Yuletide Greetings To All

"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires."

By reenee, Santa Maria

Why do so many people get so riled up when someone says, "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"? Coming from the "live and let live" school of thought, this entire debate escapes me. There are far too many different religions out there all celebrating their view of the holiday season, to expect that everyone should say "Merry Christmas."

There's also Happy Winter Solstice, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Hanukkah, just to name a few, all happening about this time of year. Then there's the Jehovah's Witnesses who do not celebrate Christmas at all because they do not participate in "pagan celebrations," because they say that Jesus was not born on December 25. What shall we say to them? Are they not Christians too?

So, is Christmas based on Pagan origins? Some say yes. The exact dating of Christmas has been a subject of great debate and disagreement, although tradition and custom has it affixed now to December 25th. This date has little to do with actual Christian history and much to do with attempts by Christians to appeal to potential pagan converts by appropriating their own festivals of Saturnalia and Brumalia. Indeed, the earliest calendars to even list December 25 as Christmas do not appear until 336 C.E. Pope Julius formally selected December 25 as the day of Christmas in 349 C.E.

There is no hint in the Gospels about the time of the year when Jesus is supposed to have been born--except that it couldn't have been midwinter, because in that part of the world this is the rainy season and shepherds would not be out at night. This means that early Christianity found itself in the odd position of trying to tell everyone about what they claimed was the most tremendous birth ever without being able to say when it happened.

How about the entire Christmas/Holiday tree issue? Originally, trees were decorated by Pagans, but they never cut them down and dragged them inside, that would have been too destructive for them. The 16th century Germans began the custom of bringing them into the house. They brought this custom to the United States about 1700. In 1850 the idea of the Christmas tree became popular with the general public.

There has been much controversy throughout the ages about most of the holidays recognized as religious. Religious Tolerance is not just a motto. It is something that should be practiced by everyone, due to the diversity in this country. People that bully others, be they individuals or large retail stores to say "Merry Christmas" do not know very much about tolerance or history.

People in the U.S. and Canada are going to need religious understanding and tolerance in the future, because these are the currently most religiously diverse countries in the world--and we are becoming increasingly diverse. If current trends continue, Protestants will become a minority by 2006, Christians will become a minority in the U.S. about the year 2042, and in Canada about 2023.

I'd like very much to refer people to the December 17th entry on the blog entitled "archy." He very succinctly says, GROW UP YOU INSUFFERABLE CRYBABIES. Well, I must agree. For those of you that will not visit "archy", he goes on to say that there are much more important issues to worry over, than how you are greeted in a store. Hunger, despair, diseases that go unchecked in Third World countries, illiteracy in our own country, just to name a few. The idea that something as innocuous as being greeted with "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings," by someone whose religious beliefs they don't know, is getting people riled up, is truly ludicrous.

While I do not share her belief, I respect that my mother is very devout in her Catholicism. The rest of my family, immediate and extended, exhibit various levels of this belief with a few non-believers for whatever reason. There are some of different faiths, with a sprinkling of Pagan tossed in just for fun. I cannot speak for any of them, with regards to the "Happy Holidays" debate, nor would I want to. I have the utmost respect for other faiths and would never denigrate what they feel or believe. At the same time, I want my own choices to be respected as my own, as I respect theirs as in Ethics of Reciprocity. Isn't this after all, the "Golden Rule" no matter what your faith is?

For another mind boggling eye opener, don't forget the entire Santa Claus connection. His origins are also Pagan. Most religious historians and experts in folklore believe that there is no valid evidence to indicate that St. Nicholas ever existed as a human. In fact, there are quite a few indicators that his life story was simply recycled from those of Pagan gods. Many other ancient Pagan gods and goddesses were similarly Christianized in the early centuries of the Church. The Christian church created a fictional life history for St. Nicholas. He was given the name Hagios Nikolaos (a.k.a. St. Nicholas of Myra).

This season means many different things to many different people, and celebrating and embracing those differences when we find them could enrich us all. So, regardless of your faith or traditions, may peace find each of you at this special time of year.

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Winter Solstice! Happy Kwaanza! Happy Ramadan! Seasons Greetings!

Common Sense vs Governments

By reenee, Santa Maria

In an interesting twist of priorities, the Santa Maria City Council has nixed a homeowner's request to remove a tree from in front of his house. Root damage? No problem, they'll fix it they say. Let's take a look at how they've fixed it in the past, shall we? This particular sidewalk was patched in 1985 and 1988 as a result of root damage, then it was removed and replaced in 1990. It was patched again in 1997, and again, earlier this year. Now, it's on the list for replacement on the 2006 schedule. I for one would love to know how much this repetition has cost the city, both materials and labor, since it's common knowlege that it takes a crew of no less than six to seven people to do the work.

He needs to widen his driveway? No problem they say, expand towards the neighbor's property. Branches fall off of the tree? No problem, we'll clean them up, they say. You don't like the tree? No problem, when you get old like us, you'll appreciate it. How condescending and pompous is that? This is a young couple wanting only to make improvements to their property, they aren't stupid, and they aren't unappreciative. Instead of cooperation, they got arguments and reminiscences of tree climbing.

I'm willing to bet that this couple would have been happy to replace this tree with another, perhaps even two trees that would not be so damaging to their property or the city sidewalks. I wonder how many of these city council members objected to the removal of all of the trees that were ripped out by their roots right behind city hall over on McClelland Street. Oh wait! Perhaps they weren't "heritage trees." Besides, the library needed expansion, and I'm sure that those trees are sitting on ice somewhere ready to be replanted. Yeah, that must be it.

Considering that the Recreation and Parks Department earmarks more than $300,000 for trees, you'd think that all the trees all over the city would look better. However, a drive around town will tell you that some trees are not as well maintained as others, and neither are the sidewalks. I wonder why.

I happen to know from personal experience that if a tree or bush is on a corner, and a police officer driving by says that it obscures the view of oncoming traffic to drivers trying to cross the street, that tree or bush will be removed, no matter how long it's been there. Yes, it happened to me. However, as I digress, when large vans or industrial sized pickup trucks are parked more than 18 inches from the curb, obliterating the view of traffic for the hapless souls backing out of a driveway, or on a corner, obliterating the view of traffic for the hapless souls trying to drive across a street, nothing is done. Why is that? I was seriously thinking about painting the curb red, just west of my driveway, you think anyone would notice?

"It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense."

Next big problem for me when I'm not busy minding my own business is the way in which Arellanes Junior High School dealt with Hector Maldonado. I can understand calling the law if someone has a weapon, but a "scuffle"? There were originally four boys, ages 12 to 14, involved in two fights, but only two were taken to Juvenile Hall. Arellanos Principal, Carl Sousa says, "Santa Maria-Bonita School District rules mandate that law enforcement be notified whenever there is a conflict between two students." Apparently some administrators do not know the meaning of discretion. Cops being used as the last resort, or as a teaching tool is why a five year old Florida girl was handcuffed last April.

Officials of the local school district, county sheriff and federal immigration services say they are only following procedure that applies to every juvenile who is arrested and then determined to be in the country illegally. How about if the school tries to contact the parents about the student's behavior before calling the cops? How about if the cops try to find out if the parents are here legally before calling immigration? How about if immigration contacts the parents to try to further determine as to their resident status? The Public Information Officer at SMBSD, Maggie White says, “The school district and the school didn't do anything to create this situation, if anyone did this, it was the students involved.” But, Ms White, if common sense had kicked in at any one of several levels, would this 13 year old child have been driven all over the state in chains? This reminds me of the story of the men who were chasing a chicken they wanted to eat. When the chicken ran into a barn to hide, they blew up the barn to kill it.

Perhaps the people that are in positions that allow them to gloss over the real problems, or like to pass the buck, ought to imagine being the parents of a 13 year old that has been taken away. Then, they need to imagine what we'd all be paying for our fruits and veggies and wines if the undocumented workers, or illegal aliens, as the whiners like to call them, weren't here.