A few days ago, I happened upon an article that raised my blood pressure so much I felt like I'd aged 60 years and eaten my weight in doughnuts 18 times. This article was written by a woman in South Carolina. It is called Liberals Killed Christmas. I'm here to give the two cents of a little Jewish girl growing up in a country with a national religion that wasn't hers.
Hello, disgruntled, white Anglo-Saxon American. You do realize that the world is in despair (Aleppo, Genocides, mass rape, rape culture, police brutality, the looming Trump presidency, mass shootings, cancer, etc.) and you're writing about how it pisses you off when people kindly tell you to have a wonderful December? Let's step out of that pretty little snow globe you've grown up as a special snowflake in, and take a look at the perspective of people who are different than you. That's how you learn, and it seems that you think your religion is more important than any other one.
So let me teach you something about growing up Jewish in this country. Unless it fell during your so-called "Christmas break," I had to go to class every day of Hanukkah. Can you even imagine for a moment being forced to go to school on Christmas or Christmas Eve? Not to mention never being off for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Purim, Passover, etc. I'd be really shocked if you knew what two-thirds of those holidays are. I know about Christian holidays, because they've become "normal." I sat through class periods reading about Christmas, making poinsettias, coloring Christmas trees, decorating Santas, and pretending that Santa was real, so I wouldn't ruin the magic. I learned what Easter was, went on Easter egg hunts, sat on the Easter bunny's lap and ate sugar-filled Peeps. Oh, and don't forget going home crying because everyone blamed me for the death of Jesus. I walked around Ash Wednesday every year wondering why I was the only one without a black symbol on her forehead.
Don't try to tell me that Americans have chosen this religion. Choice involves consent and, historically, people who weren't Christian were killed or converted—not really much of a choice. And that's just in Europe. You do realize Christians came to America and essentially had a genocide of Natives. Don't try to tell me that Americans have chosen this religion. It has been forced on them.
We say, "under God" in The Pledge of Allegiance. In court, people swear on the Bible. You get not only your High Holidays off, but a week or more dedicated to it. And the most privileged of all, you can walk around with a cross on your neck without fear of discrimination or hate speech.
I will never be offended if someone wishes me a "Merry Christmas." They're literally just wishing me a happy holiday with my family. No, I don't believe in Christmas, but the sentiment behind people's words are kind. What offends me is you suggesting that your religion matters more than anyone else's. That's not what America is about. "Land of the free, home of the brave," "Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," "Give me freedom or give me death." It's about equality. And from what I've learned in school, and from American socialization, it doesn't seem very Christian either. Kindness, love, compassion, tolerance, and understanding seems to be what Christianity is about. You seem about as tolerant as Tomi Lahren. I hope you have a Merry Christmas with your family, and I wish you all love, good health and happiness. Someday, maybe you'll be able to do the same for someone who isn't a Christian.
So, Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Kwanzaa. Happy Holidays. Happy December. I believe we should all get to enjoy the festivities of winter: the hot cocoa, the candy canes, the cookies, the peace, the joy and love despite who we do or do not pray to.
