I’m serving on my department’s Morale Committee for the next year, part of a group responsible for organizing events and opportunities for coworkers to socialize in an environment devoid of work-related stress. With the Holidays we’ve been tasked with setting up luncheons, charity events, and whatnot. December’s multitude of events have proven especially challenging due to the importance so many people place on these holidays and, for many, their sacred nature.
A big one was to rename our yearly “Chinese Gift Exchange” to something more politically correct since we had a new Chinese-American employee who was wondering what made it “Chinese.” If you’re scratching your head at this one, think of what a “Chinese Fire Drill” constitutes. They don’t have “Chinese Gift Exchanges” in China.
So that one was easy. Change it to “Holiday Gift Exchange.” Ta-da!
The other big issue was maintaining a secular nature to the festivities. “Christmas Pot Luck” became “Holiday Pot Luck” when one committee member pointed out that she was Jewish. How to decorate the office tree became an issue for debate because stars and angels were too religious in nature, but non-religious ideas, such as placing a photograph of the department at the top of the tree, were considered offensive to our Christian coworkers.
The debate was actually a fun one. No one was taking things too seriously, but we all maintained respect for the many differing perspectives on how to proceed. I appreciated all of these concerns and made my own suggestion for a tree-topper, one secular in nature and expressing a sentiment I felt all could agree with. The committee went with my idea.
No big deal right?
I’ve come to learn that these pragmatic issues of being sensitive to cultural diversity and supporting pluralism are being framed as “Culture Wars” in certain right-leaning circles. Bill O’Reilly has taken a position that there is an actual secular conspiracy against Christianity. Fox News’ John Gibson has even written a book “The War on Christmas” to enflame Christian fundamentalists and polarize Americans into debate over what should be a season of unification, appreciating our different religious beliefs, and celebrating our universal belief in goodwill to our fellow humans.
Bringing “Culture Wars” and “War on Christmas” memes into the Holidays are a rhetorical device meant to bring Christmas, Christianity’s holiday, to the forefront of the various celebrations. But this time of year is not just for Christmas, the holidays include Hanukah, Kwanzaa, the Yule, Winter Solstice, Thanksgiving, and sometimes even Ramadan and Diwali, which encompass an equally diverse number of religions and cultural backgrounds. When a pundit charges “War on Christmas,” they are rejecting the ideals of the enlightenment and belief in pluralism on which America was founded.
That’s why I love “Happy Holidays!” It’s inclusive, sensitive to everyone. At the same time, I’m not offended when people wish me “Merry Christmas,” but I wonder if the people who voice this sentiment would be okay with being wished a “Happy Hanukah?”
For the tree-topper in our office, we went with my idea of an Earth with a banner that read “Peace on Earth,” a sentiment I hope we all share.
Merry Christmas to the Christians.
Happy Hanukah to the Jews.
A Pleasant Ramadan for the Muslims (when it coincides with December).
A Festive Diwali for Indians (when it coincides with December).
Great Kwanzaa to African Americans.
Many Yuletides for the Pagans.
A Reverent Winter Solstice for the Secular Humanists.
A merry, happy, joyful, extended vacation for everyone else.
…and Happy Holidays to all!!!