Sims clarifies Christmas directive

County Executive Ron Sims drew complaints from around the country -- and jokes in county office hallways -- by advising employees to be "religion-neutral" in holiday celebrations and greetings.

His memo listed examples of neutral greetings, which included "Happy Holidays" but not "Merry Christmas."

Yesterday, Sims posted a new message to employees saying he wanted people to be sensitive. And his staff said he was not forbidding people from wishing each other Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah.

The first memo, sent last month, began: "With the post-Sept. 11 tragedy climate and the religious holidays starting, we at King County want to ensure that any upcoming holiday celebration at the workplace is held in a respectful, inclusive and sensitive manner that does not favor one religion over another." Sims is a Baptist minister.

The New York-based Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights posted a news release on its Web site Monday accusing King County of making any Christmas reference taboo.

"The time has come for employees in King County, Washington, to be arrested for saying, 'Merry Christmas,'" Catholic League President William Donohue said in the statement.

"The champions of diversity are the single greatest proponents of despotism in the United States today. ... The diversity despots are both a menace and a national disgrace."

Sims' chief of staff, Tim Ceis, said the office has received "interest on this issue from all over the country," with both positive and negative reactions. He called the Catholic League statement "absurd."

The executive's intention was to ask people to be culturally sensitive to their 13,000 fellow county employees. "I think it's real unfortunate that anyone should twist that around," Ceis said.

"If someone says 'Merry Christmas,' that's terrific. If someone says 'Happy Hanukkah,' that's fine, too," he said. "Everybody's free to express their sentiment in an appropriate manner."

Some employees are offended "by people telling them what to do," said one courthouse worker. "I think we're getting too guarded."

Sims' latest message to employees, posted on his Web site yesterday, said the earlier memo sent by the Office of Human Resources Management with his signature "has concerned many of you. I believe its intent was to ask all of you to remember to be culturally sensitive and respectful of everyone here at work, and to realize that each of us may celebrate holidays differently. I think that is an important message."

"It is also important for all of us to remember that we are able to share the holiday spirit and offer best wishes to each other," he wrote.

County Councilman David Irons said everyone should just "chill out" and not worry so much about being politically correct.

"It's a festive holiday season," said Irons, a Methodist who grew up sharing Hanukkah traditions with his Jewish neighbors. He and fellow council members held their Christmas party yesterday.

"Political correctness goes so far, and it takes over your life," he said.

P-I reporter Margaret Taus can be reached at 206-448-8027 or margarettaus@seattlepi.com

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