“Sonoma County’s top official on Monday ordered the removal of stars,
angels and other religious symbols from Christmas trees in county
buildings after a complaint that the decorations violate constitutional
protections.” _ Derek Moore, PD (FULL STORY)
Christmas has become a midnight buffet in Vegas. Blinded by dazzling lights and noise, we order up a Religious-Free Santa Special with a side of Jingle Bells, Midnight Mass on the 24th (just in case) an extra order of Holiday Guilt, a dash of Jesus for the kids, and a swirly little Costco angel on top.
Don’t like the Angels? They’re off the menu in our West Coast branches. Extra Holiness available in various Southern locations.
But, um, isn’t Christmas by its very nature a Christian holiday? (Yes, I know the history, but for the sake of argument…) It comes angels and stars and all manner of symbols important to Christians. To suit more tastes, we’ve modified it a bit. The whole Santa/lots of gifts thing was a bit more palatable to the masses, along with cookies, gifts, singing, egg nog and general merriment. And like anything mass-marketed the original idea gets a little lost.
But with Sonoma County now removing stars and angels from public light displays, along with the added insults of public schools no longer performing holiday pageants (really? not even Jingle Bells?) or even feeling permitted to say “Happy Holidays” to co-workers without feeling a bit awkward, we’ve gone too far. Because while a clear line between church and state is what our founding fathers fought for, taking down an angel ornament from a public tree probably says more about our own fears and self-loathing than it could ever say about our constitution.
Thing is, the religion part of Christmas (at least for me) was the vitamins in the Fruit Loops – the part that was supposed to be good for you amidst all the sugary puffs and plastic prizes. It was the part that stuck with you after the toys broke and the wrapping paper was gone.
Even as a kid I knew that Silent Night wasn’t just about a quiet evening. And that Christmas was really about (usually enforced by my parents) remembering that the world was bigger than me and maybe that I should enact some of its ideals: Like hope, love, peace and goodness to mankind. I’m pretty sure that’s a message any faith (or lack thereof) can get behind.
So, trust me when I say I’ve never thought of myself siding with organized religion. I’m not a person who’s faith has been tested. But I do believe that most rational, sane adults and kids can all say that being stripped of holiday traditions is sad. Because far from being exclusionary, they can and should be an invitation to inclusion. We can sing Little Town of Bethlehem along with the dradel song and a nod to Kwanzaa, Santa and maybe even a solstice celebration or two. I’m glad for the extra dose of holiday cheer. And let’s bring back stars and angels, both symbols of hope and faith in a world that’s become plenty cynical and bitter.
So maybe its time to think of Christmas not so much as a buffet, but as a potluck where everyone’s three-bean salad and roast beef and weird Jell-O (along with their songs and traditions and religions) aren’t seen as a threat — but as a delicious addition to the meal.
And trust me, Irv, you won’t need to worry about being invited.
It’s too bad, that having angels, stars, or Christmas songs are such a threat to a very sad, angery, self centered person, needing to draw attention to themselves. Whether, you believe or not in the celebration of the Christmas holiday as it is, cherubs and stars have been part of the “arts” not just a Christmas symbol for centuries. Come on find something to devote your time to that enriches, go work in a soup kitchen, volunteer, work in a community garden to feed others,give some time to a cause that makes a difference. But, crying about angels or stars on a tree what a waste of time.
Zoe, I’ve lived here all my life. A Sonoma County “you hardly recognize?” No, you and the hippies are the interlopers. Sonoma County has ALWAYS leaned right. And now, the right is rising back. You don’t like it? Tough, and that goes for you too Heather Irwin. We will be back in this county soon. Just watch. Sonoma County is leaning more and more rightward.
No worries. My boss is finding it very amusing.
Glad to have your opinion Zoe. Best.
I’m sorry you’re on the hit list on the P.D. forum. They can be brutal if not infantile. I hope you didn’t take my earlier posts as a rebuke of your opinion. I guess I thought the “reply” button is for your readers (and I am a long time reader of your blog) to add their 2 cents.
I sincerely wish you a Happy Holiday.
Thanks babe.
Nice to have my BitEClubPeeps ’round.
Apparently the forum ranter was someone who’s been banned multiple times. Again, proving my point perfectly.
‘Tis the season BiteClubbers. Love to you all. Even gator.
Heather, as a loyal reader/eater and sometime commenter, I got your back!
Columns and blogs are essentially opinion pieces and people read them to get the author’s opinion. So keep the opinions coming.
And Merry (insert EOY event of choice here)!
And how many people would notice if the stuff were there? Exactly one, apparently. And we’ve decided his opinion is more important than everyone elses.
I’m not convinced.
Oh, and by the way, they’ve started an angry rant against me over in the PD forums which serve to reinforce my point. Thanks guys!
(BTW: This is a blog. i’m allowed to have opinions. And, get this…my boss actually encouraged me to write this. How about that?)
Dear Bite Club Eats,
Most rational and sane adults and children would never notice if an angel or a star was missing from a tree in a remote corner of a county office building. At this time of the year we are saturated with Christmas music, cartoons, movies, etc. It’s all around us. It’s in the grocery store, the mall, unsolicited catalogs, etc. The county offices are not privately owned and should remain neutral on all religious holidays. How many kids will be running down the halls of County Administration buildings only to be disappointed by the lack of a creche or stars on a tree? Zero. To paraphrase Magritte regarding the photo of the winged ornament, “Ceci n’est pas une ange”.
Yeah. Which is why I started a forum over here for people with actual intelligence. Thanks for the thought. I can’t bear to read those forums. They depress me.
I suggest all Biteclub readers go to the P.D.’s forum on this topic. The reaction from those who disagree with Irv is nothing short of depressing and stomach turning. His address and phone number have been posted and they’re calling it “hunting season”. Somehow an image of a Nazi with a flag and Pres. Obama’s face superimposed on the Nazi made it past the moderator. This is the same Teabagger mentality we’ve watched all summer. Irv might have thought twice about his pursuit of banning Christian ornaments on a pagan tree. But I think it unwise to add fuel to the fire of the third grade mentality rabble who have been posting all day, 99% of whom can’t even write a proper sentence, not to mention a paragraph that expresses an intelligent argument to defend their position. Read it and weep. You will discover a Sonoma County you will hardly recognize.
I still don’t quite get the star thing. I mean, yes, the Bible story indicates that the Wise Men followed the star, etc., etc. But stars are also political. How many national flags, besides the US, use stars? Even non-Christian identifying nations? What about the fact that stars are celestial beings. As in, the Sun is a star that the earth revolves around. Doesn’t a star also represent light, hope and truth. Christianity certainly does not have the lock down on those meanings. The whole thing seems a little over-the-top and, forgive me, Bah Humbug!