>Today we have laws against displaying Christmas decorations in certain places, as it may be offensive to specific groups of people.
>
>Somehow there seems to be some connection between Puritan laws and Political Correctness, even though they appear to be at opposite ends of the spectrum. The end result can be similar it would seem.

I just love it when religion runs the law, either way.

My solution to that is "if you can't win them, lose them". I've set up a modest set of measures for the period between Black Friday and New Year:

- turn the TV on if and only if you're 100% sure it's something you know, and they haven't marked it as a rerun

- keep the strict discipline on the mute button during commercials

- avoid shopping, buy only bare necessities, get out as fast as you can

- ignore the infantry at the shop entrance, if they insist, ask to talk to someone at least the rank of the captain. Don't get annoyed with their incessant noise. They're only obeying orders.

- if someone makes an assumption regarding your religion, ignore them politely

- repeat: you survived last time all right. This too will pass. There will be free space again. Come next year, you can come out and not be reminded on every step as to who owns everything.