Sally Quinn doesn't understand the “war on Christmas”:

The whole argument about Happy Holiday vs Merry Christmas is silly. If stores want to advertise with “Merry Christmas,” they are private places. You don't have to shop there if you are offended, one way or the other. I say Merry Christmas to those friends I know celebrate Christmas. I say Happy Holidays to those who don't or I'm not sure about. We all get a holiday this time of year anyway, both at Christmas and New Years. What's the competition all about? Why so much rancor?

At first glance, that probably seems quite reasonable. indeed, it is reasonable. But it also demonstrates a lack of understanding of “The whole argument about Happy Holidays vs Merry Christmas.”

Quinn seems to think the silly argument is that people are offended that private stores “advertise with 'Merry Christmas.'” In fact, this annual absurdity is the result of people who are offended -- or, more likely, pretend to be offended -- that private stores don't say “Merry Christmas.” There is no large scale, high-profile effort to bludgeon stores into saying “Happy Holidays” rather than “Merry Christmas.” There is, however, such an effort to bludgeon stores into saying “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays.” It is an effort underway every year on Fox News and in conservative newspaper columns, among other places.

Now, maybe you're thinking “Quinn gets the substance right -- who cares whether the guy at Best Buy says 'Merry Christmas' or 'Happy Holidays'? So what if she gets the source of the controversy wrong?” Here's the problem: Quinn's version of the controversy -- to the extent that there is one -- adopts and reinforces the persecution myth the Armstrong Williamses and Jay Nordlingers of the world are peddling. She portrays it as a situation in which private businesses are under attack for even mentioning Christmas. That's backwards, and plays into the hands of the people who want this silly argument to take place every year -- people who want to manipulate their audience into feeling persecuted and marginalized and angry.