December 25, 2006

 

Merry ... Holidays!

Well I've got the car loaded up and I'm just about to go home to visit my family and I thought I'd send out a Merry Christmas message; but then it occurred to me that that's kind of exclusive of me and I was thinking how traditionally the holidays have been about celebrating what makes us unique as a group of people. For me growing up Christian that meant sharing time with my family and celebrating the birth of Christ and the enlightenment he brought to the world.

But in the world we live in today it seems more important than ever that we celebrate, love, and respect all people; not just in spite of our religious and cultural differences, but in light of our differences. We need to be about bridging the divides between us, because when it comes down to it we're not all that different. In fact, all of us are 97 percent the same genetically as a Chimpanzee (although I think my dad is a lot closer). My new years resolution is to at least understand better where other people are coming from.

So for now and the months ahead I'll say: Merry Christmas, and Happy Chaunakah (a little belated), and Happy Eid ul-Adha, and Happy Kwanzaa, and Merry Mahaparinirvana, and Happy Holaka(Pagwa), ...and for any good spirited Atheists out there (and I have wondered if I am one) well when you get a holiday you can get a holiday cheer too but I guess for right now can share in a Happy New Years!

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