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I wish you an un-PC Christmas.
No, I am not hoping you won't receive a new personal computer among your presents this year. What I truly wish for you is that you are able to celebrate this holiday season as you decide without the fears of "political correctness" marring what should be a joyous period.
Even though in many circles political correctness has come in for its share of ridicule in the recent past, it has hardly been expunged from the various institutions in our society. If you think otherwise, you have not dealt with educational or governmental organizations of late.
In one of the more ironic (or perverse) manifestations of the political correctness crowd, supporters of that doctrine simultaneously attack what they supposedly promote, i.e., cultural diversity. To hear them talk about it, all manifestations of the human condition are equally valid and wonderful. Whatever your ethnic background, whatever your race, whatever your religion, each is delightful in its own way. It is impossible to say that one set of opinions or behaviors is wrong or bad and another set correct or good (or so a majority of my students believed on a true/false test they recently took...).
Selective application of such destructive ideas by sympathizers of social engineering is hardly new. Whether the issue involves men versus women, whites versus blacks-or-whoever, conservatives versus liberals, American culture versus take-your-pick, straights versus gays, Christians versus Muslims, rich versus poor, able versus disabled, er, handicapped, er, differently-abled, and on and on and on, PC people have no trouble making judgments, e.g., that WASP's are oppressors and exploiters, that Western civilization sucks, that minorities are more special than non-minorities (whatever that means in this age of blending races...), that rich SOB's are callous, uncaring, and just downright mean...
But...Santa Claus and Christmas...???
In various localities, those time-honored symbols of generosity and delight are being branded as "naughty" not "nice." At a university near where I live, for example, a secretary was asked by her supervisor to remove a small Christmas tree from her desk lest staff members from other countries or professing other religions take "offense" at this blatant display of Christianity. Indeed, a number of departments have been told not to put up a Christmas tree lest they similarly transgress against the "sensitivities" of their coworkers and customers.
But don't think that the Guardians-of-All-That-Is-Right-And-Proper are limited in their depredations against common sense to those loonies scurrying about our country desperately seeking to be offended. No. Our European cousins are perhaps even more infected with such nonsense regarding the season of gift giving and good will.
That famous chain of discount stores, Woolworth's, has added "Mother Christmas" outfits to their inventory in 800 European stores. After all, mustn't be "sexist" and focus solely on Father Christmas. The European Union takes such discrimination or stereotyping quite seriously. (After all, they have so little else to correct in the economies of their constituent nations...)
In a similar bout of concern for the delicate psyches of the easily-crushed, a department store in England was told that it would not be allowed to advertise for a man to be Father Christmas in their store. To advertise for a single sex meant justifying in writing the reasons for such blatant prejudice. The owner, Bruce Robinson complied with the directive. He wrote:
"The person, if female, should, therefore, have a) a deep voice; b) whiskers; c) a big belly; and d) no readily discernible bosom.
"My only concern is that if our choice is limited to such a candidate, I fear for our children, who will doubtless be terrified."
In Birmingham, England, the council decided that the very name Christmas was insulting to minorities. In their infinite wisdom, they re-christened the holiday, "Winterval." I'm sure that all those people (none of whom registered a complaint in the first place) will feel so much better now.
Even wishing someone well has become fraught these days with PC implications. Mustn't say "Merry Christmas" anymore. After all, what if the person's Jewish? Or Muslim? Or observes Kwanzaa? They might break down weeping, their egos damaged beyond repair if you remind them that their traditions are in the minority here in the good ol' U. S. of A., that (supposed) home of free speech.
No, no. It's a safely innocuous "happy holidays" you must utter if you don't want the PC monitors to chastise you severely.
Ditto for calling those gifts of candy or booze or trinkets you hand out to your office mates "Christmas" presents. Mustn't rub in the fact that you're in synch with the majority on this Christmas deal.
In Manitoba, Canada, Premier Gary Doer bucked the PC pressures and dared to the call the big green, wood thing in the legislature a Christmas tree rather than the "preferred" Friendship Tree (or a.k.a., a "unity" tree in other communities). I wonder how many millions of votes that radical stand will cost him...?
Let's not forget, of course, that nativity scenes have long been verboten at schools and various government buildings. Likewise, Christmas, er, holiday plays must expunge anything that offends downtrodden souls who require government protection.
And what can one say about the horrors of one's boss sanctioning a Christmas party...?
Sadly enough, there are people roaming the streets and byways of America who will and do get their knickers in a bunch regarding such innocuous festivities and symbols. After all, to many in the PC movement, words are the equivalent of bullets. Those abstractions (apparently) can injure you regardless of what you do or think (or in the case of these PC fanatics: fail to think). To these hyperaware individuals, the old saying about "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me" is a monstrous lie. Words (that they dislike) are evil! If someone "shoots" you with a word, he should be punished.
Christmas! (*ouch*). Santa Claus! (*ow*).
"Don't hurt me! Please don't hurt me by uttering such foul language!"
Tolerance? Diversity? Non-judgmentalism?
Ha!
If I were living and working in say, Israel, and nearly all my friends, neighbors, and coworkers were Jews who celebrated Hanukkah, would I be justified in complaining to management or filing a lawsuit to prevent them from saying "Happy Hanukkah" or lighting a menorrah?
No-o-o-o.
When it comes to such cultural issues (that are not mandated by law, anyway), I say let others do as they will. If my thin-skinned brethren don't like it, they can keep their opinions to themselves. What about the offense that is committed against those who are prevented from putting up Christmas decorations or placing a six-inch plastic Christmas tree on a desk? But, of course, the offense-o-meter only registers one-way.
I don't get it. I belong to one of the smallest minorities on earth. I'm an atheist in a predominantly -- overwhelmingly so -- Christian culture. I see no purpose in getting bent out of shape if those I work with want to express their religious beliefs or celebrate a holiday that nowadays is more secular than not. I ignore what I don't like and celebrate those aspects of Christmas I enjoy: presents, trees, and decorations, da; church, prayers, and Bibles, nyet.
Who's hurt?
People need to relax. savor the season. Wish each other well however they want to. Forget being politically correct. Call it Christmas. Cut down a Christmas tree, put up Christmas decorations, give Christmas presents, go to Christmas parties.
Enjoy!
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
