I know what you're thinking. It's January, you've New Year's resolutions to break, and you're nervously waiting for your credit card bill to arrive. Why on Earth is someone writing an article about Santa Claus? The short answer is: I've had a revelation.

After joining the Universal Unitarian Church this past year, one of the major questions for me was, "What is my holiday going to look like, with my Catholic background meshed with my own beliefs?"

Rick Perry, your religion and your holiday are not being persecuted. In fact, they have been part of my daily life for almost two months, whether I like it or not. So, get off your soapbox, go inside to your own church, and have yourself a merry little Christmas.

If Gov. Perry wished me a "merry Christmas," I'd take it in the same way that Southerners often say, with a treacly smile, "Bless your heart." Or in common parlance: nasty-nice.