Christmas...er...excuse my intolerance

So what is all this hullabaloo regarding religious sensitivity and the Christmas message?

It is truly interesting how we got to this point and what that may say about the future of American life, including politics. We (the American culture as a whole) have allowed diversity to be defined in some very illogical ways. Here's what I mean:

While I agree there is value in ensuring minority voices are heard, I think our approach cheapens and quiets those minority voices. Why? Because we have decided that engaging in passionate, open and public discourse about issues on which we disagree is not healthy. Instead, we segregate, circle the wagons and sit around our respective fires singing kum-ba-ya, the Indigo Girls, Urban beats or world music. In doing so, each voice is heard only in its own context. There is no comparison other than to the undefined "rest of them out there." Thus, richness and diversity is actually quelled because one cannot appreciate diversity in a homogeneous environment. It happens all over. We can't appreciate the need for bio-diversity if we've never seen the difference between barren cut forests and thriving ones. We can't fully appreciate the richness of the Jewish faith if we live in a synagogue and never venture out. We couldn't appreciate red cars if all cars were red. I can't appreciate my favorite restaurant unless I've eaten at others that I don't like as much.

In this season defined and infused with meaning by the birth of Jesus Christ I think we should celebrate the simplicity and humility of the story. And in order to really do that, we have to allow it to be told in all its richness as a contrast to, not a quiet voice in, our consumer society.

-joel