I just read the chat history of a
blackberry messenger group that was in discussion about whether “halal” or no if
someone sends a Merry Christmas greeting for their friends, colleagues or
neighbors who celebrate it. Certainly I don’t know if it happened in other
countries but it has been happening here, in my country for couple years
recently. It doesn’t even take a place
in many discussions, but as an open controversy instead that brings many pros and cons. People who stand at cons side took the parts of holy scripture as
“legal standing” for their arguments, whereas the pros side stands for supporting
of tolerance and respect as humankind.
***
Totally I don’t understand what
is the principal reason at the back of this controversy. I’ve been living for nearly
30 years and doing Christmas celebration each years. However, that is real if
my Christmas at childhood was totally different from today. When I was a child,
I used to find a lot of Christmas programs on local Tv’s channels easily, full
of 2 weeks to and after Christmas eve, but today, hardly to find them, probably
2 or 3 days going to Christmas. Then another controversy about the
recommendation of the related minister to do not wear any Christmas attributes
for them who does not celebrate it. I am
sorry but this absolutely does not make a sense. How about the department
stores, groceries, banks and any others shop decorate their rooms and encourage
their employers or shop keepers to wear any Christmas attributes for marketing
purposes? Does it wrong? What is the different between Christmas to other
celebration days? Honestly, I couldn’t find these controversies when I was a
child. All celebration days went in well circumstances, with harmony and full
of tolerance. Totally different from today.
***
Once again. I totally do not
understand about these controversies. I even wouldn’t speculate about the
reason. The only one thing I want to do is shout for those people out there
with all them controversies. “HEY
BUDDIES, THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION IS NOT ABOUT ITS DECORATIONS,
ATTRIBUTES OR GREETINGS AS YOU’RE ARGUING ABOUT. CHRISTMAS IS THE CELEBRATION
OF THE JOY, PEACE AND HOPE FOR A BETTER LIFE BY THE “NATAL” PROCESS. It
doesn’t matter if Christmas celebration without any attributes, decorations or
greetings, it wouldn’t diminish principal meaning of Christmas, dudes! As we,
the Christian, believe that as well as the Saviour coming by His “NATAL”
brought the joy, peace and hope, Christmas celebration each years will bring
those things into people’s heart, life, family, community, society, and even
around the world. Whether other celebration days has a similar meaning,
bringing the joy, happines, peace and hope? If yes, why is Christmas being
treated like a “threat”? C’mon dudes, please stop wasting time for those
unimportant things. Life is better when we loving than arguing each other. There are many important things that need our
attention, ideas and discussions to develop our life, family, society, and
country. Treat others based on religion, gender, clan or any discriminative
tendency as a threat and have to be demolished, is a kind of barbarian.
Indonesian people do not like that.
***
Well, honestly it also has to be
recognized that sometimes Indonesian Christian communities have rousing and
glamorous Christmas celebration with parties and gala dinner. Then they forget about those people out there who
strugling everyday to survive. Those people who lives in poverty, without
proper house and earning; children without education with high risk abusing; unproductive women with many social problems
such as gender, injustice, violence, etc; mentality of corruption at any levels
of government; government policies which robbing people rights; the destruction
of nature by the massive technologies; and etc. People lives with no joy, no
peace and no hope. Sometimes these
realities has been disapeared because of glamorous and “bling” Christmas
celebration. Then the principal meaning of Christmas is being dull. Joy, peace
and hope not more than a Christmas carol inside the Church building. Its echo
is being stucked between the imposing stone walls of Church, only for Christian,
and would not be heared by the world. So, once again I remain you about the
real meaning of Christmas. IN SPITE OF
DECORATIONS, ATTRIBUTES OR GREETINGS, CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATION OF THE JOY,
PEACE AND HOPE FOR A BETTER LIFE.
***
Last, but not least.. Merry Christmas
for all Christian from Sabang to Merauke. Please remain the principal meaning
of the Christmas Celebration. Merry Christmas for all Indonesian people who
ready for the joy, peace and hope. Please remain the equally of us as
humankind. Merry Christmas for them in controversies circle. We are not
enemies, we are friend, we are brothers, we are Indonesian. Merry Christmas to
the world, to the universe, to the galaxy...from Indonesia,
Christmas Reflection 2015
 |
| Me and cousins after Christmas Eve service. Merry Christmas!! |
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