Don’t be the Grinch who stole Christmas – embrace diversity! Published Dec. 14, 2007 By Col. Pete Peters 375th Medical Group SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- It's hard to believe that Christmas is just around the corner. Homes have been decorated, greetings are being sent to friends and relatives and many are searching for that perfect gift to place under the tree for their loved ones. This holiday season is a time when we celebrate long-held traditions and honor our faiths. It's a time when children learn about their family's beliefs and have parties in school. And it's a time, as perennial as the beautiful poinsettia, when debate stirs on how to celebrate Christmas without promoting religion or offending those of other faiths, or no faith, who don't celebrate Christmas at all. Our forefathers fought not to free our country from religion, but to make it free for all religions. There are more than 170,000 American military servicemembers, including about 480 from Scott Air Force Base, deployed to the Middle East this holiday season defending our American freedoms. To honor this ideal and the sacrifices made, we should encourage diverse celebrations of faith. It is our diversity that helps keep our military forces strong. Guess who's not celebrating Christmas this year? Millions of people in the United States don't celebrate Christmas religiously, either because they're followers of non-Christian faiths or because they have no religious affiliation. Because of the wide-spread commercialism of Christmas and the inescapable advertising of Santa and Christmas fanfare, it's easy at this time of year to overlook the depth of religious diversity present in America. Some of our fellow citizens will be celebrating the religious holidays of Hanukkah, Bodhi Day, Eid al-Adha, the Winter Solstice and the cultural holiday, Kwanzaa, among other important holidays. Many agnostics and atheists also celebrate Christmas as a time of reflection and togetherness. Christians and non-Christians alike will have Christmas trees decorated with lights and ornaments. This season is a time of exchanging presents and wishing one another good cheer. Celebrating our diversity is about using the holiday time to be with friends and family as well as building understanding and awareness of others. Some schools have banned Christmas carols and pageants, while others insist on playing only non-religious music at concerts. Citizens battle over where to place nativity scenes and lighting displays on government property; candy canes and red and green napkins are the focus of lawsuits. Communities argue whether to have a "Holiday" or "Christmas" tree; and the never-ending question, how to greet each other to express seasonal cheer - "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas?" Do these actions and lawsuits contribute to celebrating our diversity and bringing Americans together or work to impose a boring uniformity upon all of us? The Latin motto on the Great Seal of the United States, E Pluribus Unum, means, "out of many, one." This 225-year-old motto recognizes diversity is what contributes to our unity. Our variety as a nation and our differences help make this country great. But how do we celebrate the diversity of faiths during this season without offending others? I think we best celebrate our differences, the wonderful mixture of faiths in America, by embracing the traditions and faiths for what they are, by being respectful of our difference, and not worrying about being offended by others' beliefs. When Americans celebrate their individual holidays that are so important to their beliefs, isn't it a truer, more honest celebration if our rich national diversity isn't lumped into one no-name greeting like "Happy Holidays?" Using such a generic greeting diminishes the significance of one's celebration and contributes to suppressing the large variety of faiths and cultures in America. All Americans win when we acknowledge the rich blend of diversity and support individual faith celebrations. I encourage all of us this holiday season to learn something about other faiths and not be too quick to be offended. Take an interest in other people's traditions; ask them what holidays they celebrate and why. Our lives will be enriched by a greater mutual understanding of our various traditions and beliefs. And perhaps this season we'll discover what the Grinch did in that beloved children's story: "Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas ... perhaps ... means a little bit more!"