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By Nancy Virden c2011
Reality check: This is a holiday season for most of us. The all-inclusive “Happy Holidays” is not a direct hit on Christmas or on Christ for that matter. Rather, it may be the ideal God had in mind from the beginning.
MERRY HOLIDAYMAS?
“Christmas is not even celebrated by Christians the same day of the year around the world”, Alex mused as he sipped his coffee. “So why do people around here get so fanatic about it? As if they own December!”
“This is America”, came the reply. “If people don’t like when we celebrate Christmas, they can live somewhere else.” Alex’ co-worker, Mike, was adamant.
“This IS America.” Alex continued, “We’ve built a nation on freedom of religion, yet somehow Christians seem to have an agenda of their own. Maybe I don’t want a nativity on the City Hall lawn.”
“The nativity is what Christmas is all about. If we take it down, what else is there? Santa Claus?”
Alex paused. It was difficult enough to be a Muslim convert in America, he wasn’t sure he relished opening up the topic with Mike. His stand on Christmas made perfect sense to him, why couldn’t Christians understand? He decided to try and make his point.
“November and December is a holiday season for many Americans beside Christians. There is Hanukkah for Jewish worshipers, of course. Bahai, Shinto, Sikh, Buddhist, and even secular special days are celebrated this time of year. Kwanzaa’s focus is on African-American unity and strong families. Even we Muslims have our New Year and Ashura, a Holy Day for us”.
A long pause followed.
“You’re Muslim?” Mike asked incredulously.
“Yes, I’m Muslim. And as such, I don’t want my government exalting one religion above another. It is done that way in other countries and citizens are persecuted because of it.”
“Ok, but this is Christmas time”, Mike insisted.
“December 25 is Christmas here in the West. No one is suggesting we cancel your celebration. But why are Christians in an uproar about ‘Merry Christmas’ and refusing to say ‘Happy Holidays’ to the rest of us? It shuts down communication. And from what I know of your Jesus”, Alex said cautiously. “He wasn’t about pushy- He was about love. I would be more interested in a Christian’s words if he or she actually lived how Jesus said to live.”
Mike was silent as he walked away remembering his morning stop at the convenience store. “I have spent more energy pushing ‘Merry Christmas’ on store clerks than I have saying anything encouraging to them the rest of the year”, he admitted to himself. “And I almost drove a wedge between Alex and me.”
What of it? Are “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” expressions of agendas? Does it matter what you or others say this time of year?
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