Merry Christmas and Adapting to American Culture

The following post is a response to an article being passed around on the internet that is reported to have appeared originally in a “Tampa Newspaper”. I did a cursory search for the article with no results. Apparently, this would have been a letter to the editor. The author was upset over several things, including the recent hubbub about “Merry Christmas” being politically incorrect. I think the letter reflects correctly and sometimes unfortunately some of the ways Americans are thinking about the majority vs. the minority adapting to American Culture. I do not agree wholly with the author’s comments, and since this was sent to me by a family member, I felt compelled to reply but not to pass it on to my “A” list. I’d love to know what others think about this. The article is reprinted at the bottom of my post so that my own thoughts are not buried. The text has not been altered from the message I received by email; it is quoted in full.

Oh my darling daughter in law…you made me think again! Do you know how exhausting this is?

I disagree with the part about not caring about another persons’ culture. As unique as it is, American Culture is a hybrid concoction of world cultures. We also benefit from learning about the cultures and sensitivities of other peoples. I also think that it’s a travesty that Americans in general have not bothered to educate our people in the major languages of the world. That said; it is NOT our job to adapt America to each new-coming culture that touches our shores. If we chose to live and work in a different society anywhere else in the world, we would be expected to assimilate and I believe that it is a natural and reasonable expectation.

Freedom of religion has been taken out of context by extremists on all sides. I believe in freedom of religion. I believe that the intent of the statement in our constitution regarding freedom of religion and of speech is literal. The context is being skewed and re-skewed daily to suit the purposes of those that would limit the literal meaning. An individual living in this country should be able to practice their religion without persecution. It is also required that we respect others and allow them to do the same within the bounds of the laws of this land. It is not required that we change American civil law to accommodate minority or cultural views, including radical Christian views that would infringe on non-believers.

My personal political views run slightly to the left of center. I believe in the rights of both men and women to live freely on this earth within the implied laws of human decency and respect for each other. I believe that the written law of God and the laws of the land should work hand in hand to ensure the free will that God gave us. I believe that free will was intended as a tool for responsible decision making and purposeful, lawful behavior.

I am a Christian and Christ is my center. It is my hope and prayer for the world that Christian love will envelope and protect all humans on earth. Christ did not ask whether the people he encountered were “Christians”. Christ asked us simply to put the past behind and follow him. He did not seek out the perfect, the educated or those who were well off. He did not indicate a preference for denominations, languages, political interests, or skin color. He ministered equally to both men and women. He told those who were hungry for His word that following Him was a difficult path filled with doubt and persecution. He acknowledged that some would not follow, but He promised those who did believe in Him everlasting life and the kingdom of heaven. He asked his heavenly father, God to forgive us our sins. Even in His death, Christ was an advocate for all humanity.

There is an ancient line in the sand between believers and non-believers and sadly between those who believe in God, but differently. All wars can be traced to a great extent to this same ravine of mistrust, divisiveness, hatefulness, imposed religious and racial concepts, and lust for personal gain, territory and wealth. My fear is that if we continue to draw these lines in the sand in our own country and fail to fill them with the sands of understanding and enlightenment; all will be lost in this war.

Tying this all back to the original subject, which is adapting to the land you live in; I think Emma Lazarus “got it” when she wrote the famous poem that is quoted in part on the statue of liberty:

The New Colossus
By Emma Lazarus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From herbeacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your
huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

The first time I read this poem as a child, I knew what American meant to me. More importantly I had a sense of what it meant to others who are not so much like me. It’s a shame that the whole poem is not on the statue, because the full context takes on new meaning. “Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp.” implies to me that by entering these shores, a new and different life apart from the one that is left behind will greet the newcomer. It is a call to adapt and to become an American and a promise for acceptance and freedom for those who do.

God Bless America and Merry Christmas. May freedom ring always, and may the golden door be passed with an open heart by all who enter. May God and our armed forces protect us from harm by those who enter maliciously.

Paula

This is the text of the email that stirred my response:

This was in a Tampa Newspaper....Please Read

Will we still be the Country of choice and still be America if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in America because it is the Country of Choice??????

Think about it! All we have to say is, when will they do something about MY RIGHTS? I celebrate Christmas...........but because it isn't celebrated by everyone..............we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season's Greetings. It's not Christmas vacation, it's Winter Break. Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS occurs over the Christmas holiday? We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with that.

This says it all! This is an editorial written by an American citizen, published in a
Tampa newspaper. He did quite a job; didn't he? Read on, please! IMMIGRANTS, NOT AMERICANS, MUST ADAPT. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Americans. However...... the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the "politically
correct! " crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was
offending others.

I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America. Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.

This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans... we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language!

"In God We Trust" is our national motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan.. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women.......on Christian principles............. founded this nation..... and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new ome.........because God is part of our culture. If Stars and Stripes offend you, or you don't like Uncle Sam, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care
how you did things where you came from.

This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle. Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so! But once you are done complaining....... whining...... and griping....... about our flag....... our pledge...... our national motto........or our way of life....I highly encourage you to take advantage of one other Great American Freedom....... THE RIGHT TO LEAVE. It is Time for America to Speak up If you agree -- pass this along; if you don't agree -- delete it! AMEN I figure if we all keep passing this to our
friends (and enemies) it will also, sooner or later get back to the complainers,
lets all try, please