet peeves of mine, and make me wish the holiday season would hurry up and get over with.

1. Used as an excuse by many right-wing Christians to shove their religion in our faces. This often takes form in their so-called "War on Christmas", where they look for any tiny little excuse to whine about religious persecution. God forbid anyone say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" - they take this as a deliberate insult. They demand respect and recognition of their religion, but then get all bent out of shape if some public group or government erects a holiday display inclusive of other religions/beliefs such as Hanukkah. Don't even get them started on Kwanzaa - that "made-up" holiday (which is ironic considering Christmas itself is a made-up holiday - even if Jesus did exist, he certainly was not born on December 25th).

2. As annoying as it is having right-wing Christians thrusting their religion down our throats, even more annoying is Corporate America shoving its materialism down our throats. Everywhere you look, you're bombarded with corporate advertising, telling you that you simply must buy the Big New Toy, smartphone, videogame system, etc. If you truly love your significant other, then you must purchase some fancy expensive piece of jewelry. And who hasn't gone out to their driveway on Christmas morning and found a brand new car with a giant ribbon on top? I've never seen any new cars sitting in a driveway with giant bows on them, but according to TV, it's commonplace.