Christmas Morning, 2010
Over the last few months, I have watched the inevitable build up to
this morning and the weeklong stagger that brings us to our New Year.
I keep finding it inferred that as a Non-Christian, I should be
offended by the thought of Christmas (or Hanukkah /Kwanza since I am
neither Jewish nor Black (but to a far lesser effect, for obvious
reasons)) and what it “stands for”. What actually makes me feel
offended is the extent that people who are Christian and people who
are not go to offend each other. It feels to me that people are getting hung up on the name of the
holiday than the spirit of the season. I understand that not everyone
feels obliged to explore their spiritual side, and while for some that
is a major component of the season, it is not the only aspect worth
exploring. Too often, I see confrontation over acceptance or at least
tolerance. Part of what makes America great is the fact that our
neighbors are different from us, and do things that we do not do.
Tolerating (perhaps even embracing) that difference makes us stronger
and able to deal with variety and change from any quarter. These are
things that can be carried with us throughout the year, not just a
day, week or month. Let us not practice exclusion, but inclusion. This also pertains to
including ourselves in our communities and neighborhoods. Share the
experiences of your neighbor, as they may see something we do not and
it may better help us understand ourselves. Your beliefs are your
own, but it does not give you license to force them on another human
being. Let us practice unity vice divisiveness. I may not be Christian, but
my neighbor is. Being wished Merry Christmas is not intended as a
curse or a slight, but a wish for peace and joy in my life. Many
folks do not see the world through the eye of others and have only
their own frame of reference. Being wished a Merry Christmas, Happy
Hanukkah or Joyous Yule is akin to an extended good morning and well
wishes for me and mine. Much like a Good Morning wish, it is polite
and just to return the wishes. Respecting each other is the basis of
a good relationship, even if the relationship only occurs at the
mailbox in the evening. Let us practice Compassion over Cruelty. Let us stop the
confrontations over the holiday, and expand our efforts to understand
and care for one another. Whether someone believes there is no God,
many Gods, or one God, they are still a person. They do not care to
be ridiculed for their beliefs or traditions. Embracing and
celebrating our neighbor and the differences between us is more
sensible and caring than widening the rift and being hateful. This season for many is about hope, joy and caring for one another.
We should plant the seeds of the concepts that pour forth at this time
an nurse them though the rest of the year. Treating others as we
would like to be treated is the start of building a great society in
which all are respected and nourished by the care of their fellows.
It’s not easy to do this and we often fail, but by persevering we can
make our world a better place.
this morning and the weeklong stagger that brings us to our New Year.
I keep finding it inferred that as a Non-Christian, I should be
offended by the thought of Christmas (or Hanukkah /Kwanza since I am
neither Jewish nor Black (but to a far lesser effect, for obvious
reasons)) and what it “stands for”. What actually makes me feel
offended is the extent that people who are Christian and people who
are not go to offend each other. It feels to me that people are getting hung up on the name of the
holiday than the spirit of the season. I understand that not everyone
feels obliged to explore their spiritual side, and while for some that
is a major component of the season, it is not the only aspect worth
exploring. Too often, I see confrontation over acceptance or at least
tolerance. Part of what makes America great is the fact that our
neighbors are different from us, and do things that we do not do.
Tolerating (perhaps even embracing) that difference makes us stronger
and able to deal with variety and change from any quarter. These are
things that can be carried with us throughout the year, not just a
day, week or month. Let us not practice exclusion, but inclusion. This also pertains to
including ourselves in our communities and neighborhoods. Share the
experiences of your neighbor, as they may see something we do not and
it may better help us understand ourselves. Your beliefs are your
own, but it does not give you license to force them on another human
being. Let us practice unity vice divisiveness. I may not be Christian, but
my neighbor is. Being wished Merry Christmas is not intended as a
curse or a slight, but a wish for peace and joy in my life. Many
folks do not see the world through the eye of others and have only
their own frame of reference. Being wished a Merry Christmas, Happy
Hanukkah or Joyous Yule is akin to an extended good morning and well
wishes for me and mine. Much like a Good Morning wish, it is polite
and just to return the wishes. Respecting each other is the basis of
a good relationship, even if the relationship only occurs at the
mailbox in the evening. Let us practice Compassion over Cruelty. Let us stop the
confrontations over the holiday, and expand our efforts to understand
and care for one another. Whether someone believes there is no God,
many Gods, or one God, they are still a person. They do not care to
be ridiculed for their beliefs or traditions. Embracing and
celebrating our neighbor and the differences between us is more
sensible and caring than widening the rift and being hateful. This season for many is about hope, joy and caring for one another.
We should plant the seeds of the concepts that pour forth at this time
an nurse them though the rest of the year. Treating others as we
would like to be treated is the start of building a great society in
which all are respected and nourished by the care of their fellows.
It’s not easy to do this and we often fail, but by persevering we can
make our world a better place.
