Let Your Bigot Flag Fly! (or: Merry Christmas!)

This is probably not the best time of the year for me to write (publicly). I tend to get a little cynical around the holidays. Rather, the cynicism of others starts to wear on me. My biggest annual irritant is those people who (in most un-Christian fashion) choose to get up on their soap boxes and bemoan all of the ‘foreigners’ demanding that they say “happy holidays” rather than “merry Christmas”. Really? When was the last time a so-called foreigner suggested you change any of your traditions? And where did you get the impression that anyone cares what you have to say, be it about a holiday or any other subject? If you are the type who chooses Christmas to vocalize your bigotry, against people who may or may not share your religious beliefs (I’d point out there are MANY Christian immigrants living in Canada, and many non-Christian immigrants who could care less what you celebrate let alone what you call it), chances are the only people who will ‘like’ your status or go merrily along with your assessment of political correctness run riot are other ignorant fools. The rest of us fall into the cringe-and-try-to-ignore-you group, or the deeply offended.

That these same people choose to celebrate Christ’s birth (which many Christians argue is not December 25th) through massive consumption strikes me as a wee bit sacriligious. I’m not sure what evergreen trees, presenting people with wish lists, massive spending, overconsumption of goodies, and waste have to do with your Saviour’s birth but hey- I’m not Christian. There, I said it. I’m not Christian. Whew. That’s a relief. And probably a surprise to many who know me as a third generation Irish, white girl. Quel surprise! A third generation Irish, white girl who every year makes a full turkey dinner for whomever I know will otherwise be alone at this time of the year that means something to them. Ironically, that strikes me as the more Christian thing to do than shopping and bigotry.

One last thing- let’s call it a reality check. I’m surprised with all of the news about Chief Theresa Spence’s hunger strike and the Idle No More protests taking place across this country that more people aren’t reminded that there were people here before our Christian European ancestors landed here and began to decimate the population. We had (I would argue have) no respect for Native spiritual beliefs and no attempt was made (on our part) to assimilate. We forced our religion, our way of life, language and self-entitlement on the Native peoples, taking their children, their land, and their rights (that hadn’t hitherto needed to be written as law). Hence the whole messy reconciliation process and lack of equality that persists to this day. So before we get up on our hind legs about our (imagined) persecution, let’s take a moment to reflect on what what allows us to be so self righteous.

I’m not suggesting that my Christian brethren shouldn’t vocalize their beliefs. Au contraire. At this magical time of the year, I would like to advance the concept of embracing your Christianity- specifically those tenets that involve kindness, humility, charity, and good will. If there are points to be had for saving souls (I think the argument goes, “better to act as if there are and find out there isn’t, than to…”) , let’s take a lesson from all of the companies out there so effectively marketing their products and services and make Christianity appealing and not just offensive. Go ahead and put the “Christ” back in “Christ-mass”. I double dog dare you.

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