"Tis the Season"..... let the Christmas debate begin
One of the early signs of the Season is when the headlines are filled with stories of nativity scenes being banned and Christmas trees becoming Holiday trees, causing such angst among some people that they offer to fight, literally fight, to keep their Christmas unscarred. Maybe this post is one of those signs as I enter the fray and put in my two cents. Indulge me.
I am a Christian. The quality of my Christian path is open to debate and will not be the baseline for this essay, though I would love it to be on another occasion. As a Christian, I celebrate Christmas for the birth of my Savior and for the great joy it brings my family and many, many others. But I don’t want my personal joy to trample one single hair of the man, woman or child who worships another way.
If a public school has multi-religious students, they should not be expected to forcefully ‘celebrate’ the birth of Jesus as I do at home. My preference is for all religions to have their proud moments on the school calendar allowing for a bit of cross-culture growth. Fortunately (and probably not by coincidence), Christmas and Hanukah fall during the same period, and it’s easy to light a menorah and sing about dreidels at the same time we light a beautiful evergreen and sing of shepherds and wise men. What on earth is the harm? And if the school has Muslim students and they want to celebrate Ramadan or something similar, let the non-Muslim children learn something new. Kwanzaa is still new to most of us, but what is wrong honoring an African tradition?
Bottom line, there is room for us all, but let’s not bastardize the season. A Christmas tree is not a Holiday Tree attempting to please everyone. Whatever institution takes the time to put up a tree should take the time to add a menorah if their visitors or employees or students prefer. Religious schools are, of course, exempt since they were founded for the purpose of growing a certain faith. But Christmas to me is not a time to proselytize. It is a time to celebrate what is important to me. Forcing a member of another religion to submit to my holiday without regard for his is not a very Christian way to be, in my opinion.
At the same time I will not become politically correct to mask my religion. In my home there will be a tree, nativity scene and no other religion’s symbol; it’s MY home. And when I greet a friend or stranger from now ‘til December 25th, it will be with a joyous “Merry Christmas!” I’m proud of who I am and will gladly share my joy of my holiday with all. For this same reason, I am flattered when a Jewish friend offers a “Happy Hanukah” to me. He wants me to enjoy what is important to him. I do not correct him to remind us both that I am Christian and do not want his blessing. How selfish is that? A clearly spoken “Merry Christmas to you” in return makes all happy that their personal beliefs are not only respected, but shared.
The Athens Patch is read by mostly open-minded folks who I presume feel the same as I. But I’ve been wrong before. Please set me straight if my views are contrary to your own. I promise to be nice. ‘Tis the Season.
North Georgia Weather
4:56 pm on Saturday, December 1, 2012
Good post.
Tammy Osier
7:17 pm on Saturday, December 1, 2012
Ditto for me- good post. Actually, in the public school, all of these traditions are discussed freely as a part of learning in social studies. As far as christmas trees, each school makes their own decisions based on their populations; some do, some don't. I've not ever heard of anyone complaining. Christmas, with the tree and Santa has become, in the public eye, more of an American tradition than anything. As a Christian, the secularization of it in the public square doesn't bother me a bit. What bothers me are those who are offended by any and everything and make a big stink for the sake of making a stink. I have a feeling they were those kids in school that were sour pusses about everything (always whining that nobody wanted to play with them). Not surprised that they grow into adults with the same attitude. lol
Racer X
7:55 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Tammy- Sour pusses would be the correct term if you add one more letter :-)
Tammy Osier
8:58 am on Sunday, December 2, 2012
I think what it is about is the mutual respect that you talked about in the paragraph about your Jewish friend. If it were the season all the time (in our hearts), we'd be greeting each other and shooting the breeze when we meet on the street. If everybody behaved this way all the time, we wouldn't even be having this discussion. :)
Meg Dure
11:19 am on Sunday, December 2, 2012
I know I can count on the Count to speak my peace for me. I couldn't have said it better myself. Merry Christmas to one and all.
Nancy Revnes
12:03 pm on Sunday, December 2, 2012
Great philosophy and well said Count!
Athens Mama
5:39 pm on Sunday, December 2, 2012
~ Well said ~ Merry Christmas.
Karsten Torch
10:50 am on Monday, December 3, 2012
Good post. And may I just say..."Dern skippy!"
Merry Christmas all!
Racer X
8:17 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Merry Christmas Count, well said.
I have a question for you though that troubles me. My daughter is in a Christmas play at her public elementary school. Her school also teaches about other ways the holidays are celebrated and does not differentiate that one is right or one is wrong. What would you recommend we tell the "Freedom from religion" folks in Madison, Wisconsin when they come knocking and want to shut down the Christmas play?
Given the fact that I would have no objection to a bunch of Muslim students putting on a play about any of their religious traditions, like Eid al Fitr, my inclination would be to run them out of town at the end of a pitchfork.
What say you?
Count Raoul
8:33 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Racer X.... The Freedom From Religion folks are just party poopers. Myself, I feel sorry for atheist who has no one to turn to in times of trouble. But that is their right. The FFR crowd just wants to make the rest of us crawl down to their level. This same group points out the flaws of our great leaders on President's Day and declares that the Founding Fathers were hypocritical slaveholders as they signed the Declaration of Independence. It makes you wonder who they do respect and uphold as worthy.
Anyway, they will not be allowed to bother this soul. If their voices are loud enough and they succeed in ruining a Christmas Pageant I will use it as a teaching moment in my home. The lesson: People with no God are jealous of those who do.
Racer X
8:46 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Again, well put. Thanks.
Patti Hodgson
9:37 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Could not agree more ! Merry Christmas Count
suzanne
10:04 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Why do we let these people do this to us?
Racer X
10:20 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
We don't have to. Do you own a pitchfork? :-)
OBY DUPREE
5:26 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Said well! Merry Christmas to you and to yours Count. AND I AM PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOURS TO FIND BELLA!!! YES< I PRAY!!!
Tammy Osier
7:51 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Racer X, if I did that I 'd be flagged lol