Editorial by Jessica Marie Baumgartner |
Happy Holidays!
There is nothing more American than openly celebrating our faiths.
I grew up around all types of people. My family didn’t have a lot of money when I was a kid. I was raised in apartment life, where (legal) immigrants and different cultures lived side by side, in peace, most of the time.
I never realized how special that was until people began feuding over simple phrases like “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays.” When you’re struggling, it doesn’t matter how someone wishes you well – all that matters is that they do.
Before I started school, my first best friend was a Chinese girl. Her parents barely spoke English, but they loved being in America so much that they encouraged their daughter to celebrate Christmas.
A few years later, my family lived next door to a Jewish couple. Chuck and Sylvia loved to sit on the porch and joke around with my mom. Sylvia admired my love of animals, and Chuck liked tickling me until I couldn’t breathe.
At Christmas, they complimented our Christmas lights and didn’t balk when my dad said, “Merry Christmas.” My mom told them, “Happy Hanukkah” to be respectful, and we went on living our lives without having speeches about ethics or fights over words. It was truly a different time.
In Middle School, I was best friends with a Muslim girl whose parents were kind and loving. When she fasted during Ramadan, I didn’t feel bad for her. She seemed happy to celebrate her faith her way.
But during Christmastime, I did ask her if I could get her a gift. “It’s not a Christmas present,” I said. “I just want to get you something because you’re my friend. It’s a friendship gift.”
She happily accepted it, and no one argued over what we should believe or how we should speak.
During my senior year of high school, I looked out for an Israeli freshman during choir class. She was shy and sweet and ate Ramen noodles dry, right out of the package. She played Israeli boy band music for me, and we laughed about how similar people are no matter where they come from.
About 20 years ago, I worked as a veterinary assistant for a big Russian Jew. That’s what he called himself. He was happy and proud–sometimes annoying, but the families of our patients were grateful to him and the entire staff for our work. Each year we received gifts and plenty of blessings for a “Merry Christmas.”
My boss, being Jewish, celebrated Hanukkah and sometimes spoke Yiddish at work. He called me “mashugana,” and didn’t like anyone being on their “tuchus” for too long. But around the holiday season, he didn’t get upset with people for sharing their religious blessings. Instead, he welcomed them and understood that “Merry Christmas” is just one way of sending well-wishes around December. One year, we even decorated a Hannukah Tree in blue and silver garland to place the gifts under.
Only in America could I have enjoyed these experiences. All throughout my life, I have been surrounded by people who understand the beauty of Religious Freedom. They heralded Freedom OF Religion, instead of pandering for Freedom from Religion.
I don’t know how things got so muddled. Some will blame Atheists or Pagans, and there do come some boundaries between different faiths or the absence of faith, but even though I do not consider myself a Christian, I love and appreciate Christians who truly live their out their beliefs.
What’s concerning to me is that I’ve heard people make fun of devout Christians who celebrate Christmas by sharing a birthday cake for Jesus. I’ve heard a lot of people demeaning the church and even claiming that only “stupid” people believe in any form of God.
Even Vice President Kamala Harris recently came under fire for publicly decrying saying “Merry Christmas” when she was a senator in December of 2017, per Fox News. Why did she do this? Politics, of course – because she was in favor of passing the Dream Act which would give some illegal immigrants who unlawfully entered the United States as children citizenship.
What politicians like Harris and those who attack religious customs forget is that this nation was built on faith and our right to exercise that faith openly. While it was Christian Puritans who founded the United States, it was also the work of people of various belief systems who built it up and made it thrive. From Hindus to Christians and even Pagans (like me – yes, a conservative Pagan), this country could not be what it is without the collaboration of faith.
“Diversity” has become a bad word in recent years due to disingenuous corporate campaigns designed to institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into their byline. Our great melting pot has been tipped by extremists who seek to silence religious people instead of celebrating their right to pray, chant, and meditate freely.
It is these extremists who pit us against each other for political gain, and we cannot fall for their divisive tactics this holiday season. I don’t want everyone to say “Happy Holidays,” I want everyone to be free to wish others well however they choose.
There’s no reason to get mad if someone says, “Merry Christmas,” just as no America First supporter should take the bait and go all-cancel-culture-attack on people who say “Happy Holidays.” These phrases are so similar, and they’re basically meant to mean the same thing.
Every day, we get to unwrap the most beautiful gifts ever given: Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Speech. They are meant to be shared and celebrated. They are what truly give us real-honest-loving diversity.
Diversity of thought, diversity of expression, and the diversity of a life rich with possibilities surrounds us. We should smile and enjoy these with all the trimmings. Polish those rights and dress them up for all to see.
We are a better people when we celebrate our freedoms together. We have a brighter season when we appreciate our heritage and focus on what matters most.
Merry Christmas!
Photo: Adobe Stock
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