Hearing "Happy Holidays" does not make me mad. Many are frustrated, because they feel people say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas", because they want to "take 'Christ' out of Christmas", but I have a different perspective...
This month has many different holidays: the major two being Christmas and Hanukkah. If someone tells me "Happy Holidays", my mind doesn't jump straight to them clearly being an atheist trying to take Christ out of Christmas. I think that because there are so many different religions and holidays, they don't know which one I celebrate, so they are going to play it safe.
Maybe saying "Happy Holidays" didn't start with someone who is anti-Christ, but maybe it started with someone who after many times saying "Merry Christmas" and instead of getting the response "you too", they got "I'm jewish" or "I don't celebrate Christmas", so they got tired of feeling like they offend people all the time when this is supposed to be a joyful season.
The biggest complaint I hear from non-Christians is that we "shove" our faith on other people. When we rant about keeping "Christ in Christmas" is this a passive-aggressive shove? Now don't get me wrong...I get upset every time I see "Xmas". No one say Xgiving or Xentine's Day... But "happy holidays" shouldn't be so offensive.
After all, the word holiday originally meant "holy day", so next time someone tells you "happy holidays", just think, maybe they actually mean "happy holy days", because that's what they are, right?
[Subnote:]
Calling Christmas Trees "Holiday Trees" IS actually offensive. There is no decorative tree in Kwanzaa or Hanukkah or even Boxing Day. The tree is from Christmas, therefore it is a CHRISTMAS TREE, Mr. President!
Here's hoping...
"[Love] bears all things, hopes all things, believes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.
1 Corinthians 13 : 7-8a
