(no subject)
Dec. 1st, 2009 03:35 pmSo. We are starting to talk about seasonal decorations at the library. Now, I like Christmas/Yule decorations as much as the next person but as the library's designated non-Christian, I always end up being the person who points out that we are, y'know, a public library and as such should maybe not have specifically Christmas decorations. And then I feel kinda like a jerk for spoiling other people's fun.
And, y'know, it's not that Christmas decorations offend me or anything. It's not a personal issue, because that would be ridiculous - I would object even if I were Christian still. I object because we are a public library and we serve the whole community, not just the Christian part of it.
And also because, if I didn't, my coworkers wouldn't think about that kind of thing at all. Seriously, we were talking about December book displays and I mentioned that we can put up Hanukkah and Kwanzaa books as well as Christmas ones (and the one book we have on the winter solstice) and somehow this morphed in conversation into "multicultural Christmas traditions." Dear coworkers - Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are not "Christmas traditions". ::headdesk::
I know they know that, and of course it's just a slip of the tongue but it's a slip of the tongue made by a privileged person who fits in during the Christmas season, who sees their traditions honored everywhere they go. And of course, I'm privileged too, because I'm happy celebrating Christmas with my family, and my celebration of Yule slots fairly well into the Christmas season. But the public library shouldn't privilege anyone - that's part of the point - so I guess I will have to keep objecting or pointing out that maybe we should just decorate for winter and leave all the holidays at home where they belong.
And, y'know, it's not that Christmas decorations offend me or anything. It's not a personal issue, because that would be ridiculous - I would object even if I were Christian still. I object because we are a public library and we serve the whole community, not just the Christian part of it.
And also because, if I didn't, my coworkers wouldn't think about that kind of thing at all. Seriously, we were talking about December book displays and I mentioned that we can put up Hanukkah and Kwanzaa books as well as Christmas ones (and the one book we have on the winter solstice) and somehow this morphed in conversation into "multicultural Christmas traditions." Dear coworkers - Hanukkah and Kwanzaa are not "Christmas traditions". ::headdesk::
I know they know that, and of course it's just a slip of the tongue but it's a slip of the tongue made by a privileged person who fits in during the Christmas season, who sees their traditions honored everywhere they go. And of course, I'm privileged too, because I'm happy celebrating Christmas with my family, and my celebration of Yule slots fairly well into the Christmas season. But the public library shouldn't privilege anyone - that's part of the point - so I guess I will have to keep objecting or pointing out that maybe we should just decorate for winter and leave all the holidays at home where they belong.