After receiving an email forward of a report that rated major retailers in America based on how they addressed Christmas in their stores and advertisements, I pretty much got pissed off.
Old Navy, for instance, was on this report's BAD list, as one of the stores that "censors Christmas" because it lists its sales as "Holiday Sales" and has a "Holiday Gift-Giving Guide".
I'm sorry, WHAT? American stores should alienate everyone in the country who doesn't celebrate a particular holiday? Am I wrong, or was this country not first settled by people in search of religious freedom? And now we're all supposed to be Christian, or go stick our heads in the sand during the entire month of December? GRRRR...
I whole-heartedly love Christmas. I have no problem with business putting up trees or mentioning Christmas. It's kind of why most people are at the mall in the first place. BUT some people are there Hanukkah shopping. Or getting food for a Kwanzaa or Divali celebration. We should punish retailers for opening their doors to these people? What, they don't get to shop too?
(I have a feeling that these are the same people who think we shouldn't allow any more immigrants into the country, legal or otherwise, forgetting that most likely somebody let their ancestors in!)
I guess I'm a bad evangelist. I really, really object to the idea that I'm supposed to make sure everybody knows I'm right and they're wrong and they'd better hurry up and be whatever religion I am. Live & let live. I'd be pissy if somebody tried to push "Hanukkah Only" sales on retailers. And I hate the policitcally correct, sensitized version of school programs and curriculums that completely pretend there isn't a major holiday in many major religions this time of year. If we don't teach this stuff, we're just widening the cultural gap. It's big enough. So the second I could, I put Hanukkah, Christmas, and yes, even Kwanzaa into my winter concert. (Kwanzaa is nice, and I do teach it, but let's face it, it's a very newly created holiday that doesn't carry near the weight of the other big two...plus I have to first cover Ramadan and Divali. I'm a busy girl here. Plus, NONE of the students at my school celebrate it. African-American or not. And I have dozens of Muslim and Indian kids. Gotta teach to your own population, I say.)
I should really add that the main reason I was filled with the pissy spirit upon receiving this forward (any many like it, I might add) is that the sender just assumed that I felt the same way as she, that I would actually read and follow the report's guidelines, and that I actually think that we should pretend that everybody whole-heartedly celebrates Christmas as the birthday of Jesus. They don't. Yes, I'm sure the majority of the country celebrates Christmas. But I don't think they should HAVE to, nor should they be given the cold shoulder by retailers in their native country, because they happen to celebrate other things. So I am going to continue to shop at Old Navy, Lane Bryant, and Lowe's, and perhaps go to them first because they at least acknowledge the fact that not everybody in the country is a dear little W. A. S. P. (Said the W. A. S. P.!)
On a more festive note, I'm celebrating big-time this year. I think I'm more excited about Christmas this year than I've been since I was a kid. One reason, I'm sure, is because I actually have a kid, and although she doesn't have a clue about the whole Santa thing yet, we do, and we're psyched that Santa's coming to our house again. But another reason I'm totally embracing Christmas and all its little traditions is that last year I really didn't get one. Up all night with a newborn, nursing had failed, and the baby blues hormones were raging. I barely noticed what day it was. I don't remember much of it, except the part about my kid having major gas and having to be on soy formula for tummy troubles. Soy formula stinks to high heaven, btw. I was not in the spirit. And now life is busy and crazy, but pretty darn sweet. SO Merry Christmas. I will be baking cookies and singing carols from here on out. And "Christmas on Sesame Street" is currently in the VCR. (Yes, I'm watching it while my kid's in bed. Deal with it. I love Big Bird.)
So, in conclusion: Do I think everybody should have to bow down and surrender to the Christmas tree? Hell no. Free country. But as for me, I go downstairs just to smell it sometimes. I'm looking forward to Christmas - and winter break - like crazy.
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