Re: Holiday Music

[robert wiener <wiener...>]

Lori,

It seems that you've responded to a single sentence out of context.  If you
read my 3 prior posts you would see that I suggested that in "the PC sweep
of things" (your words) the label was changed from "Christmas Music" to
"Holiday Music".  In other words, I think that "Holiday Music" is the
"cleaned up" version.  Perhaps other group members will say what they think.

You misunderstand me if you think that I oppose private Christmas displays
in public (e.g., Christmas lights).  After all, we proudly display our
hanukiyot in our window.

(If we were to discuss religious displays on public property, Christian or
Jewish, then my reaction is quite different, despite what Antonin Scalia
thinks; but I think that goesbeyond the scope of our group.)

What I do oppose is the notion of a brother/sister-hood that leads us to
believe that we are part of (to use Wolf Krakowski's words) a "warm, fuzzy"
Judeo-Christian tradition in which everything is fungible and the religions
blend (perhaps Wolf would say bleed) into each other.  Multi-culturalism at
its best is acceptance of diversity, not a striving for homogeneity, a
"gentile/American tunnelvision".  My concern is precisely that some may come
to believe that Christmas observance is not merely "a particular brand of
American gentile culture", but American culture itself.  And that it's OK
for Jews to adopt it.

Is your "Jewish Christmas carol" a parody, the juxtaposition of two mutally
exclusive ideas intended to amuse?  Or is it an attempt to say that we're
just like them,.to participate in Christmas, an example of Jews for
Christmas?

Again, I think that the message of Hanukah is that Jews are not just like
non-Jews.  And they're not just like us.  I don't claim (as others might)
any religious or cultural superiority for us (just as I acknowledge no such
inferiority), but I do assert the difference.  And I believe that it is a
difference that matters.  I believe that it is what the Maccabees fought
for.

Perhaps that battle needs to be refought in every generation.  Perhaps we
need a miracle in every generation to maintain our identity.  Perhaps that
is what is meant by the second Hanukah candle blessing, "bayamim hahem,
bazman hazeh."

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: MaxwellSt (at) aol(dot)com <MaxwellSt (at) aol(dot)com>
To: World music from a Jewish slant. <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
Date: Wednesday, December 16, 1998 1:37 AM
Subject: Re: Holiday Music


>In a message dated 12/15/1998 10:48:54 PM Central Standard Time,
>wiener (at) mindspring(dot)com writes:
>
><< You wrote "What's wrong with "Holiday Music" [CD displays] only having
> Christmas music? ...  Who cares?"  The answer, as my posts show, is that I
> do.  These bins are not what they pretend to be.  They don't contain
> anything but Christmas music.   >>
>
>I used to be offended by this sort of gentile/American tunnelvision, but
>lately it hasn't bothered me.  I enjoy my neighborhood going ablaze with
>lights (although the plastic lawn ornaments still do bother me,
esthetically).
>What I am trying to say is that this particular brand of American gentile
>culture seems relatively benign and even pleasant, and I wonder if we
wouldn't
>do better to choose our battles before feeling the sting of oppression.
Does
>it matter if as far as they are concerned, Holiday Music = Christmas Music?
>It's a tradition here in these United States, although in the PC sweep of
>things I imagine it will be cleaned up sooner than later and replaced with
an
>inoffensive "Xmas Music" sign.
>
>I've been working on the first Jewish Christmas carol this season.  It will
>contain the line "From the Catholics to the Amish/All the goyim just got
>heimish..."  I hope that establishes just where I stand on good taste this
>holiday season.
>
>Peace On Earth.
>
>Lori
>