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ADRIENALINE
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Dec 23

Friday, December 23, 2016

I'm happy to say this has been a pretty easy Christmas season for me. There have been several people who don't assume that I celebrate Christmas and have said either Happy Hanukkah or Happy holiday instead. I really appreciate that and I'm thrilled to live in a place where people really seem to care about each other's feelings. The news that I hear about people insulting or attacking that wear a hijab makes me profoundly sad and afraid for what this country seems to be becoming, but at least I haven't experienced anything like that in my area.

We had one incident a few months ago where a high school teacher who is an expert on Nazi Germany and the holocaust compared our next president's remarks to things that Hitler had said as he turned Germany into a place of hate, prejudice, and lies. Some parent complained and the teacher was suspended for a couple of days. The support that the teacher received immediately when the news story broke and the teacher's immediate reinstatement, reinstilled my faith in this area. But, I know how easily our country can be turned into something like Nazi Germany. I really hope this season can help us reflect that we are supposed to love our fellow man regardless of his customs or the clothes he chooses to wear.
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  • PHEBESS
    We're currently in Lima, Peru - and the clerk at the supermarket wished us "happy holidays." So I wished him a "Feliz Navidad" since I know how to say that in Spanish. (We were buying a pannetone for our hostel manager, who invited us to join her for Christmas Eve dinner.)
    1578 days ago
  • BROOKLYN_BORN
    Oh yes, we have had incidents in schools directed against Hispanic students. A few teachers spoke out publicly (and on Facebook) against this atmosphere, but from others the silence was deafening. Unfortunately, hate speech and even body shaming have been given legitimacy. It's very important now, especially in this season, for men and women of good will not to be silent.

    I always say "Happy Holidays" to people at this time of year because I want to be inclusive. I understand that there are many, many holidays celebrated by the world's religions between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. So unless I am sure of a person's religion (or lack of), "have a happy holiday" works for me.

    To my fellow Christians, on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, I offer a hearty "Merry Christmas"
    1578 days ago
  • MISSLISA1973
    I have not seen anything like this in my area either. We used to have a coworker who wore a hijab, and she was asked to be one of the participants in our fashion show. I think most people who say and do insensitive things are doing so unintentionally because they don't know any better... like when someone tries to comfort the bereaved after losing a deeply loved family member with words such as, "She isn't suffering anymore," or "It really is for the best."

    Obviously the blatant hate we see on TV is real, but I think it happens way less often than we are led to believe by the news outlets. Years ago, one of my school teachers told us that there are more people doing right and good in the world than bad. That's why the bad is news. If only a few people were doing good, then that would be what's news.

    I'm glad you have not experienced any blatant acts of hatred or oppression. I wish you a very merry Christmas season and the happiest of new years!

    emoticon Lisa
    1579 days ago
  • BARBIEIAMNOT
    However you celebrate this time of year...i hope you stay safe!
    1579 days ago

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