So today I’m looking at Politically correct in general and as part of the fall out Christmas.  I am not looking at this in a religious sense.  I’m not a religious person, my friends say I’m very spiritual, but organized religion has done a number on me and the world in general (and I am not reserving this to one religion) and so I look at it as a tradition that has been held in this country for years and to me it means peace on earth, good will to all men, and women, protestants, Catholics, Jews, Gentiles, Moslems and Hindus, Buddhists and I could go on until my finger bled—rich  and poor, young an old…..and  so on and so on.

FIRST I want you to understand that I go out of my way not to offend.  When I make friends with someone who I know may have beliefs that might well differ from mine I asked them what does and doesn’t offend them.  I use to work with a Jewish nurse that did not look kindly on being wished happy holidays with Christian origins like Easter and Christmas.  When I found that out I made sure I never did.  On the other hand a girl I became friends with more recently I asked about dietary and other things as she was Jewish too.  She had no issues with my belief or being included in celebrations that while not her own were enjoyable events.   I have no objections to your beliefs…but like I said yesterday I don’t want to change them, nor do I want to be changed–right or wrong it’s taken many years of soul searching to get where I’m at and I don’t think you can reveal anything to me that’s going to make me change overnight.

So I hope that clarifies things.  I think what I’m saying is just because I’m in the majority (in the US) is that a reason why I must be censored?  First of all not even all Christians celebrate Christmas–the Jehovah Witnesses don’t and while the Seventh Day Adventist don’t discourage it,  the celebration isn’t part of their religious beliefs.   I use to work in an office where you weren’t suppose to use any Christmas reference yet they put up displays for other beliefs…..made you feel like you were a lesser class citizen–maybe that’s good once in awhile but I didn’t see the need to leave anybody out….ignoring makes resentful people and that’s what we need less of now.

As I’ve said I’m not religious–that doesn’t mean I’m an atheist—-when my husband died my grief councilor told me that I had a vast knowledge of beliefs, that I looked at it all and understood it, but I had never taken a leap of faith to decide what I really believed—which religion or if none then that I accepted that at death that was the end—-but that until I made a decision I could not reach the end of my grief.   Personally I think that we need to know more about each other’s religion–if we are to accept each other in this big, unforgiving world, then we need to understand what things influence our fellow travelers lives and deaths.  And they need to understand us. 

Now as to Christmas….To me its the best time ever….there’s drippy romances on the HALLMARK CHANNEL  http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/christmas

even one with Sam:  http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/a-princess-for-christmas

Its a time when I’m suppose to shop–even though I give the stuff to someone else its still great fun.

I get to decorate the house and I have to have the Halloween stuff down by Thanksgiving which makes my roommate happy.

BUT BEST OF ALL IT IS A TIME WHEN THE AVERAGE CITIZEN GOES OUT OF THEIR WAY TO BE KIND TO OTHERS AND GIVE TO CHARITY.  I’m notorious for picking up little things for my friends and others and it is only during Christmas that I don’t look out of place or are my motives questioned.

John Lennon: “Imagine there’s no countries. It isn’t hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for,…. Imagine all the people living life in peace. …”

BUT WHAT DO I KNOW I’M EXPERIENTALLY ENCHANCED (OLD)

So what am I saying,

First that I love the holiday as it’s named…..Christmas—let’s face it if you get down to it there’s a lot of protestant sects who had issues with a Mass a few years ago.  It is an official Holiday in this country so go with the name–its not a bad thing–nobody has to celebrate it…..do something else on your day off.

If you have issues with the holiday, accept the fact that it’s a day and that some people hold it sacred, while others like me think it’s a wonderful excuse for good will toward men and for love and good cheer excess.  You don’t need to believe but accept that others do and in respecting them you give  the right to believe differently from you and in turn they do the same for you.    I find this acceptance makes me a better person with an easier mind as I have accepted that not only do I not need to change the world, but that maybe there’s a lot that really doesn’t need to be changed

In turn I feel that you  should accept our respect and understanding for your holidays.  I have taken part in all manner of interesting celebrations and become (at least in my mind) a better person for it.  Maybe if we do this we can avoid the horrific violence done in the name of religion (and may I remind you Christians aren’t blameless in this blood shed in the name of beliefs.) because I fear that we may kill each other off before global warming does (sorry to disagree President Obama.)