ENGL 120
This essay must have at least three sources, at least one of which cannot be electronic, and be at least 750 words, not counting the cover/citation pages. Everything must be cited, both in-text and end-page. Here is a list of potential topics, assisted by the Web site the university writing center: Should Christmas, Easter, and other religious observances be considered national holidays?
Spend some time outlining the issue. What are the sides of the argument, and why are they in disagreement? What is keeping them apart? Discuss the points made by each side, then take your own stance on the matter. How do you feel about the subject at hand? Why do you feel this way? How do you feel on the issue now, as opposed to how you felt before you began the piece? Do you feel even stronger than before? Has your stance lessened? Do you feel the exact same, or have you changed your own mind?
Why should we celebrate Christmas, Easter, and other religious observances as national holidays if we are not Catholic or Christian, Muslim, Jewish, or members of a religious group? In the US, nearly 69 million Catholic members celebrate Christmas (United States Census Bureau, 2012), Muslims observe Ramadan, most Jewish people honor the Passover (Pesach), to name a few groups. However, have you ever asked yourself if everyone would like to celebrate these special events or even would consider them as national holidays? Although I am not an atheist, agnostic, or anyone of that sort, I believe there are better ways to spend these religious occasions fairly and justly in a democratic or egalitarian society.
There is a “separation of church and state” (The Library of Congress, n.d.). However, a government favors a specific religious group when it declares a religious observance into a national holiday. Even if a government do not declare a religious event as a holiday; yet, given the fact that it is already embedded in the tradition or custom of a country, there is no other way but to celebrate it. For instance, after a country was colonized and its people became converts through deceit, coercion, or volunteerism, succeeding generations simply embrace it as their own. If they trace back their history and parentage affiliation, generations after generations, there has always been a pattern. Some parents would even say to their children, “We were born as Catholics and we will die as Catholics.”
Even with the separation of power between the state and religions, religious events are observed for various reasons because they bond or unite people from different social, economic, demographic, etc. backgrounds. During the era of slavery in America, slave masters use holidays as “safety valves” to keep down the spirit of insurrection (Douglass, 2009, p. 183). Masters use holidays as a sign of their ‘goodwill, benevolence, or kindness’ towards the downtrodden slaves who have “little to choose between liberty and slavery” (Douglass, 2009, p. 185).
Most people observe national holidays because it is how things are. Religious groups cannot do away without it because it is another form of “evangelizing” people. To have more members, a variety of sects use holidays to show their fellowship, unity, and charity. On the part of the government, some leaders use their power to enact laws and make an important church event a memorable one. Because national holidays have become so ingrained in the mind of the public, they are what they always appear to be – a “welcome break” where works and businesses are officially suspended due to the prevailing religious custom and/or governmental law (US Department of Commerce, n.d.).
At this juncture, let me now put the matter straight. I am not against national holidays, but everything should be done fairly in the name of religion, democracy, and equality among humankind. I am not an iconoclast because I do not see myself as attacking any cherished traditions. I am only against the way things are decided and acted upon because some people are entangled so much with their own beliefs that they forget the rights of others.
In a democracy, people have equal rights, not only in choosing their religion, but also in the manner they express or celebrate them. Although democracy is the rule of the majority, it is but a narrow viewed of what a democratic society really is. Even those in the minority or marginalized sectors of society have the right to be heard. If there are laws that favor one group over the other, it is a violation of other people’s sacred rights. Instead of declaring religious observances as national holidays, religious leaders should be the first to know by informing their members. Religious leaders should be sensitive enough about the interest of other people outside their group. For instance, if Catholics and other sects celebrate Christmas, they should observe it accordingly. No religious group should advance their own interest in the name of religion. Holidays should be an internal affair among religions. There should only be national holidays conducted only by religious groups concerned within their yard. If a holiday falls during working weekdays, members of a particular religion should avail themselves of official leave. They should write a letter of absence for their children who attend schools. I believe this is a fair practice considering that religions should set the initial good examples.
In addition to the above supporting ideas, I strongly believe that the government’s responsibility is to pass laws wherein there are national holidays on higher-order emotive and logical thinking. People should learn to think for themselves because many religious leaders or groups might be using them for filthy lucre gains only (The Economist, 2012). The reason for my dubiety is that behind the turf of religious ceremonies and celebrations, there are religious leaders who use religion out of malicious intent and hidden agenda. They are not really teaching people the right values or virtues, but only taking advantage of peoples’ innocence or ignorance. Some religious authorities these days, just like in former times, where religion and people are used for them to amass more wealth and advance wrong ideologies. People should think for themselves and should not be so easily swayed by false religious leaders’ ‘personal beliefs and subterfuges.’
Nonetheless, if we cannot do nothing about religious observances being national holidays, every religious group should be given equal treatment. Each religion should have their major religious celebration declared as national holiday, especially in a nation that values democracy. Even the smallest of religious sects should have their national holiday. However, much has to be argued about this matter if such were the case because too much holidays will affect the financial stability of any country. Thus, the state should make it a point that religious groups should observed their own holidays using their own resources, days, etc. for nothing is far from the truth when done appropriately, honestly, and justly
With all the above rationale, as a Christian, I would like to see a day where there is no preference to particular religious groups. National holidays should only be observed by concerned religious leaders and members within their own lot and using their own resources. We should not be biased especially in religion. If we truly are religious people with good conscience and excellent religious beliefs and practices, we should take into consideration the beliefs and practices of other people fairly and squarely. We are all brothers, anyway. We should not be held blindly by religious fanaticism. Whatever we profess ourselves to be should manifest in the way we think, act, and treat others.
References
Douglass, Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2009.
The Economist. (2012, August 18). The Catholic church in America: Earthly concerns. Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/node/21560536
The Library of Congress. (n.d.). Thomas Jefferson: Establishing A Federal Republic. Retrieved from Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/jefffed.html
United States Census Bureau. (2012). Population: Religion: 76 - Religious Bodies--Selected Data [Excel 29k] | [PDF 62k]. Retrieved from The 2012 Statistical Abstract: The National Data Book: http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/population/religion.html
US Department of Commerce. (n.d.). Federal, State & Local Holidays. Retrieved from Commerce Employees: http://hr.commerce.gov/Employees/Leave/DEV01_005944
