Happy Birthday. Happy St. Patrick's Day. Happy Valentine's Day. "Happy" is our go-to word when we greet someone on these special days. It implies some type of celebration, perhaps a Hallmark moment, at least a glass of green beer. It's acceptable social behavior to wish someone a Happy (fill in your holiday here).
Although I must admit that Happy Labor Day never quite hit the mark. What do we do on Labor Day? Since most of us don't actually work, we spend the day mulling over how we've frittered away the summer, that fall is coming and what will I dress up as for Halloween which, as we all know, is right around the corner.
So with this cultural norm in mind, I was taken aback when someone wished me a Happy September 11th. I honestly didn't know how to respond. I couldn't say "same to you" knowing that the original greeting was totally inappropriate. I couldn't say "thank you" knowing that the person obviously had the social skills of a yak. I said nothing -- unusual for me -- but it seemed right.
Does anyone ever say Happy Pearl Harbor Day or Happy Start of the Civil War Day or Happy Anniversary of the Day President Kennedy was Assassinated?
If so, give them an "F" in sensitivity and another one for truly bad taste. These are the same morons who talk about plane crashes when you're waiting for a flight and the time they got stuck in the elevator when you're temporarily stuck on the 15th floor. A pox of laryngitis on them all.
1 comment:
Unbelievable, isn't it. We live in a society that needs to attach a specialness to memorable dates -- and for some people, that means an inappropriate greeting. Look at the retail stores and their endless sales no matter the occasion. BTW, great to see A New Wrinkle is once again on the radar! You've been missed.
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