With the holiday season starting to bloom up again, lights, Christmas trees and inflatable snowman have also appeared. From the houses to the streets, the Christmas spirit is surely visible. One of those decorated places, includes our very own main office in the main lobby.
Traditionally public schools have been dominated by the Christian religion, so the Christmas holiday season and other events have gone unnoticed. Recently many people put the point forward that since times are changing, schools and our laws should also be adapting along with them. Many people have asked if Christmas is a public offense and it’s been brought up in numerous occasions.
Each and everyday our school becomes more and more diverse with the different cultures and religions all coming together, many argue that we also need to depict the many religions and holidays through out the school. But unlike some schools, AHS has a great deal of love and acceptance towards the Christmas decorations.
“I love Christmas decorations and I personally don’t think they offend anybody because Christmas has become very secularized and when people celebrate it today most of them don’t do it for the religious meaning behind the holiday,” senior Jasmine Pringle said.
Just like most of the AHS student body, I don’t think putting a Christmas tree and other holiday decorations in the main office should be offensive to any person or any religion. First off, the Christmas tree has nothing to do with the Christian religion.
Over the years, the tree has actually become a Western tradition. Specifically, the tree and it’s lights are traditions that symbolize the winter festival and the warmth of the cold season. By mistaking the tree and all the other decorations as offensive to the other religions, we are making a foolish mistake. Another thing to take note of is that setting up Christmas decorations just brings up a happy and fun feeling.
When you listen to catchy Christmas songs, I am not thinking the song is offensive and is going against my religion.
Also if you think about it, Muslims get the Eid holiday marked off as a an excused absence. It may not be a national holiday, but neither is Hanukkah a national holiday or Holi: an Indian holiday. Christmas is the only one that seems to be a national holiday.
But unlike the views of the AHS students, many people outside of our circumstances view this topic very differently. In recent news, a Christmas toy drive was shut down at a school when an anti-religious group threatened to sue the school. Skyview Academy decided to participate in the toy drive; Operation Christmas Child. Due to a threat by AHA of a lawsuit, the school had to shut it down.“The gifts are actually an effort to proselytize poor children,” director of AHA Roy Speckhardt said. He argued on how public schools should not partner with any group that seeks to convert children to Christianity. “These gifts are gifts with strings attached,” Speckhardt said.
Things like this don’t make sense, because people mix Christmas and Christianity, even though that’s not the case.
As a Muslim girl, I actually love the feeling and spirit of Christmas. It makes the month of December so much more different and it just lightens up everything. The Christmas tree and the decorations in no way offends a persons religion, it’s just a way to celebrate the joyful spirit of the season.
Luckily we don’t have to worry about any revolts or hate against the Christmas decorations at AHS, but a lot of people don’t hold the same views as us.