Holiday Greetings

Holidays are a special time of year. From September to August, there are hundreds of them. Some are particularly American, like Thanksgiving and Fourth of July. Many are religious like Ramadan (a whole month of serious fasting, from sun rise to sunset), Rash Hashanna, Yom Kippur, Christmas, Hannukka,  Kwansa, Passover and Easter. Even these holidays are difficult to characterize as purely religious since some have historical reference, and some have a more spiritual tone. Some of the Christian celebrations have been infused with more than a little of secularism.

And then something flashes on my Facebook page: It's not happy holidays, it's merry Christmas: Like, if you agree. This is so 'in your face'!

Such exclusivity does nothing to raise the spirit of love and kindness that the season is about. Yeah, it could be cute; there is definitely some chest thumping here; certainly a claim is struck for the Christian "side".

And also there is anger fomented, one way or the other. A division that should not exist. A chasm of spirituality among peoples who share the earth, must work together to improve and salvage what is left of it.

Disrespect is engendered in an area of life where there should be harmony: love of god and love of neighbor, ideas which transcend the limits of organized religion, and provide a common  ideal  for living together and sharing the planet, and indeed the universe.

As well-intentioned as the Face book posting may be, I think it is better to say Happy Holidays! Say it often. Say it year round as we all crawl out from our safe shells. There are risks, but in a fragile world, we should be happy to live and work and celebrate everything together.

So celebrate as you wish, in the humble quiet of the winter solstice, the family celebrations around the tree and dinner table (if you are lucky enough to have one), the lighting of candles, songs of life, cheer, and praise.  Just enjoy. Go to church if you want... say merry Christmas to your friends and  fellow worshippers  Be yourself and let people be. And you will have a great gift, and the strife of holiday greetings will end.