Posted by
Logical Party on Tuesday, December 22, 2009 7:00:00 AM
Years ago on a summer vacation to Hawaii my father grabbed the attention of our potential cab driver by shouting out “hey Mack.” It became more humorous as I read the name on his hack license: Nokomura Yogasushi. This is standard fare for men of my father’s generation and there is actually no harm meant by it, to add “Thanks Mac,” “Morning John,” etc. Initially it is seen as a term of endearment or acknowledgement.
I wonder how we would feel if every morning while waiting for our company’s elevator, a worker from another company greets us by saying “How ya doin’ John,” and continues this practice every morning?
What started as well meaning would eventually gravitate to annoying. Hopefully we would approach the person and say “perhaps you have me confused with someone else,” or correct the situation by formally introducing ourselves.
Short of any action on our part, continuing to be addressed by the wrong name becomes downright disrespectful and displays a lack of true concern by the offending party to actually get to know us.
Why then would we wish someone a “Merry Christmas” if we don’t know them or their religious affiliation, if they have one at all?
The answer is simple: people are accustomed to a monogamous environment of the past where a majority of Americans were some form of Christian, with the occasional Jewish person correcting us along the way.
This is not to say that people aren’t well intentioned, and wishing one glad tidings is a great example of what we feel at this time of the year, good thoughts for all mankind we hope carries throughout the whole year.
Why not go the extra step to find out about our neighbors by asking them what Holiday they will be celebrating? This would show a caring concern and respect for their beliefs. Continuing to take for granted people who are Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu or Sikh, Taoists, or Atheists is insulting.
It’s time we broaden our horizons, acknowledge a new America and its diversity which also happens to be its strength; people of different backgrounds living in peace and harmony.
This is hard to accept for a generation who still believes that somewhere in our constitution it is stated America is a Christian nation even though our founding fathers went to great pains to devise a country where religion and state were separate and free.
David DiBello