I posted this orginally as a commemt to a front page story. I haven't written a diary in months and haven't had a recommend diary since last year's Christmas story of "my greatest Christmas gift". So I thought I'd come out of my shell and post a diary again.
The Hospital in which I'm am employed has a Christmas tree lighting ceremony every year, now in it's 23rd year. I have attended every one for 20 years except 1 in 1988 when I was a traveling Nurse and I was in San Francisco. About 3,000 people gathered on the front lawn of the hospital.
A 30' Christmas tree in the center of the lawn surrounded by fifty 10' Christmas trees, one representing each State that the local community associations sponcer and decorate accordingly (Montana might have saddles and horses, Maine with Lobsters and Blue berries). They (the Hospital Administrators)fly in some qusi professional singer who performs Christmas music on a stage set with Christmas trees and lights. The performer gets to plug their "charity" usually an orphans home overseas. Of course the singer had to bring up that a "Muslim child came to know the joy of Christmas and the love of Jesus Christ" through her work, ok... I'm a life long Christian (That heathen branch called Episcopalians) and have read the Koran a few times... Muslims know who Christ is. So let's continue. The last song was Silent night and the crowd joined in.
Now this is near Tampa Florida...It was 5:30 PM and 75 degrees but this is how we get into the Christmas spirit. The hospital serves Hot coco and cookies, coffee and sell some veggie hot dogs (ADVENTIST). It's now getting dark. My former Priest (Reverend Mother) gets up and does the benediction....usual whiskeypailian non-treating generic prayer for Jesus and peace. Ok... private hospital grounds...religious hospital... so far no problem....I came here as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ...my personal Lord and savior (hold on atheist, I'm entitled to my Faith as your entitled to your non faith). Well here comes the Mayor of my City (a representative of government)!
The Mayor of ZEPHYRHILLS FLORIDA... FAMOUS FOR IT'S BOTTLED WATER and PARACHUTTES. "When I look around, I don't see HOLIDAY TREES I SEE CHRISTMAS TREES"! Now he repeats this about 3 times and over half of the people cheer! So I glance at my wife... who know that a smart ass comment is about to fall from my mouth about the mayor who I've known for years, "Who mentioned anything about holiday trees"? I can't believe that people fall for trumped up charges... but it didn't end here. My Christian feeling was about to leave me and I felt that I was time warped into the 1930's Nazi Germany era, the Reichstag. As I looked at the stage that the Mayor was on, on both sides were scaffolding holding 2 American flags 20' long as banners. Now granted on the stage was an American flag to the left and the Christian flag on the right, very traditional. As the Mayor did his "count down" and flipped the switch to light the lights on the Christmas trees (not the Holiday tree) and the Hospital accent lights. FIRE WORKS, STARS & STRIPES, JOHN PHILLIPS SUSSA music filled the air as the sky is filled with explosions and thunder...blue haired people picked up their lawn chairs and head towards their minivans.... then.... wait for it... LEE GREENWOOD... PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN payed over the PA system as the last song of the Christmas gathering!
I helped my 86 year old mother-in-law to my van (full size Chevy) which I pulled close to the lawn as the fire works went up in such patriotic display that I forgot it was Christ birth I was remembering not our Nations like it was an intentional interweaving of the two. I get in the drivers set... clearly agitated... and my wife, sitting in the back is singing.... "and I proud to be an American".
Ever since 911 this hospital & town has play patriotic songs at the end of the Christmas gathering. I said nothing. But I find it SO SCARRY that 98% of the people DO NOT NOTICE that it is crossing the line from patriotism to nationalism in the cloth of religion.... it is anything but the practice of "Freedom of religion" it is the display of power over people and how quickly we believe that what is right and good is turn on us. The next day I confronted my manager and my director of Nurses. I am one of two people who wear skull caps (surgical caps) of an American flag EVERY DAY in my hospital. When I told them how offend I was over the playing of 4th of July music at a Christmas event I was told "Maybe you should remove that flag from your head" and "we're at war now"! Both of these people have Master degrees. I'm lost in my Country!