My rant about "The War on Christmas" ...from a disturbed mom [View all]

[FirstLight]

I can remember the first holiday event we had at my school that did NOT include traditional Christmas songs... my new principal was Jewish, and decided to include a more rounded view of the holiday as an educational tool. My mom was upset, but still, it was 1980 and we still called it a Christmas Pageant too...

Fast forward to our little school in our little school district...high in the Northern CA mtns, where you would think that tolerance would be held in very high regard.
(disclaimer: I AM a religious/spiritual person, I happen to love my little Lutheran church, but also attend the Unity as well...I attend a Native American circle and practice ceremony that may look Pagan as well... I believe there is nothing wrong with faith and the practice of honoring divinity in our surroundings. I think in a lot of ways, quantum field IS God...etc.etc... so I am not usually one to bitch about "bringing GOD back" into our schools or the usual fundie approach to this.... BUT, that being said....)

So, my kid comes home this year with his songs for the "holiday music assembly" and there is a really long Rap song called 'YO! YO! YO! Chrismas.' This song includes lyrics to the effect of :

"stick it, stick it in"
"wrap it baby"
"tie it up"
and the worst... "you know you want it"

sorry, but my 4th grader has no business saying those things, and WTF a RAP SONG???
All about presents presents presents!!!??
My boyfriend actually stopped him from singing it around his 6 year old, we told him it wasn't appropriate, and he gets it.

I got pissed... here's my letter to the teacher and the school:

Dear Mrs. ___ & Principal ____;

I have noted the 'political correctness' movement has prevented us from singing most traditional Christmas songs...Even our usual Christmas Event is now a "Holiday" event.
This is fine, I understand the need for removing certain religious things from our mainstream so that others won't be offended. (though personally, Christmas is not Christmas without some Joy to the World or Little Town of Bethlehem...)

However, what you put in its place is JUST as important.

I am Seriously offended and upset by the YoYoYo Christmas Rap that this class is doing. Telling the kids they "know they want it" and to "stick it in" is NOT what Christmas is about! I will be keeping him home the day of the performance,

AND I request that he be allowed to go and read instead of practicing these songs. I don't want those thoughts or words even in his head, it's just wrong. He has to catch up on reading points anyway, so let him do something quiet instead...
...

In fact, ALL religions celebrate the return of LIGHT at this time of year...why can't we teach the kids the REAL lesson behind the meaning? The Winter Solstice was an important time for our ancestors, and the return of the Sun was a literal return of Life for those who lived off the bounty of the Earth. Jesus, among others, are important symbols of that Light and Life...what's wrong with celebrating that? It's surely more Life affirming and positive of a message than "gimme-gimme" and "what can I get?"
I thought this was supposed to be a time to re-affirm the qualities of Peace, Brotherhood of Mankind, and Charity...
Please reconsider the direction you are taking with this Celebration.

My next step is to send them a page of research/links I have found to show the Solstice Celebrations of Hindu/Chinese/ Native American/ etc. cultures ...I intend to ask them if they would like me to present a 20-30 minute piece on "Christmas around the World" to the classes.

If you can't beat 'em, educate 'em!