I've always saw "Happy Holidays" as a blanket statement for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. The "holiday season", as it were. It's a bit long-winded saying all that to someone. While I won't argue that many of these kinds of people are deliberately disrespectful to the Christian faith, "Happy Holidays" at least acknowledges that there is a holiday there.
I've always saw "Happy Holidays" as a blanket statement for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. The "holiday season", as it were. It's a bit long-winded saying all that to someone. While I won't argue that many of these kinds of people are deliberately disrespectful to the Christian faith, "Happy Holidays" at least acknowledges that there is a holiday there.
Yes, that is why it is a dog whistle. It's that subtle way to push Hanukkah and Kwanzaa and thus dilute Christmas.