I'm an atheist and I have a lot of atheist friends. I'm not remotely offended by "Merry Christmas" as I would not be offended if someone said "happy holidays" or "happy hannukuh" and I don't know a single one of my atheist friends who would be offended either. We say it right back. We celebrate Christmas too, but as a secular holiday with pagan traditions, not as a religious holiday. 

I think the only "Christian persecution" is in the mind of Lynn, as I'd bet the farm that she has never, ever heard from an atheist that they were offended by the use of "Christmas." Maybe she could do us all a favor and not get offended when someone uses "happy holidays" as that seems to be her real issue. 

And if Lynn really wants to talk about currency and the Pledge, let's go back before the McCarthyism era when "God" was not part of the Pledge or US currency at all. 

Also, this time of year was the Solstice pagan holiday until Christians moved Christmas to this time of year to get more converts.