Christmas, being politically correct and where are we going?

[golfgal]

I totally agree with this! When my DS went to school in NJ they had great holiday parties, at Christmas they would make decorations for Christmas, Hanukka, and Kwanza. They had a Holiday Party and the kids loved it, what is the big deal.

In his new school in SC - they don't have any decorations in the class, they are having a Holiday Party, but not like they did in NJ. At one point they couldn't call Santa "Santa" - he was the "Man in the Red Suit" - his name is Santa!

They are only allowed 2 parties a year, Holiday, and End of Year.

Our kids went to a Catholic elementary school so obviously they had Christmas parties, etc. but they also had Hanukkah parties, talked about Kwanzaa and pretty much everything else. I am pretty sure none of the kids have any mental issues from being exposed to different religions.

 

[Pigeon]

I heard that 70% of the US is Christian. But, we allow the other 30% to dictate what will and will not be celebrated.

In our county schools, saying "Merry Christmas" is almost like swearing. Yet, every December, my kids come home singing the Dreidel song and telling me what the different colors mean in Kwanza. Then they gloss over Christmas. Very frustrating.

The area that I'm in is very PC. In fact, Arlington County, which is very diverse and right next to Washington, does not celebrate or discuss any type of religious celebration. They do a "Winter Theme" and leave it at that.

I just find it very frustrating and disheartening that Christmas is not allowed to be mentioned in our public schools without a furor of some sort.

Merry Christmas!

That's just hilarious. Oh, the poor oppressed majority.

 

[vgrandy]

Christianity, the last acceptable form of discrimination in the US--\.

You have got to be kidding!! There are actually laws that protect religious freedoms. Try being a part of an actual repressed group. I can probably think of half a dozen groups that can be legally discriminated against and none have anything to do with religion. (though religion is often used as a reason to discriminate against others, go figure.)

 

[Shoshana]

Wow! It's a good thing I don't live where some of you all live

We're Jewish.

My dd attends public kindergarten. I could've papered our bathroom with all of the colored Christmas worksheets she's brought home this season. Of course, I might have saved the ONE dreidel picture for a frame Tomorrow is the holiday concert at the school. I cannot wait to hear the selection of songs!

I'm far more concerned with the fact that the children are watching non-educational videos instead of playing in the gym when it's too cold for outside recess.

I find it to be stunning that SOME folks are offended at Happy Holidays! When did inclusivity and tolerance ever hurt -- seems like it's generating the exact opposite of what it intends -- a stinginess of spirit and a sense that the majority is being attacked.

When I know the person is Christian, I say, Merry Christmas. When I don't know the person's religion, I say Happy Holidays. When a Christian who knows me says "Merry Christmas", I just smile and say thank you with no irritation (what would be the point?), but when Christians say to me "Happy Hanukkah" or "Happy Holidays", the smile on my face extends deeper inside of me.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I'm putting my flame suit on:

I don't get this nonsense about not being able to say Merry Christmas. Personally, I believe that December is a very special, spiritual month for various religions and each group of people should be allowed to celebrate their respective holiday. Saying "Merry Christmas" to a Jewish person in the store isn't going to kill them, just how saying "Happy Hanuka" won't kill a Christian person. AND if it does offend them, then they need to simply get over it and stop over reacting. How can you find offense in well wishes, even if they aren't from someone who practices your specific holiday??

Well, I'm NOT bothering with a flame suit, but other than that I agree with you 100%!

I would like to point out for anyone who doesn't know - and this applies especially to the family cited in the original post who are the reason the book exchange was cancelled - that Hannukah is a MINOR holiday in Judaism. It just coincidentally happens to (usually) fall during the same month as Christmas - although it's been around a lot longer than 2,000 years.

MINOR.

Christians in this country don't, to the best of my knowledge, object to other religions honoring or acknowledging their respective religious holidays. Yeah, it's possible to carry PC too far. This is a perfect example.

My specific issue with this holiday season, though, is retail establishments that don't honor the dates of the various holidays. Example: doesn't matter when Hannukah starts or ends; merchandise will get marked down the day after Christmas along with all the Christmas items. Complete lack of respect and it doesn't matter how much "someone who shall remain nameless" argues with retail management - but I have the same objection whether the holiday ends December 6, or 18, or 25, or January 6.

 

[SnowWhite607]

I am a teacher in a Christian school and I got in trouble the other day for mentioning Santa in my room. Reverse discrimination??

I totally teach Christmas as a religious holiday but one kid asked if I believed in Santa and I said "Yes, do you??" Some little girl went home and told her mama (they are WAY religious and dont do Santa) and the mama called the principal. Um, I have 14 other kids in my class who DO believe in Santa. Why should I ask them to stop talking about something because of one person's beliefs? I didnt ask her to believe in Santa or not, thats her choice. But when you are the minority, dont expect everyone to comform to you. Perhaps you should do some conforming of your own.

IMO, its silly to send your kid to kindergarten and think that she would NOT hear about Santa.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Could we extend removing forced celebrations from the workplace too? I agree that religious based holiday celebrations are best left at home. Even if your celebration of a certain season is not religious based, it really should be left home.

We incorporate far too much of the personal into our academic and professional work lives and that is where the problems flourish. Remove it all and relegate it to the personal (i.e. outside of the school or workplace) and the problems should be reduced.

Learning about other cultures should be conducted in the classroom, however learning about doesn't always include forced participation in celebrations of a given culture.

What a sterile world you want. I'd hate that.

I've lived in several areas where I was not in the majority. I am so happy that I was able to experience the lifestyles, religious celebrations, and holidays. They are what make a culture.

Wish me what you like, and I will smile back and I will wish you all good in your life too.

 

[goofy4tink]

This country was founded on freedom of religious beliefs. Basically, it was a Christian belief. It's incredibly sad that we now have to stop and think before wishing someone 'Merry Christmas' in order to not offend anyone. I sometimes wonder how my Jewish friends felt, years ago, when someone wished them a 'Merry Christmas' without thinking since it wasn't an insult to do so.
I remember when my dd was in kindergarten...about 10 yrs ago. The librarian was reading a story with Santa in it...not a religious story at all, purely Santa based. Well, one little girl stood up, informed the librarian that she was Jewish and didn't have to listen to that story, and turned her chair around with her back to the teacher and the class!!! Incredibly, two days later, this girl's mother arrived in the library to read a story about Hannukah...no one was rude enough to turn their seats on her!! All those Christian children sat there and politely listened to the story.
I truly think that it's time to include all religions in our school lessons from elementary school on. Perhaps there would be less dissention that way. If we all learned about each other's beliefs maybe we wouldn't have the strife we have today.

 

[golfgal]

You have got to be kidding!! There are actually laws that protect religious freedoms. Try being a part of an actual repressed group. I can probably think of half a dozen groups that can be legally discriminated against and none have anything to do with religion. (though religion is often used as a reason to discriminate against others, go figure.)

Which is exactly my point-there are laws to protect freedom of religion but kids are being suspended for drawing a picture of a cross or mentioning Christmas in school--how is this not discrimination? These kids would NEVER have ANYTHING done to them if they had drawn a menorah or Budda because you wouldn't want to seem politically incorrect and actually say something against a "minor" religion now would you. The country is bending over backwards to accommodate the feelings of these so called "repressed" religions at the total expense of Christianity.

 

[luvmy3]

At my kids school they don't celebrate Christmas, they have winter parties and a winter concert. The Nativity story of Christmas is not taught in school, and the origin of Santa isn't either. I am the room mom for 2 classes this year and am in charge of activities and crafts, I am not allowed to get anything Christmas themed. I would have no problems with any of this if it weren't for the fact that my children come home with their Hannukah coloring sheets and tell me all about what they learned about that Holiday. And then of course there was the Kwanzw project my ds did last year.
I am as far from religious as one can get, Christmas in my house is purely a secular holiday but it infuriates me that the origins of Christmas can't be taught for fear of offending, or going against seperation of church & state, yet there is no such rule for the other December Holidays. If you are going to do it for one, do it for all.

On a side note I just saw on Fox that doctor's are blaming obesity on Santa

 

[treehugnmama]

my dd 5 goes to a chatholic school (canada) and has been celebrating Christmas all month. Today they are wearing PJs and watchign a CHRISTMAS movie!! Tomorrow is the CHRISTMAS party and they are wearing red and green.

 

[wdwfan16]

If the one family did not want to participate then they could have just had the kid got to the libarary or the officer while the 1 hour exchange was happening. A book exchange is a great idea and they should be encouraged.

 

[wdwfan16]

I think when I was in elementary school we did it right. A class parent came in and told the story of Hanukkah and we also did things in the class for Christmas. In music we sang Dreidel, Dreidel and also Silent Night, Jingle Bells, etc.. No one was offended and we enjoyed all of the different holiday things we got to do.

BTW, I'm Jewish and have no idea why a book exchange would be an issue, it wouldn't be for us and wouldn't be for anyone I know. Quite the opposite, we believe strongly in education and reading and would encourage a book exchange.

ITA

We did the same thing. I surprised DH when I knew the Dreidel song and I told him I played with one in school.

 

[golfgal]

If the one family did not want to participate then they could have just had the kid got to the libarary or the officer while the 1 hour exchange was happening. A book exchange is a great idea and they should be encouraged.

Exactly--and correct me if I am wrong but isn't it Hanukkah right now and isn't it traditional to exchange gifts for Hanukkah??? Or maybe they were offended that the school was encouraging reading

 

[Acklander]

I heard that 70% of the US is Christian. But, we allow the other 30% to dictate what will and will not be celebrated.

In our county schools, saying "Merry Christmas" is almost like swearing. Yet, every December, my kids come home singing the Dreidel song and telling me what the different colors mean in Kwanza. Then they gloss over Christmas. Very frustrating.

The area that I'm in is very PC. In fact, Arlington County, which is very diverse and right next to Washington, does not celebrate or discuss any type of religious celebration. They do a "Winter Theme" and leave it at that.

I just find it very frustrating and disheartening that Christmas is not allowed to be mentioned in our public schools without a furor of some sort.

Merry Christmas!

The other 30% aren't dictating what can and can not be celebrated. Our constitution dictates what can and cannot be celebrated with our tax dollars in the school. YOU are allowed to celebrate what ever you want.

 

[Acklander]

If the one family did not want to participate then they could have just had the kid got to the libarary or the officer while the 1 hour exchange was happening. A book exchange is a great idea and they should be encouraged.

But why should the child be singled out to go to the library or the office? Is the need to exchange a book so important to you that you would want another child to be singled out and made to feel uncomfortable? My child gets plenty of gifts and celebration of the holidays, that the lack of a book exchange in not going to make one bit of difference in his life. But if he was singled out to go to the office while everyone else had a party to celebrate something he wasn't included in - that would be pretty traumatic.

 

[OceanAnnie]

At our kid's school, they learn about Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc. but exclude Christmas. I'm all for learning about different cultures, but what happened to Christmas?

 

[Mickey's Minion]

BTW, I'm Jewish and have no idea why a book exchange would be an issue, it wouldn't be for us and wouldn't be for anyone I know. Quite the opposite, we believe strongly in education and reading and would encourage a book exchange.

I agree. There has to be way more to a story that is coming third hand from a 5 year old's mother than just a Jewish family asking for a book exchange to be canceled.

 

[wdwfan16]

But why should the child be singled out to go to the library or the office? Is the need to exchange a book so important to you that you would want another child to be singled out and made to feel uncomfortable? My child gets plenty of gifts and celebration of the holidays, that the lack of a book exchange in not going to make one bit of difference in his life. But if he was singled out to go to the office while everyone else had a party to celebrate something he wasn't included in - that would be pretty traumatic.

Why should a single child be allowed to dictate what the other 20+ kids can and cannot do? The kid is only going to be singled out IF the parents want them to be. The kid could be sick that day or the parents could pick them up and go to lunch etc if they want. Sorry the rights of the one child is not being hurt by the "book exchange" They are not being forced to worship a different God. The Constitution gives us the freedom of religion.

 

[luvmy3]

But why should the child be singled out to go to the library or the office? Is the need to exchange a book so important to you that you would want another child to be singled out and made to feel uncomfortable? My child gets plenty of gifts and celebration of the holidays, that the lack of a book exchange in not going to make one bit of difference in his life. But if he was singled out to go to the office while everyone else had a party to celebrate something he wasn't included in - that would be pretty traumatic.

Why is this anyone elses responsibility but the parent, they are the ones making sure this chikd is singled out, blame them.