exclusion – The View from a Drawbridge

Why I Say Happy Holidays

I like chestnuts at this time of year, but this particular chestnut is getting old. I’m referring to the annual debate about whether to say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. Here’s why I think the answer is clear.

When I say Happy Holidays, I am wishing you a Merry Christmas. I’m also wishing your neighbor a Happy Chanukah, a Good Festivus, a Lovely Winter Solstice, a Happy Kwanzaa, a Joyful Yule, etc. I do this because I love all my diverse friends, every single one, and I want them all to be happy. I wish them all well. Is that really so terrible?

By saying Happy Holidays, I’m not disparaging your beliefs or the holiday you choose to celebrate. I’m not saying Christmas is evil or your religion needs to be abolished. If anything, I think Jesus would be all about spreading the love and including as many people in that love as possible. By saying Happy Holidays, I’m showing my dedication to peace on earth, good will toward Men. All of them. Every last one.

I genuinely believe that the majority of people who say Merry Christmas don’t mean any harm. I think their wishes come from a good place and are sincere. Well wishes from an open heart are always welcome by me. In fact, when someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, that’s the only time I’m perfectly comfortable responding in kind. Because their stance is already established. We are fellow celebrants, so there’s no risk of discomfiture or offense. So, Merry Christmas to you, too!

On the other hand, by insisting everyone say Merry Christmas, you are sending a very different message. You’re saying, “If you’re not Christian, that’s your problem. I don’t have to take you into consideration. My holiday is the only right holiday. You are wrong for not complying.” You are also assuming that every person does, or should, think and behave exactly like you. You are taking the entire month of December hostage, and making it awkward for anyone else to celebrate anything else. You are excluding people.

Why wouldn’t you want to open your arms and your heart wider? Wasn’t that Jesus’ central message, after all? You are turning this into a debate that’s so contrary to the holiday spirit that it makes me want to spit out my egg nog, throw up my hands and forget the whole thing.

So, um… Happy Holidays.

peace

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Inclusion

Yet another reason to love Seattle. I just read in this article that they’ve unveiled several rainbow crosswalks in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, and they will last long after this year’s Pride festivities are over and done with. And then the Supreme Court ruled that same sex marriage is legal nationwide. That’s the best thing to come out of the Supreme Court in many years.

Whether you approve of homosexuality or not (And frankly, you approval isn’t asked for or required. It would be like asking if you approve of someone’s eye color.), these developments are good for everyone. Here’s why:

Anyone who has survived past 6^th grade knows what it’s like to be excluded, isolated, treated like you are an outsider. Everyone has experienced that pain. Because of this, I will never understand people whose moral or political policy is one of exclusion.

We don’t have to agree with people to accept them for who they are. They should not need some sort of inspection stamp to allow them to be included in the human race, with all the rights and privileges thereof. Forcing anyone into the realm of pain and isolation lacerates the very fabric of society.

As long as someone isn’t doing you any physical harm, why would you want to perpetuate negative energy? Why not allow everyone to feel welcome, included, and even embraced by the communities of which they are a vital part? How hard is that? There can never be too much love in the world.

If you hate certain groups, or feel they should be treated less decently than others, you may want to take a long, hard look at yourself and consider what pollution you are putting out in the world. Because the funny thing about pollution is that it doesn’t discriminate. Sooner or later it affects us all.

[Image credit: capitolhillseattle.com]