cmo
12/13/09, 10:42 PM
Politically Incorrect Christmas
TACKED THOUGHTS By Nancy Unchuan Toledo (http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Nancy+Unch uan+Toledo)
My brother-in-law and I often lament about the fact that Filipinos can be very politically incorrect. We have no qualms about telling someone how much weight he’s gained even if we barely know him. We judge people by the color of their skin. The nicknames young children give each other have nothing to do with endearments but have everything to do with highlighting each other’s flaws. Elderly people ask us about our salaries (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532164&publicationSubCategoryId=111#) in front of everyone else and are quick to give their opinions about how soon we should all just work abroad. We talk about religion and politics like other people talk about the weather. And we don’t mince our words when someone does something out of the ordinary. No, we’re not politically correct at all.
But there is something to be said for being politically incorrect. Especially at Christmastime. In other countries, for example, in an effort to be more inclusive, people no longer greet each other with “Merry Christmas!” They’d much prefer a more neutral “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings.” In one city in Canada, they’ve even stopped calling it a Christmas (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532164&publicationSubCategoryId=111#) and opted for “holiday tree” instead. Then in the US, they quibble over whether a nativity scene should show up in front of the town hall. And recently in Italy, they had to take down all crucifixes in public school classrooms because it violated the rights of atheists.
But in the Philippines (and perhaps only in the Philippines), we do not think twice about a non-sectarian school holding a Christmas parade. We find it perfectly natural that public schools display (for everyone to see) a giant nativity scene. Commercial establishments boast “Christmas sales” and “Christmas promos.” Banks, hospitals and offices display Christmas trees and hold Christmas parties and employees join in Manito-Manitas. And the clincher is that despite our declaration of the separation of church and state, the president herself is lighting a giant Christmas tree on the day of the first Misa de Gallo to begin officially the Christmas season. No, we are not politically correct in the least.
And never have I been prouder of it. In my book, there are worse things to be called than politically incorrect. There’s spiritually impoverished, for one. There’s highly secularized, for another. Then there’s morally bankrupt (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532164&publicationSubCategoryId=111#) to top it all off. When did “Christian” become such a negative word? When did “religious” become an insult? And when did “Christmas” cease being about Christ? We live in a world where we can be so concerned about what others think of us that we often forget what makes us who we are. In our effort to make others feel at ease, we compromise on our beliefs.
Perhaps, it is not yet time to worry about this in our country. And we can still sleep soundly knowing that we will still be able to greet each other “Merry Christmas” for many years to come. But perhaps, we should not be too complacent either. We pride ourselves on being the only Catholic country in Asia (Although this is no longer true. East Timor is also a Catholic country.), and yet we’ve not done much in evangelizing our neighbors these past few centuries. Perhaps, it is time to rethink what Christmas means for us. Perhaps, instead of just “putting Christ back in Christmas” as everyone always says, we ought to consider, bringing Christ and Christmas to the rest of the world.
Because whether the world admits it or not, we do need Jesus (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532164&publicationSubCategoryId=111#). Now more than ever. And what better time to give Him than at Christmastime? And what better country to do it than the one that holds the longest Christmas season ever?
How’s that for being politically incorrect?
Merry Christmas, everyone! May the Savior’s gifts (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532164&publicationSubCategoryId=111#) of peace, love and joy resound in the heart of every Filipino and in every human being.
source (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532164&publicationSubCategoryId=111)
TACKED THOUGHTS By Nancy Unchuan Toledo (http://www.philstar.com/ArticleListByAuthorName.aspx?AuthorName=Nancy+Unch uan+Toledo)
My brother-in-law and I often lament about the fact that Filipinos can be very politically incorrect. We have no qualms about telling someone how much weight he’s gained even if we barely know him. We judge people by the color of their skin. The nicknames young children give each other have nothing to do with endearments but have everything to do with highlighting each other’s flaws. Elderly people ask us about our salaries (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532164&publicationSubCategoryId=111#) in front of everyone else and are quick to give their opinions about how soon we should all just work abroad. We talk about religion and politics like other people talk about the weather. And we don’t mince our words when someone does something out of the ordinary. No, we’re not politically correct at all.
But there is something to be said for being politically incorrect. Especially at Christmastime. In other countries, for example, in an effort to be more inclusive, people no longer greet each other with “Merry Christmas!” They’d much prefer a more neutral “Happy Holidays” or “Season’s Greetings.” In one city in Canada, they’ve even stopped calling it a Christmas (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532164&publicationSubCategoryId=111#) and opted for “holiday tree” instead. Then in the US, they quibble over whether a nativity scene should show up in front of the town hall. And recently in Italy, they had to take down all crucifixes in public school classrooms because it violated the rights of atheists.
But in the Philippines (and perhaps only in the Philippines), we do not think twice about a non-sectarian school holding a Christmas parade. We find it perfectly natural that public schools display (for everyone to see) a giant nativity scene. Commercial establishments boast “Christmas sales” and “Christmas promos.” Banks, hospitals and offices display Christmas trees and hold Christmas parties and employees join in Manito-Manitas. And the clincher is that despite our declaration of the separation of church and state, the president herself is lighting a giant Christmas tree on the day of the first Misa de Gallo to begin officially the Christmas season. No, we are not politically correct in the least.
And never have I been prouder of it. In my book, there are worse things to be called than politically incorrect. There’s spiritually impoverished, for one. There’s highly secularized, for another. Then there’s morally bankrupt (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532164&publicationSubCategoryId=111#) to top it all off. When did “Christian” become such a negative word? When did “religious” become an insult? And when did “Christmas” cease being about Christ? We live in a world where we can be so concerned about what others think of us that we often forget what makes us who we are. In our effort to make others feel at ease, we compromise on our beliefs.
Perhaps, it is not yet time to worry about this in our country. And we can still sleep soundly knowing that we will still be able to greet each other “Merry Christmas” for many years to come. But perhaps, we should not be too complacent either. We pride ourselves on being the only Catholic country in Asia (Although this is no longer true. East Timor is also a Catholic country.), and yet we’ve not done much in evangelizing our neighbors these past few centuries. Perhaps, it is time to rethink what Christmas means for us. Perhaps, instead of just “putting Christ back in Christmas” as everyone always says, we ought to consider, bringing Christ and Christmas to the rest of the world.
Because whether the world admits it or not, we do need Jesus (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532164&publicationSubCategoryId=111#). Now more than ever. And what better time to give Him than at Christmastime? And what better country to do it than the one that holds the longest Christmas season ever?
How’s that for being politically incorrect?
Merry Christmas, everyone! May the Savior’s gifts (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532164&publicationSubCategoryId=111#) of peace, love and joy resound in the heart of every Filipino and in every human being.
source (http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=532164&publicationSubCategoryId=111)