Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer

One of my favorite holidays is here: Christmas. While I know not all of you celebrate the holiday, it really is everywhere these days, and other religions have similar celebrations that highlight peace and goodwill in its many forms. Whether it’s reflection and forgiveness as emphasized during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, or the sense of a new start and the promise of possibilities, as Tet, New Year’s, and a host of other holidays and festivals promote, Christmas, in its fundamental roots, is about our spiritual self and our humanity.

Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of year

The commercialism is just a layer that was added not all that long ago. As this interesting piece by historian John Steele Gordon outlines, the origins of our modern-day Christmas emerged in New York City, in the days of Nieuw Amsterdam. The Dutch children who eagerly awaited Sinterklaes influenced their non-Dutch playmates, and aided by merchants from A.T. Stewart to Macy’s to Gimbel’s to today’s Wal-Mart, Christmas flourished from its religious roots as the Christ Mass to a largely secular holiday filled with red-nosed reindeer, magical snowmen, and children up way past their bedtime.

Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere

One of the things I really miss at Christmastime is snow. Here in Southern California, we’re not that far from the mountains and the promise of snow, but it’s not the same as looking out the window or walking out the door and seeing and feeling that crisp, crunchy, fresh-fallen blanket of white. I’m the kind of person that likes snow from, say, about a week before Thanksgiving until January 2nd. Then I’m ready for something else. Roll on, Spring! Those of you in the Midwest, who have been suffering through storms lately, may share that sentiment. Others may be wondering if you’ll be getting any snow at all. But regardless of where you are, snow is part and parcel of that wholesome, old-time Christmas image, whether cinematic, fanciful, or realized.

Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share

For me, Christmas isn’t necessarily about gifts. At my age, that kind of stopped long ago. One of the reasons I love this time of year is the feeling of goodwill, the sentiment that we take this time to think of others, to spread cheer, goodwill, and yes, love. We don’t always do it, but I think the fact that the potential to do so is there says a lot. Regardless of all the problems we have in this world, love is a commonality that all spiritual belief systems share, because it really is at the heart of what being human is about: the capacity to feel, to laugh, to cry, to reach our internal and external potential, and most of all, to work on behalf of the whole– whether it is as small as the family, or as large as humankind.

Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there

As we get older, Christmas ostensibly becomes about the children in our lives, whether it’s our own children, nieces and nephews, cousins, grandchildren, or even just children in the neighborhood. But I think it’s also important to reach into ourselves and remember the children we once were, and that we still are. For all the adult responsibilities we have, for all the burdens we assume, underneath, we’re still young, even if it’s just at heart. Youth is not just about physical appearances and chronological age; it’s about attitude. It’s an attitude that appears during the holidays. This is part of the message that’s in Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, especially when Scrooge revisits the celebration at Fezziwig’s. It’s not about money, it’s not about appearances; sometimes, it’s just something as simple as fellowship, good cheer, and the promise and potential of love. Sometimes, I wish though, that this carried throughout the year, and didn’t just end when the credit card bills arrive in the mail.

Christmas time is here
We’ll be drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year…

As the song says, “Oh, that we could always see/Such spirit through the year…” Christmas is ostensibly about family. But I think it’s also about the human family, and that was the message of the original Christmas: the birth of a savior, who had come to rejuvenate the world. While not everyone believes in the divinity of Christ, the message found in his gospel is one that we could all learn from. It really is, in its fundamental form, the Golden Rule– a precept that is found in some form in all spiritual beliefs worldwide.

To put it another way, we’re all Charlie Brown: we’re surrounded by the trappings of the modern world, of commercialism, but deep down, it’s about the stars, it’s about a simple tree, it’s about peace, happiness, and goodwill.

Merry Christmas, everyone.
 

Well, I know I get a lot of visitors from time to time, but I never thought the Vatican read the Sandbox. Nearly a year ago, after the umpteenth time of being narrowly mowed down in what passes for traffic around here, I posted my version of Commandments for Drivers. Nothing’s changed around this area, unfortunately, and I still stand by my pronunciation and its ten distinct elements.

Now it seems the Vatican has seen fit to follow suit. I wonder if the Pope’s been traveling incognito in L.A. recently? Perhaps a visit to this humble blog? Maybe a Sunday jaunt on the Autobahn?

I have yet to make any of my cars *ahem* “occasions of sin,” and even if I did, I doubt I’d confess to any such acts publicly, here or elsewhere. I know I’ve occasionally had to resort to prayer, an act which I’m sure many driving instructors nationwide have committed many times. I’m curious as to testimonials from any such teachers as to the power of prayer, or lack of power thereof.

Although this particular set of commandments came from Cardinal Renato Martino, who holds quite a number of views I disagree with, in all seriousness, I must commend him for at least recognizing that people do commit aggressive acts and behave recklessly on the road. If this decree helps change anyone’s behavior (especially when it comes to road rage), then all the better.

As for me, I’m just wondering if I should toss a rosary in the car. Perhaps drivers everywhere could adopt a new universal sign for apologizing to others after committing errors in traffic– simply beating our chests: “Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.”

Works for me.

This past summer, the Middle East exploded yet again, when Israel invaded Lebanon in response to Hezbollah’s abduction of two Israeli soldiers. Regardless of the actors and the reasons (valid or not) behind these conflicts, discord between Israel and its neighbors has been going on for generations now, ever since the United Nations decided in the wake of World War II that the state of Israel should be created from what was then Palestine.

Regardless of the history of the mess created by the colonialist powers and the United Nations and the actions of Israel and its neighbors in the decades since, one thing that has bothered me is the seeming unwillingness of any of these nations and peoples on a collective basis to try to look beyond the religious, ethnic, and personal strife, and attempt to understand and work with each other in ways that will create a better future for themselves and the region. Everytime some effort is undertaken, or some gesture is made, someone, somewhere, crushes it eventually.

But last week, I saw this article, and it heartened me: for any solution to be implemented, it ultimately will have to begin with the next generation. In Jerusalem, of all places, the Yad BeYad (”Hand-in-Hand) School is attempting to integrate Arab and Jewish children in the same classroom, under the tutelage of team teachers: one Jewish, and one Arab. While you and I might think this is neat, what do the administrators of this school hope to achieve? One answer: “…[T]he underlying, spiritual lesson plan at the “Hand-in-Hand” school focuses on one subject, and that is for its students to learn how to empathize with one another.”

Co-administrator Ala Chatib (his co-principal is Jewish) points out one rationale for the school, a reason that I think is essential to this project surviving: “There is more than only one truth. That’s what they learn here, with each other and from each other.”

I agree wholeheartedly with this sentiment. In any argument or debate, there is not necessarily one, and only one, truth: often there’s more than one, and sometimes many different truths. It annoys me when I see politicians, gummint officials, bureaucrats, writers, journalists, and other bloggers act as if there is only one side to an entire issue, and that only one side is correct. It infuriates me even more when such individuals or collectives act as if their view is the only view that matters, is the only view that is correct, and anyone who attacks that particular perspective is automatically the enemy. Israel and many of its neighbors have been guilty of that over the years, and it hasn’t led to any useful, meaningful dialogue. This is just one aspect of the tragedy that is the Middle East, and is an oversimplification of sorts, but hey– we’ve got to start somewhere. One place to start is with the children: unlike some philosophers, I don’t think we are born with the inherent capacity for good or evil. I think a large part of how we develop as individuals and as peoples is through environment, combined with the integral essence of humanity (which *does* contain the capacity for *both* good and evil, or at least I think so…). It’s like that song from “South Pacific”, “You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught”:

You’ve got to be taught

to hate and fear,

You’ve got to be taught

From year to year…

I’m hoping that this school will help these children learn that they can look beyond the labels, the surface differences, and the philosophical conflicts– and see that underneath it all, they’re just people. They live together, they share the same space, breathe the same air, and celebrate the same common heritage– not as Jews, not as Muslims, but as human beings.

Perhaps this experiment will fail. Perhaps it will succeed. Perhaps it is ahead of its time. But as we are about to celebrate Thanksgiving here in the United States, I think there is a larger, global thanksgiving to celebrate– the triumph of reason and peace over hate and fear; and hopefully the realization, for some of these children (if not all) that there is more than one truth.

This morning, as usual, I settled in with the paper over breakfast, ready to see what was going on in the world. One particular headline caught my eye: “Christians Sue for Right Not to Tolerate Policies.” This piqued my interest, and I read the story.

Lately, there have been rumblings among the Religious Right about a “war” on Christians and “persecution” of Christians in this country. I find it amusing that evangelicals feel themselves under attack, considering the head of our gummint is a born-again Christian, his Supreme Court nominees are religiously conservative, and he has proposed, among other things, “faith-based” initiatives. Not to mention the U.S. has a majority Christian population– so where’s all these persecutions coming from? At a two-day conference on the subject, one speaker told the audience, “You have become the Jews of the 21st century.” Now is it me, or have I missed the round-ups on the streets of Salt Lake City and Houston? Am I turning a blind eye to the concentration camps in South Dakota? It would be one thing if we were talking about Christians in China, or Afghan Christian converts. But somehow I don’t see the Mormon Temple down the street being burned, nor am I hearing about devout folks in Orange County being denigrated, tortured, or “disappeared.”

But I digress. I was curious to see if perhaps this morning’s article was in the same vein, or if perhaps there was some true injustice going on. Apparently one of the initial objections one religious student had was being unable to criticize gays. “[Ruth] Malhotra says her Christian faith compels her to speak out against homosexuality.”

Um. I don’t recall hearing anything about churchgoers being forced to speak out about anything. Somehow I don’t think her pastor is “compelling” her to denounce homosexuality.

The article continues by stating, “[b]ut the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she’s a senior, bans speech that puts down others because of their sexual orientation.” Therefore, Malhotra is suing for the right to, uh, be intolerant.

So let’s see– Christians don’t want to be criticized, challenged, or persecuted, but it’s okay for them to treat gays that way? Is it me, or does that seem like a double standard?

In championing such lawsuits as Malhotra’s, the Reverend Rick Scarborough, “a leading evangelical,” stated “Christians are going to have to take a stand for the right to be Christian.”

I have no problems with Christians being Christian; I do have problems with Christians not acting Christian. I don’t know what Bible these people are reading from, but I was always taught that tolerance was the hallmark of Christianity. You know, turning the other cheek and all that. Fellowship of man and all that, you know. I don’t recall anything in the teachings of Jesus about intolerance. Correct me if I’m wrong on that one.

The article continues: “The legal argument is straightforward: Policies intended to protect gays and lesbians from discrimination end up discriminating against conservative Christians. Evangelicals have been suspended for wearing anti-gay T-shirts to high school, fired for denouncing Gay Pride Month at work, reprimanded for refusing to attend diversity training. When they protest tolerance codes, they’re labeled intolerant.”

Ok. Let’s look at that for a moment. These policies “discriminate” against conservative Christians. Let’s take the word “gay” and replace it with “Christian”– anti-Christian t-shirts. Denunciation of Christian Pride Month. Hm. You know what? I think I have no problem with granting Christians their wish. Let them wear these t-shirts. Let them speak out. But if they’re going to do it, then I have the same right to do it as well. After all, if they are allowed to be intolerant, then isn’t it okay for me to be intolerant as well? Oh, you say- that’s unchristian? That’s what I thought too.

Quite a few of the religious conservatives interviewed for the article defend their position by stating that homosexuality is a “lifestyle,” not a trait or genetic predisposition. While I agree that the jury is still out on whether some folks are born homosexual or bisexual as opposed to being heterosexual, I blanch every time I read the word “lifestyle.” One definition of “lifestyle” is “the typical way of life of an individual, group, or culture.” Another definition is “a way of life or style of living that reflects the attitudes and values of a person or group.” Put that way, being a conservative Christian is a “lifestyle.” Again, if religious conservatives can be intolerant of the homosexual “lifestyle,” then what’s to stop me from being intolerant of the religious “lifestyle”? Fine by me– I can attack people who come to my door, trying to educate or convert me. I can shout down people who offer their testimonies of being born-again. I can crumple up and stomp on pamphlets that I’m given as I walk down the street.

Sure, I could do some of these things– but I can’t do any worse. That’s because religion is protected in this country (despite what those who are being “persecuted” might have you believe). That’s okay with me– I happen to believe freedom of religion is an inherent right of every human; but I also think it’s an inherent right of every human to be respected, to be tolerated. That’s where I disagree with Ms. Malhotra and her brethren. No one is forcing her to be gay, or to spend time with gays– but by the same token, no one should have to be forced to endure mistreatment or intolerance from people like her.

This is one of my biggest issues with organized religion– in their mission statements, their testimonials of faith, I have yet to encounter a religion that openly encourages intolerance and rejection of peoples. But in the leap from the abstract to reality, many religious leaders and adherents practice their religion with an eye to exclusion. The track records of most denominations leaves something to be desired. This current case is just another example of that. But hey, don’t mind me– I’m a comparative heathen in all this. Don’t mind me– just continue your brand of intolerance in your crusade towards hegemony. Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war…