Posts Written By L Parker Brown

Yet another frivolous lawsuit is on the horizon.  The latest one filed by a mother in California who, with the assistance of the Centre for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), is suing McDonalds for selling toys in Happy Meals.  The mother of two children is taking legal action because she feels that McDonalds is using toys to entice children to buy the meals, considered by some to be unhealthy junk food.  Hold up!  Wait a minute.  Who is taking her children to McDonalds and buying the Happy Meals?  Is she buying them?  If the mother fears for her children’s health and doesn’t want them to look like they are just one Happy Meal away from obesity, then she should step-up, handle her parental business and say “no.”  If her children are going to Mickey D’s on their own and buying a Happy Meal, then they are probably too old for the toys anyway, and they are going to buy the meal whether she likes it or not.   

There are some people to whom adults may not want to say no.  Their boss for instance.  Or a police officer asking to see the driver’s license.  Elderly parents may even hold a yes card.  But young children learn early in life whether their parents call the shots or if the children rule.   

On the other hand, this case may not be exclusively a Happy Meal/toy issue.  The prospect of money is always a powerful motivator and it sometimes trumps principle.  It will be interesting to see the outcome of this case.  If the Happy Meal Mom loses will she then have enough backbone to parent up and just say no?

This boomer remembers a childhood when the Christmas holidays were considered by many to be a sacred time and a beautiful season, when colorful red, yellow, and green lights illuminating festive scenery, were widely displayed on private homes and lawns, in neighborhood church yards and at other public facilities.  Even on the most frigid days, passersby wearing warm coats, hats and gloves would stop outside storefront windows and “Ooo” and “Ah” over nativity scenes or an animated Santa Clause and elves.  But that was long ago, in a less tumultuous time, when it was not politically incorrect to say “Merry Christmas.”  And, as society transitioned to the contemporary “Happy Holidays” other changes occurred.  

In recent years, the Christmas season seems diminished.  It has evolved into an annual tug of war between believers and non-believers as Christians and atheists square off.  One side upholds the occasion as a Holy Season celebrating the birth of Jesus; embellishing the event with religious exhibits, evergreen or artificial trees decorated with multi-colored ornaments and other signs of Christmas.  Contrarily, opponents see the observance as a myth and express their disdain with public condemnation and strategically placed anti-religion signs.  Each side is fundamentally devoted to their cause.  Once in a while, the argument over the right or wrong of placing a nativity scene on public property is carried by the American Civil Liberties Union all the way to the Unites States Supreme Court.

Regardless of one’s belief or non-belief a mutual show of respect is owed to both sides.  Atheists continue to advance their platform without giving second thought to their status as non-believers, and they do not see their conviction as a precursor to suffering consequences in an afterlife touted by Christians.  On the other hand, old school Christians persist in defending Christmas as they saw it in the years B.A. (before atheist) intrusion.   

Whether the greeting exchanged during this festive time of year is Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, or Bah Humbug, undoubtedly most people would prefer to see joy in the world regardless of the season.