Every December, like clockwork, the same tired chorus starts up: “Christmas decorations are offensive, Christmas music is oppressive, Christmas trees hurt my delicate feelings.” Spare me.

Look; nobody forced you to come here. Nobody dragged you off a plane and shoved a candy cane in your face against your will. You chose this country for the opportunities, the lifestyle, the safety, the freedom. And guess what? That freedom includes us celebrating Christmas with trees, lights, carols, tinsel, Santas at shopping centres, and yes Mariah Carey screeching “All I Want for Christmas” for the 4,000th f*cking time.

This isn’t about religion anymore, and pretending it is is pure bullsh!t. Christmas in Australia (and most Western countries) has become more cultural than spiritual. It’s BBQs, beers, beach trips, family punch-ons, dodgy Kris Kringle gifts, and eating so much ham you hate yourself by 3pm. It’s not about converting anyone. It’s about tradition, culture, and community spirit.

And yet every year some loud minority wants to sterilize the whole thing because they personally don’t vibe with it. Here’s a thought: if fairy lights and “Jingle Bells” are enough to ruin your life, maybe the problem isn’t Christmas… maybe the problem is you.

We bend over backwards in this country to respect all cultures, traditions, and religions. We acknowledge Diwali, Eid, Hanukkah, Lunar New Year, and so on. Nobody’s out there saying, “Turn off the fireworks, the dragons are offensive!” or “Put away the samosas, they’re culturally oppressive!” Nah we join in, enjoy the food, the colour, the spirit. That’s how multiculturalism works,  it’s supposed to be about respect and sharing, not demanding the locals ditch their traditions so you don’t have to feel mildly uncomfortable in a shopping mall.

And here’s the kicker: the majority of immigrants don’t actually give a f*ck. They’re too busy living their lives, working hard, and in many cases celebrating Christmas themselves because it’s fun. It’s always the whiny activist fringe that wants to play social referee and guilt-trip everyone into silence.

So here’s the deal:

• If you don’t like Christmas, don’t celebrate it. Simple.

• If tinsel triggers you, stay home.

• If carols make you cry, put in some earbuds.

But don’t you dare come into a country that gave you safety, stability, and a better life and then try to erase the very traditions that built its identity. Respect goes both ways.

Christmas isn’t the problem. Entitled, perpetually offended killjoys are. And I’ve got no time for people who want to suck the spirit out of everything because the world doesn’t revolve around their personal taste.

Merry Christmas. If that offends you, tough sh!t.