Christmas Day Column

It's Christmas morning.   My wish is that you have a wonderful day today.  I hope it is filled with family and food and friends.  It is a day to celebrate and remember.

I know that for some it is a difficult day.   Those going through their first Christmas without a loved one might find it a harsh day.   Still others might be more worried about food on the table and a roof over their head.  The absence of gifts under the tree.

I hope those of us that "have" are helping those that "have not" today.   Honorable pursuits like the Empty Pantry Fund do just that.  May we also remember to do so the rest of the year.

I guess it isn't really "politically correct" to talk about Christmas.  But does "politically correct" mean that you don't say or do anything that represents an idea or belief that someone might disagree with?  

I don't think so.  I believe that it means that you are sensitive to those that might have different religious, social, or political views from yourself.  Not that you abandon your own.

It means that I wish my Jewish friends Happy Hanukah (and that I understand that Yom Kippur is a much bigger event for them).   It means that when my Muslim friends stop for prayer, that I am quiet and respectful.

But we live in a community that celebrates Christmas.   And that's OK.  If you are on my Christmas card list, you will notice that it doesn't say "Happy Holidays."  No, it says Merry Christmas.

Our country's founders established a nation based on religious freedom.  That means that you can practice your religion as you see fit.  It also means that I get to do the same. 

It means that we don't have to always agree with our neighbors.   Heck, I don't always agree with my lovely spouse of 35 years but we do manage to get along (quite nicely, thank you very much).   To function as a society, we are obligated to tolerance.  To grow strong as a society, we must embrace our differences. 

I am thankful to live in a community where the good ol' boy and the college professor can live side by side and together make this a better place.  I appreciate a community that demonstrates great diversity yet manages to stay focused on the really important stuff like education, health, and quality of life.

Christmas  is, above all else, a religious holiday.   Sure, it's one filled with gifts and lights and maybe (certainly) too much consumption.   But it is also a time when most of us stop to think about what we believe in, to love on our families, and to appreciate our many gifts (and not just those wrapped under the tree).

Today, I wish for you a Merry Christmas.