I think it was 1983, the last year I can be accused of celebrating Christmas on any level. So, after 30+ years of actively not celebrating it, I've grown to expect irritation this time of year as people I don't know, and people I see everyday, feel inclined to wish me "Merry Christmas, happy holidays", even "happy Kwanza." I'm asking you, please save it. The concept is beyond strange to me anyway. There are really all types of people in this world. Some Christians, some Muslims, Jews, Atheists, etc. Many of those people actively wouldn't celebrate Christmas. That's why I never expressed those sentiments to people, even before I gained any political consciousness about it, because I was always thinking maybe they didn't believe in it. So, it befuddles me why anyone would assume its ok to impose your beliefs on someone else. I know its non intentional. In airports, restaurants, etc., people are just socialized to ask you "what are you doing for the holidays?" Although innocent intended, it's still extremely presumptive. I've often wondered why people don't do as I do. When its people at work, I just tell them to enjoy their time off. If its people I pass in stores, etc., I tell them to be safe. I think all of those approaches are respectful and I doubt the celebrators need me to validate their beliefs. They can find many who share their practices to do that for them.
You see, the Christmas part is deeply offensive to me because I know December 25th is nothing more than a retail established day to support capitalism. There is absolutely no scholarly justification to support Jesus being born on that day. Yet, the church establishment corporations go along with the capitalist agenda lock, stock, and barrel, which in my book makes them culpable. I don't believe that oppressed people should be manipulated into supporting capitalist corporations like Wal Mart that don't support them. So the entire packaging of Christmas is offensive to me, yes it is, and I don't want to be assumed to be willing to play along with the fleecing of poor and working poor people to ultimately advance a corporate agenda. Happy holidays isn't much better because it still promotes and validates the concept that there is a legitimate holiday to be happy about. I am a part of movements that believe firmly that oppressed people should use this time to flex their economic muscle against the capitalist system by refusing to participate so wishing me happy holidays in the scheme of all of that doesn't feel much different than just saying Merry Christmas. And, although I have studied and met Dr. Maulana Karenga from the Organization US and have respect for what he has contributed to African resistance since 1966, including his creation of the Kwanza holiday that year, I don't celebrate it myself because I'm a Pan-Africanist. What that's saying is we believe that we are African people, no different than the Africans who live in Africa. Consequently, if we want to have an African harvest festival, we should research the customs of the many traditions that exist on the continent. I don't believe it's necessary for us to create a separate way to observe that no more than its necessary for us to create a new African language when we can learn Wolof, Akan (Twi), Mandinka, Susu, Swahili, etc., and instantly connect with millions of our sisters and brothers (which we should be doing). Now, the Kwanza piece is just my personal point of view. I encourage everyone who desires to celebrate Kwanza. I just don't need to be expected to do the same.
The last piece of this is for those misinformed who believe these parts of the world were founded on some sort of Christian principles and therefore, anyone who attempts to change that is challenging the history of this place. This country was never founded. It was stolen and those so-called "values" people are talking about are colonial domination techniques and practices that were imposed by force of violence to contribute to the cultural domination of people who were oppressed. So, no go. You are aren't expressing some historic cultural fact when you advance these holidays. You are perpetuating colonial domination in 2015.
Hopefully people can take just a moment to realize that everyone doesn't see the world the way you do or walk in it the way you walk. Stop wishing people a Merry Christmas, happy "4th", happy thankstaking, etc. Every time you do that you are continuing to contribute to keeping the oppression alive. If you want to do something good, why not use these times to have real conversations with your family and friends about these issues. I've done it for years and its been extremely productive and beneficial because we do our work with humility and respect for people. What I mean is I practice a rule of thumb. I don't go to non political gatherings and bring up my beliefs unless you bring up yours or you ask me about mine. And even then, I'll give you an advisory before I launch into what I believe because I know most people aren't going to ready to hear my views on electoral politics in capitalism, education, revolution, culture, spirituality, etc. I don't mind doing things this way because it reminds me that its not about me and my beliefs. Its about walking through the world with all types of people. That's why I don't greet you with "revolution or death!" when you say hello to me (although I'd love to greet people that way). So, please don't greet me with your holiday greeting. It's only fair.
You see, the Christmas part is deeply offensive to me because I know December 25th is nothing more than a retail established day to support capitalism. There is absolutely no scholarly justification to support Jesus being born on that day. Yet, the church establishment corporations go along with the capitalist agenda lock, stock, and barrel, which in my book makes them culpable. I don't believe that oppressed people should be manipulated into supporting capitalist corporations like Wal Mart that don't support them. So the entire packaging of Christmas is offensive to me, yes it is, and I don't want to be assumed to be willing to play along with the fleecing of poor and working poor people to ultimately advance a corporate agenda. Happy holidays isn't much better because it still promotes and validates the concept that there is a legitimate holiday to be happy about. I am a part of movements that believe firmly that oppressed people should use this time to flex their economic muscle against the capitalist system by refusing to participate so wishing me happy holidays in the scheme of all of that doesn't feel much different than just saying Merry Christmas. And, although I have studied and met Dr. Maulana Karenga from the Organization US and have respect for what he has contributed to African resistance since 1966, including his creation of the Kwanza holiday that year, I don't celebrate it myself because I'm a Pan-Africanist. What that's saying is we believe that we are African people, no different than the Africans who live in Africa. Consequently, if we want to have an African harvest festival, we should research the customs of the many traditions that exist on the continent. I don't believe it's necessary for us to create a separate way to observe that no more than its necessary for us to create a new African language when we can learn Wolof, Akan (Twi), Mandinka, Susu, Swahili, etc., and instantly connect with millions of our sisters and brothers (which we should be doing). Now, the Kwanza piece is just my personal point of view. I encourage everyone who desires to celebrate Kwanza. I just don't need to be expected to do the same.
The last piece of this is for those misinformed who believe these parts of the world were founded on some sort of Christian principles and therefore, anyone who attempts to change that is challenging the history of this place. This country was never founded. It was stolen and those so-called "values" people are talking about are colonial domination techniques and practices that were imposed by force of violence to contribute to the cultural domination of people who were oppressed. So, no go. You are aren't expressing some historic cultural fact when you advance these holidays. You are perpetuating colonial domination in 2015.
Hopefully people can take just a moment to realize that everyone doesn't see the world the way you do or walk in it the way you walk. Stop wishing people a Merry Christmas, happy "4th", happy thankstaking, etc. Every time you do that you are continuing to contribute to keeping the oppression alive. If you want to do something good, why not use these times to have real conversations with your family and friends about these issues. I've done it for years and its been extremely productive and beneficial because we do our work with humility and respect for people. What I mean is I practice a rule of thumb. I don't go to non political gatherings and bring up my beliefs unless you bring up yours or you ask me about mine. And even then, I'll give you an advisory before I launch into what I believe because I know most people aren't going to ready to hear my views on electoral politics in capitalism, education, revolution, culture, spirituality, etc. I don't mind doing things this way because it reminds me that its not about me and my beliefs. Its about walking through the world with all types of people. That's why I don't greet you with "revolution or death!" when you say hello to me (although I'd love to greet people that way). So, please don't greet me with your holiday greeting. It's only fair.
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