It's baaack...

I had hoped the "war on Xmas" would fade away this year.  But, it's that time of year, and it's popping up again.  Someone at work was ranting about it, and how "you can't say 'Merry Christmas.'"  I told him I thought that was a crock; he said "yeah, they keep taking away our freedoms."  I explained that I meant his line of thought was a crock, that there wasn't a war on Xmas, that he can say whatever he wants.  He mentioned that "Maryland is getting rid of religious holidays.  You can't celebrate Christmas or Easter."  I was skeptical, and asked if he heard that on Fox, but then I researched it because hey, I don't know everything.  And it turns it was true, but sort of the reverse of what he was saying: one school district in Maryland did indeed change their holiday schedule.  But it's not the filthy liberals being all PC and keeping us from celebrating; it's fuddy-duddy conservative school board members.  They didn't want to allow a Muslim holiday on the calendar, so they got rid of all religious holidays.  To me that sounds like little kids saying "we don't want to play with those people, so we're taking all the toys and going home."

Actually, I can see how a school not having any religious holidays is a reasonable option, but I'd rather have all of them.  Well, the big ones, anyway- if we celebrate every one, there'd be no school or work.  And I know that would be welcomed, but still... I'd rather celebrate the diversity of our country.  I don't want to bland things down. I'm not sure why we can't be reasonable and inclusive.  Hanukkah has become more mainstream since the '70s; why not add Eid, since Muslims are becoming more influential?

Anyway, as usual, please celebrate whatever holiday you enjoy, in whatever way you see fit.  Stay warm, with family and friends, as the snow falls.