“Humbug,” says Philadelphia
As a pre-boomer kid growing up in Philadelphia during and after WWII, Christmas was a joyful time of year for everyone. There was a festive spirit in the air and wishes of “Merry Christmas,” were on the lips of virtually everyone. The city joined with schools and churches and other community organizations to celebrate this important and legal holiday. What happened?
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Over the past decade, there has been a growing nationwide movement to take the name “Christmas” out of the holiday bearing this name. And, the success of these modern-day Scrooges threatens the very existence of this traditional holiday.
We are all too familiar with the abolishment of Christmas programs in our schools and the lack of Christmas symbols in public buildings. And those that do have a tree are required to call it a holiday tree. Or if a nativity is erected, other religious displays must get equal treatment, including something for atheists. How politically correct is that? Americas are welcome to celebrate or not celebrate Christmas. They are free to do this in their own way, but this does not give them the right to change the meaning of the day.
The latest in the long line of problems facing the overwhelming majority of Americans who celebrate Christmas is the current Philadelphia story. You have probably read or heard about it. There is a German Christmas Village set up on the plaza across from city hall, complete with vendor booths. The vendors are simply trying to make a living. They include Christians, Jews and Muslims as well as those not affiliated with any religion.
Philadelphia is a diverse city. Part of the diversity is the large number of residents whose German ancestors settled there prior to the Revolution. Another wave of Germans migrated to the city in the mid-1800s. In fact, an old section of the city is still known as Germantown. So a German Christmas Village is as Philadelphia as scrapple, soft pretzels and cheese steak sandwiches – the first two items have a German heritage.
But the city manager claimed there were complaints about using the word Christmas on the entry signs. Christmas was removed leaving a blank space between the words German and Village. Yet the word Christmas was allowed to remain on all promotional materials, including the signage inside the village itself. Days later, the city of brotherly love reversed the decision and placed Christmas back on the signs. The official word is that the village is a commercial enterprise, not a religious service. Many residents believe the uproar from people of all faiths is what caused the city fathers’ change of heart.
When will the politicians get the message? By being politically correct all they do is anger the people who elect them. Many people think the pols are too anxious to placate a few troublemakers who want to spread their unhappiness by spoiling the joy of Christmas for the rest of us. Or, are they totally out-of-touch with reality? In Philadelphia, at least for now, tradition prevailed and Christmas is back in the German Village.
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