I am English first and British second and these type of mails really annoy me.
one of the few things that made this country so strong is our ability to accept all cultures, creeds and colours.
If we didn't do this this the extremists wouldn't be able to go for a lager/vodka on a Friday night followed by a curry/kebab/pizza. We'd still be drinking mead and eating with our bare hands.
We take on other phrases and words from other languages so that English can grow .
I have never been asked to not say Merry Christmas but I am educated enough to know that if I do wish it to somebody who doesn't celebrate it then they may be a bit offended, but equally I would expect them to be equally informed that they wouldn't take too much offence.
The Christmas thing is very interesting because it celebrates the birth of Christ not the day you get an new i-pod or x-box and yet how many of the paki, nigger, chinky, wog, etc, etc hating brigade go to church to celebrate it?