Opinion: An Expression of Individual Freedom

by Logan Ferrell ('11)

Entering into another holiday season, most people are filled with excitement and joy. However dissenters always emerge around this time of year— those who feel that outside the home, celebration of holidays like Christmas should be conducted in a more universal and secular way.

The basis of such arguments of the latter, as cited by its supporters, is that officially sanctioned Christmas events defy the secular idea of American establishments and leave out those not celebrating the sanctioned holiday.

The traditional, and in my opinion inefficient, arguments brought against such a statement, is that America is founded on Christian beliefs and should retain a Christian character. Personally, I find several more logical arguments than that, none straying so close to authorizing a state sponsorship of any one religion.

Likewise, the celebration of any holiday, religious or not, always lies in the hands of the individual, who may express such celebrations as one likes as long as they do not infringe on the actions of another.

Some now say, that to endorse any holiday in particular, via celebration or greeting, is to discriminate against those who do not believe in the said holiday. The notion of celebration is not nearly so exclusive as it is made out to be. Celebration and belief lie within the individual, and it will always be one’s choice to take part in any celebration.

Holiday events, even if government-hosted, are not planned with malicious intent or to purposefully alienate those who chose to celebrate other the holiday. Nor do they represent a targeted trampling of American political principals.

Instead, those who don’t wish to participate in such a event have every right to decline, and even organize their own celebration. There is no censure and no retribution, for the broaching of personal religious beliefs.

When it comes down to it, public celebration of Christmas isn’t an a assault on a secular America; it is the ideal example of everybody’s inalienable right to choose. That is the true embodiment of our privileged religious freedom.

Even ignoring the religious aspects, the holiday offers some inherently good qualities in what it has become. In modern America, the season represents a time for giving to others and service to the community. At no other time of the year do we see those usually committed to selfishness suddenly devoted to generosity and charity.

For many in the world, the freedoms we take for granted are foreign concepts that will never become a reality. As opposed to bickering over the nature of celebration, and discussing the institution of a “war on Christmas,” we should remember the action truly appropriate during this season. That is giving thanks for all that we have.