Buddhist Monks Going Home for Christmas?

Recently an airline reservations agent had an enlightening conversation with a woman purchasing tickets for a friend. The woman explained that the tickets were being bought for a woman, who is a Buddhist monk, "to travel over the Christmas holiday." (Those were the words the woman buying the tickets used) It appears that the monk would otherwise be by herself at the Buddhist monastery because all the other monks were traveling home for Christmas. What surprised the reservations agent was that the woman purchasing the tickets stated that she is Buddhist and referred specifically to the fact that the monks were going home for “Christmas” and this one monk would otherwise be alone over Christmas.

It seems that even some Buddhists enjoy being with family during the holiday season What impressed me, however, was the fact that the reservations agent said the word “Christmas” was used by this Buddhist woman without any offense or sense of discrimination. This Buddhist certainly wasn't insisting that everyone else refrain from saying “Christmas” just because she is Buddhist. Why is it someone who makes no claim to being Christian can accept that some observe this holiday and greet everyone with “Merry Christmas” and yet so many others cannot.

Political correctness has reached absurd heights when people become so hypersensitive that what is intended as a greeting of cheer and goodwill is unilaterally suppressed simply because someone somewhere might be offended. I don't even take offense when Buddhists, Jews, Muslims Hindus or any other faith also wish happy holidays or even let slip a “Merry Christmas” to me.

They intend it as a kindness and I accept it in that way. Can't we all just be adults about this? It isn't those who offer greeting of peace and goodwill who are causing mass hysteria it is those who imagine that someone somewhere might possibly be slightly offended who are the cause of the uproar. And find it impossible to mind their own business.(Quartus)

"Merry Christmas" to all the Buddhist monks who are traveling home to be with family.