[TW for Christian privilege, Colonialism]
There is, apparently, a Canadian status meme going around Facebook right now. Given the time of year it’s not unexpected. Valentine’s Day, Hallowe’en, Easter, Christmas and any other holiday celebrated by society’s dominant group usually inspires those with privilege to flaunt said privilege without care — often in ways that harm those falling outside the delegated norm.
For a certain portion of the population Christmas will be celebrated near the end of this month. Some of the people celebrating Christmas do so to honour the birth of Jesus Christ, son of God his father. Others celebrate Christmas because it’s the dominant holiday spoon–fed to society, it’s the accepted and expected. There’s no religious meaning, just Santa and presents and special time with loved ones.
It doesn’t really matter where one looks, there’s a guarantee most decorations will pretty much scream “It’s Christmas!” at the top of their non–existent lungs. Almost all charities collecting will be doing so to ensure children have toys Christmas morning, or families have the Christmas everyone deserves, or that people in countries Not Like Yours can have Christmas too.
Which is fantastic, I suppose, if you celebrate Christmas.
Except many people in Canada do not celebrate Christmas near the end of December. A large portion actually, when the number of cultures in Canada are taken into account.
A quick google search brought up the following not–Christmas holidays/celebrations in the month of December:
Al–Hijra (also called Muharram) is the Islamic New Year. The first day of their first month, which is Muharram. Though not a religious holiday, it is still marked by most members of Islam.
The tenth day of Muharram, the Day of Ashura, is a significant day, and depending on the type of Islam practiced, will be observed differently. The nine days leading up to the Day of Ashura are important and include various observances as well. These will also differ depending on the type of Islam practiced. I feel it is also important to point out this period is one of mourning and remembrance for an important prophet.
Bodhi Day/Rohatsu is celebrated by members of some Buddist faiths. It commemorates the day the Buddha experienced enlightenment.
Hanukkah (also Chanukah, Chanukkah, or Chanuka) is the Jewish festival of rededication and is celebrated over a period of eights days. More information can be found here.
Winter Solstice/Yule is celebrated by Wiccans and Pagans. It is observed on the start of the new solar year and is, in part, a celebration of Light and the rebirth of the Sun.
Kwanzaa is a seven day festival that “was created to introduce and reinforce seven basic values of African culture which contribute to building and reinforcing family, community and culture among African American people as well as Africans throughout the world African community. These values are called the Nguzo Saba which in Swahili means the Seven Principles.” More here.
There are also numerous Christian celebrations throughout the month of December. For a number of them Advent begins four weeks before the birth of Christ and during the weeks of Advent a number of different things are observed. Catholics, for example, have something to celebrate every day of Advent. The Advent Calendar with its doors to open is a Christian product.
By my count that’s six different holidays being observed by six different religions not celebrating Christmas during the month of December. Plus one more when you account for those that do not believe in or follow any religion.
To me, those are seven good reasons to remember not everyone will be gathering with loved ones on December the twenty–fifth like myself. They are a good reason to remember it’s not such a chore to say ‘Happy Holidays’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas’, or to simply say nothing at all in regards to any holiday.
When members of a minority group (or groups), have the courage to speak up and say ‘hey, this thing you’re doing, it makes us feel not so great, kind of oppressed actually’, it is the responsibility of the group being told to listen and act appropriately.
And acting appropriately should not include Facebook status memes that read thusly:
I don’t care if I offend anyone by this: I pledge allegiance to the flag of Canada and to the Commonwealth for which it stands, one nation, indivisible and justice for all! Not long ago a generation grew up reciting the Canadian anthem every morning in school with hand on heart. They no longer do that for fear of “offending” someone! This is my country; this is Canada and I will be saying ‘Merry Christmas’ and use the proper names such as Christmas Tree, and not happy holidays or holiday trees, love it or leave it!! How many Canadians will re–post this and not care about offending someone?
First things first, when anyone begins anything with the words “I don’t care if I offend anyone…” it’s code speak for “I’m about to be an asshole.” No really, it is. Because not caring if you offend someone is the equivalent of saying “Look, I know you probably have feelings, but I really don’t care about them.”
Canada is not a Commonwealth, Canada is a country. A federal state if you will, whose economics are a mix of socialism and capitalism. Canada hasn’t been a Commonwealth since the first of July in the year 1867 when the Canadian Confederation took place.
Canada is not one nation. To say as much denies the very real, very important lives of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada. The people whose land, lives, culture, children and so much more have had stolen from them in the name of Canada being ‘one nation’. The people who continue to lose land, lives, culture, children and much more so Canada can be ‘one nation’.
Canada is very much divisible. Ten provinces, from right to left: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newbrunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Three territories, from right to left: Nunavut, Northwest Territories and Yukon.
Justice for all? Anyone starting anything with the words “I don’t care if I offended anyone” isn’t really interested in the true meaning behind those three words. The person that believes in justice for all cares a great deal if they offend others when important issues like religion and the claiming of one’s country is involved.
Not long ago a generation grew up reciting the Canadian anthem every morning in school with hand on heart.
Sigh. There is so much wrong with that sentence I’m not entirely sure where to begin.
First, Canadians have never recited our anthem — we sing it.
Second, the Canadian anthem sung today did not become Canada’s official anthem until the year 1980. It was passed in Parliament on June 27th and announced at Canada’s July 1st centenary celebration. Before that time, God Save the Queen was Canada’s national anthem.
Whether or not hands were held over hearts while it was sung I’m uncertain, but I am quite certain I don’t want the children in Canada’s schools singing a song to a monarch whose role in this country, despite being on all its currency, is fairly limited.
I also don’t want Canada returning to the value systems it maintained during the implied ‘not long ago’ generation. And if Canadians really think about it, about what was wrong during that time, they won’t either. Especially when “and justice for all” is brought into the equation.
If the Canadian anthem is no longer sung before classes by children, the majority of which I’m sure don’t really want to be singing (in English or French), it is no longer sung. This fact has no real, long–lasting, emotional or physical impact on their lives. Really. Truly. It does not. It makes those opposed to the action upset because it challenges them to look a little closer at themselves, at their perceived, believed notions of what their world should look like, be like. It challenges them to acknowledge their privilege, and when people are forced to do that, the vast majority of the time they react with defensive, self–righteous anger.
If you’re angry because the children of Canada do not sing the same song before class Every Single Day, do your part. Teach the ones you know the anthem yourself. Teach them its history, its meaning, why it’s important to you they know the words and their meaning, why the song is important to you as a person, why it is sung at events. Because singing the anthem every single day for no real reason detracts from the very importance you are proclaiming it has.
They no longer do that for fear of “offending” someone! This is my country
I wonder if the person that crafted this screed is aware that when placing a word inside scare quotes they imply the word has no meaning. Is of no consequence. The opinion of the person that originally used the word they’ve so kindly placed inside quotations isn’t to be regarded as an actual thing. The ‘offence’ of the people referred to here is therefore not real, imagined, to be dismissed as nothing more than reactionary bull shit.
How nice. Nice, in this instance, being defined as absolutely appalling.
This is not your country. See; First Nations, Inuit and Métis.
this is Canada and I will be saying ‘Merry Christmas’ and use the proper names such as Christmas Tree, and not happy holidays or holiday trees, love it or leave it!!
For me, this is Canada, because that is where I currently reside and use the internet from. For a lot of other people, ‘this’ is not Canada. I really wish people on the internet would stop assuming everyone is in the same country they are.
I’m certain you (general) will be saying ‘Merry Christmas’, after all, you (general) have already declared you’re most likely an asshole that doesn’t care about other people’s feelings. See; I don’t care if I offended anyone.
“Merry Christmas” is not a proper name. It is a way of acknowledging a mutually shared religious belief and holiday. It should not be spoken to everyone encountered, to do so is to assume everyone shares your religion and belief system. That’s rather presumptuous and insulting, don’t you think?
I know I don’t appreciate it when people assume such personal things about me. Especially if they assume incorrectly, are corrected then proceed to not care in a very cruel manner their assumption has caused me to feel alienated.
But that’s me, and my reaction is not your reaction or my neighbour’s reaction or anyone else’s reaction.
Decorating an evergreen tree in the month of December is a tradition that has been around significantly longer then Christmas. In fact, decorating a tree near Christmas was incorporated into the Christian religion in order to make the transition from Paganism to Christianity easier for those converting.
How many Canadians will re–post this and not care about offending someone?
I am a Canadian. I will not be re–posting this repugnant, Othering, inaccurate, privilege laden statement whose only true purpose is to reaffirm to those that do re–post they are not alone in their hateful belief, and to further intimidate and alienate those who only ask for their voices to be heard — and respected.
