If you ever wanted an example of people going out of their way to be offended, look no further than the origin of “Happy Holidays”, a greeting invented to appease sensitivities to the seasonal and almost universal “Happy Christmas”. People with a lot of time on their hands, eh?

It got me thinking. If these overtly sensitive sods are upset and offended by being innocently wished a Happy Christmas, what a totally miserable time of the year it must be for them, as Christmas doesn’t begin and end with that one greeting.

Let’s be clear: I am not referring to run-of-the-mill atheists here. Atheists in the main are very reasonable, sensible, grown-up and tolerant of this Christian celebration, which of course is also a celebration of the winter solstice, which pre-dates Christ. The atheists I know and read of enjoy a very logical live-and-let-live attitude towards it all, which is the way all religious and non-religious people should be of each other in this day and age.

So, who exactly are these muppets who take offence at the likes of Starbucks using red cups at this time of the year? Yes, that’s right. People have actually taken offence to being served coffee in red cups which hint at “Christ-mas”, forcing Starbucks into submission.

Seriously, think about it for a minute. If you take their offence to its logical or illogical conclusion, they must go through agony every December. The lights on the trees must be their idea of strobe lighting. Explaining why Santa Claus, AKA St Nicholas, won’t be bringing their children any presents must involve brave ingenuity, because, if they are true to their convictions, then it follows that Santa is a definite no-no. Meanwhile, carol singing must be migraine inducing.

And what about having to decline the invitation to your own office Christmas party without making a fuss? I suppose they could always use the excuse that they have their Christmas shopping to ... oh wait, they couldn’t do that either.

How do they explain returning a card or small gift which has popped in the letter box from the thoughtful neighbour or declining the annual free Christmas drink down the local?

Being deprived of all those great Christmas movies is another thing and what if they never miss an episode of Mrs Brown’s Boys? Terrible, isn’t it?

So please, be gentle because this discriminated minority community live among us. And it is already hard enough for them without you carelessly blurting out that great Irish seasonal chat-up line: “Are you all set for the Christmas?” Or maybe they cherry-pick the good parts? No doubt they do, the hypocrites.

God help them, but this time of year must be their idea of hell. Oops, sorry. Got that last sentence all wrong, didn’t I? CL

Waste not, want not

While the anti-water charge campaigners have vowed to get their walking boots ready again to protest, Fine Gael might also be able to claim a hollow victory of sorts.

I would say that every one of us has become more aware of the amount of water we use every day. I know I have become far more efficient and conscious when running the tap since charges were first mentioned, even though there is no charge. Basically, I appreciate the preciousness of water now more than before. Same with you?

The readings on those otherwise temporarily obsolete meters, which caused such furore, might be able to confirm we are using less water than three or four years ago.