Happy Christmahanukwanzaka
Have we just gone too far?
In this day and age of being politically correct, using terms like “flight attendant” instead of steward or stewardess, postal “worker” instead of postman, have we just reached too far in our quest to be fair and neutral?
I read this morning about some feeling as though Christmas itself is under attack. Everywhere you look, it seems there are news reports about a Christmas tree being removed, Christmas programs being renamed “Winter Concert”. All symbols of the holiday being replaced with friendly, non-denominational snowmen.
Yet, I never hear of a Star of David being taken down. Or a harvest display placed in celebration of Kwanzaa coming down because someone was offended. I have yet to read about anyone getting upset at seeing a banner of crescent moons hung in celebration of EID.
So just what is it about Santa Claus, Christmas trees and carols that incites such furor? Why do people feel so threatened by them? If I see a menorah I don’t immediately feel I’m being pressured into converting to Judaism.
Seeing symbols of someone else’s culture or religion should be a learning experience. An opportunity to discover more about the people around them. It doesn’t mean you have to become them. In our quest to be a more tolerant society, I fear we are swinging too far in the other direction. We run the risk of disrespecting a Christian’s right to celebrate their religion.
I’m not a deeply religious person. I’ve talked about that here before. I was raised as a Christian. I do believe in a God. A supreme being. Whether his name is Jesus, Mohammed, Jehovah, or even just plain old Bob, I don’t know. What I do know is all Gods preached tolerance. Even as the holidays approach, many people seem to have forgotten that.
So if you walk by a Christmas tree, don’t frown if you aren’t a Christian. Don’t look upon it as a personal insult to you and your religion.
When I walk by a menorah, or see a display for Kwanzaa, I promise I won’t get my knickers in a twist and call the ACLU.
Take time to learn about your fellow man. Educate yourself. You may be surprised at what you learn.
15 Responses to Happy Christmahanukwanzaka
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Amen. Well said sister
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas =-.
I. LOVE. YOU. and i totally support this. christian’s ARE losing our rights for the sake of being PC. I’d love to say that a Muslim holiday offends me and get away with it. NOT HAPPENING. Thank you!
.-= Becky @TheRealBecks´s last blog ..Happy Birthday Hannah! =-.
Brilliant post as usual, my dear.
Loves you.
Oh, and Merry Christmas
.-= PrincessJenn´s last blog ..Merry Ho Ho =-.
Afreakingmen! Love this. <3
.-= Chibi Jeebs´s last blog ..Oh, my aching pride! =-.
Perfect Jenna. Perfect.
.-= ali (adil320)´s last blog ..Slow Down! =-.
I’m a first-time reader here and what a post to start off with! I have often thought the same myself. I’m sure others do too.
Thank you!
I wrote a post about holidays too, but sort of from the opposite side. I was raised Christian and am converting to Judaism (my mother is horrified). I went to Hallmark last week to get my SIL a Chanukah card and in all of Hallmark they had nine(!) Chanukah cards.
I’m never offended by Christmas trees or a grocery bagger wishing me a merry Christmas, but I think that there needs to be balance. You don’t have to wish me a Happy Chanukah, but is it really too much to ask for a store like Hallmark to have one single roll of Chanukah wrapping paper?
Santa is everywhere and he’s not offensive, but sometimes pretending there’s nothing else going on this time of year (which I am, in no way accusing you of doing, just to clarify) is.
There’s a balance here somewhere and we just need to figure it out.
Avasmommy Reply:
December 18th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Katie,
I totally agree that there needs to be a balance. And I think that’s what I was trying to say. We need to make sure we don’t lean too far in any direction. I had never heard of the Muslim holy day of EID until last week. I saw a stamp for it at the post office. I went home and looked it up. I learned about it. I don’t feel it in any way threatened what I believe. Seeing an entire row of Chanukah cards and wrapping paper wouldn’t bother me in the least. I think you should have all those things available to you. Maybe I’m the odd ball, but I try to take something from every religion and incorporate it into our celebrations.
I’m just tired of living in such a PC society. You can’t say ANYTHING without someone jumping down your throat, all offended. Loves you.
.-= Aunt Becky´s last blog ..Texts From Last Night (et all) =-.
Here’s my theory. I’m fine with stuff existing for every holiday. But people also need to remember that their religion is not the ONLY one out there. I don’t celebrate Kwanza, but I wouldn’t be mad if someplace had decorations for it! If you don’t celebrate christmas and someone wishes you a merry christmas you can say “I hope you have a merry christmas” because even if you don’t celebrate it, you want them to have a nice day right? I celebrate Christmas and Hannukkah. I love it. I also celebrate Diwali and Holi, which are Hindu holidays. Why? Because I can! Also, Christmas trees are just plain beautiful. As are lit menorahs. They make me happy. I like things that light up, probably because I am a small child at heart.
Also, someone posted (not here, on another blog) about how we were founded on Christian principles and if people didn’t like it they should leave. That offended me, because I felt like it lost a lot of what we are about. SO many people came here for freedom of religion! (especially if you came from someplace where you were KILLED for you religion.)
“What I do know is all Gods preached tolerance. Even as the holidays approach, many people seem to have forgotten that.”
A-Freaking-men sister! Well put.
.-= Molly´s last blog ..Not my child… =-.
What upsets me the most about being so politically correct, is that we usually correct ourselves for, at most, 15% of the population. Shouldn’t the majority rule? It drives me bonkers that schools can’t say Merry Christmas because the ONE Jewish kid would be offended. My personal philosophy, is that when in Rome do as the Romans…..I’m not suggesting that all Jews (other denominations too)convert to something more mainstream for this country, but they should respect OUR beliefs too.
That being said…I’m 100% in favor of including a week/day of education on whatever religious beliefs are shared within the school/workplace…
…..**ha ha** you said snowman….what about snowpeople….geeezz I feel so offended. **ha ha**
.-= Rebecca´s last blog ..Addiction =-.
Awesome. Completely agree that we definitely need some balance!!!
.-= Emma´s last blog ..Busy =-.
I don’t think people are offended by the symbols of Christmas.
The trouble comes when people in a community ask to have their beliefs represented to and are refused. Sometimes the refutations are inane and mean spirited and then a heated battle ensues and common sense is out the window and it ends up in the court system.
The court will make an easy decision – make it neutral.
It’s much easier and more logical to be inclusive in the first place.
The “backlash” is really the a case of “cutting of your nose to spite your face” – it has nothing to do with people being offended by Christian symbols, quite the opposite.
Those 2 cents of mine were free and yes, the soapbox is put away!
.-= GreenInOC´s last blog .."Joe Lieberman Socks" =-.
I adore this post. Even more than the first time I read it.
Here’s the thing…if I was around my relatives and their friends, I’ve have been told Happy Hanukkah like 12 hundred times. It wouldn’t have bothered me, even though I am not Jewish. At the same time, I have said Merry Christmas to some of them. It’s no big deal.
Being PC about everything, all the time has gotten tiring.
.-= Issa´s last blog ..Taking a break =-.
Great post! I agree with you! Merry Christmas!
.-= PB and Jazz´s last blog ..Crazy Crazy Week Part II =-.