Speaking Up

When the issue first arose in our town regarding religious music in a public school winter concert to me the response was swift and pointed. The establishment clause in the first amendment clearly implies a freedom from religion. As a person brought up in the Presbyterian Church and attended Catholic school from 5 th grade through high school graduation religion is a topic with which I am quite familiar as is the history of our country.

There was a swell of outrage regarding the removal of three specific songs. “We Sing Gloria”, “The Kings from the East” and “Bring a Torch Jeanette, Isabella”. I was shocked at the outrage. I was shocked these overtly Christian songs were in the program to begin with. As a Christian I felt they had no place in a fourth grade music class in a public school and as an American I was outraged that this was even an issue at all.

The debate began on social media. It became heated almost immediately. I remained respectful in my disagreement that this was an attack on Christmas. I stayed resolute in my defense of this as a first amendment issue. As the debate continued it became clear this was not just about the Constitutional interpretation of the first Amendment. It was much bigger. It was personal.

I began to realize why there was such an uproar. It was religion. Religion is so personal it goes to the core of the being of many. It is about faith and spirituality. It is brings up complex emotions.

As a community we were clearly divided. The debate reached a fevered pitch on several occasions. Adults were becoming bullies and using words as weapons instead of constructive tools. Posts were deleted and people were banned from groups.

I continued in my pursuit of the issue and my defense of what eventually turned out to be a private concern that a parent raised. The parent is Jewish and her husband Christian. Her child feeling uncomfortable singing about Jesus as the Messiah led to a discussion with the principal which got out somehow and was now everywhere. She came forward and took abuse. She had to stop her fight publically and return to the private realm. I continued my fight for what I now believed even more strongly was a just cause.

Next came the argument that the songs list was diverse and that stifling the teachings of Christianity was exclusion when the focus should be inclusion. We to me this argument is and always will be fundamentally flawed since there were no songs representing Islam, Hinduism or any other faiths. If I invite someone into my Church to worship they have a choice. They can take it or leave it. If this was a religion class where all religions were discussed analytically and from a safe distance it would be different. This was not about teaching diversity of thought. This was forced participation in religious practice.

I remained baffled at what I saw as a clear misinterpretation of the meaning of diversity and the purpose of Christianity. When the fight became about keeping Christ in Christmas I began to even more fervently defend my stance from the perspective of a Christian. I asked the community what Jesus would do. I firmly believe he would take the hands of those in the community we have outcast based on their challenge of the status quo and ask why we did not treat them better. As I understand it, that was kind of his thing.

It became about standing up for Christmas and our tradition as a country. The ultimate irony was our town was founded by a Quaker. Back then singing and musical instruments were not permitted in the religion. One of our most famous members of our community was Thomas Paine. A Deist who wrote “The Age of Reason” which denounces organized religion. Again the arguments remained fundamentally flawed about the origins of our country and the intent of our founding father of both our country and our community and when challenged these truths were tossed aside as invalid.

There were articles in the local papers and eventually it even reached the level of national news. The O’Reilly Factor featured the issue as part of continued proof of the war on Christmas. Bill went so far as to refer to our superintendent as a pinhead. Many in the town were embarrassed by the “negative” attention. I believe and still do this important issue is relevant to all and should be discussed.

I stand by my fight for what I believe is a just cause. I stand by it as a member of a community where I came to raise a family. We chose it based on the diversity of the community. Clearly as an interracial couple we value a community that truly values diversity. This is yet another reason I continue the fight.

I wrote letters to the Board of Education and to the Superintendent of Schools. Both Rolston and I felt strongly enough to attend the Board of Education meeting. After long discussions and regular board business it was time for public comments. People spoke from the heart on both sides of the issue. I knew I had to speak up.

So I leaned to Rolston and said I think I want to speak. He was like just don’t swear. I met many wonderful people through this process and one woman stood up just as I was about to. She was one of the first who I met who was threatened pretty directly because she came out in support of the ban and defended me. She was so upset she was on the verge of tears. She was nervous, but it was beautiful and passionate and sincere. She spoke from the heart.

Then I stood up and spoke directly to the board about the responsibility they have in making this policy and how important it was for them to understand that there are many Christian members in the community who agree with the ban. I spoke about my beliefs that it is wrong to sing songs of praise as part of a fourth grade mandatory curriculum. I asked them to be sure to consider the forum and that this is not an optional high school club or me asking my friend to sing in the hallway and that it makes a difference when you look at the context. I also mentioned that the song list was not at all diverse and that this was not a war on Christmas. I thanked them for giving us the forum to discuss the issue rather than speculate on Facebook and took my seat. I felt good about speaking up.

I learned a lot about myself through this whole affair. I am very passionate. I think this could lead to public service in the future. I am also energized by debate especially when the topic is important and relevant to the community I live in.

It also brought up many feelings about parenthood and how I will raise my children. I will teach my children to stand up for what is right in a respectful and educated manner. They must have facts on their side even in an emotional situation. They will learn to think analytically about all issues and learn to be empathetic because although I did not agree with many, I did my best to always see where they were coming from and do my best to understand. Most of all they will learn that in this country we have the greatest freedom to do what so many would and have killed for…the ability to speak up!

Happy Halloween!

My town is the Halloween town. We have a Halloween parade and I am not referring to a bunch of kids in costumes walking in a line. Oh no this is the real deal with floats and marching bands and candy flying from all directions.

We took Brenton last year, but he was unimpressed. I think he was simply too young. Well this year was a completely different story. Dressed as Wolverine with sunglasses on and jack o’ lantern candy sack in tow, we headed to our neighbors for the parade. He was excited. He knew something was happening. There were so many people gathering. He was waving to everyone along the way and they just loved his enthusiasm and his adorable costume.

We arrived and went inside for a bit, but he was insistent that we go outside. So out we went and waited for the parade to start. He ran back and forth and pointed at the first group in line. He wanted it to being and so did I.

Then it began and he was entranced. He gathered candy and put it in his bag. After a while he was curious to know why the candy had to stay in the bag and began taking it out in handfuls. I distracted him with a lollipop. Well four actually over the course of the parade and the subsequent time spent hanging out with parents and their children. At one point Brenton was perhaps convinced he was in the parade and began marching and dancing on the neighbor’s driveway. I caught it on camera. Now that was a treat!

Aside from the parade the town also has a house decorating contest. We decorate, but do not enter the contest. We are not that exciting, but the winners are always quite impressive in their designs. Along the same line is our dear Thompson Street. Each year they select a theme and this year it was the Wizard of Oz.

To say it is impressive is an understatement. It is everything you can imagine about the Wizard of Oz and the magic of Halloween all rolled into one. We made our way to Thompson Street a little before 6 on Halloween night. The crowds intensified as we approached. The children and adults alike were filled with anticipation to see the spectacle.

It was better than I imagined. Greeted by residents and the yellow brick road we began our journey. Brenton was slightly overwhelmed as was I. There was so much to look at. The houses with the flying monkeys and the ruby slippers and the film projected on a makeshift screen on one of the homes. The lights, the witches good and bad, the whole cast was represented. A tornado was also constructed and the woman on her bicycle was high above in a tree.

It was almost too much excitement for all of us. Children were shrieking with delight as they filled their bags with treats and everyone saying Happy Halloween as they greeted one another. The crowd was just enchanted and there was no denying it. Everyone was enjoying themselves.

As we neared the end of the street we saw the glowing lights from a field of jack o lanterns. It took my breath away to see them all. They were meticulously carved and in the center of the display read Happy Halloween in glowing candle light from the transformed pumpkins. Rolston lifted Brenton as I took pictures. It was a marvelous end to our adventure.

We returned home and continued the fun handing out candy to all the children. We brought chairs to the end of our driveway and from our perches we went through almost three bowls of candy. Many came from Thompson Street and remembered our little Wolverine. He was eating kit kat and was very excited to see all the children in their costumes. He stole a few from our bowl as well. So many smiles they were contagious.

It was a magical night! I have always loved Halloween. I think I might even say it is my favorite holiday. I have definitely moved to the right town to celebrate and my son seems to be just as enchanted with it as I am. Next year we will have another little one to bring on our adventure to Thompson Street. I wonder what the theme will be. I can’t imagine how they will top themselves, but I hear they always do. I can’t wait!