More than one friend has shared with me that they don’t feel much like celebrating Christmas this year, given the direction our country seems to be headed.
Friends in this country from minority groups — racial, ethnic or religious — have shared how frightened their children are with the uncertainty about their status or acceptance.
Friends from Europe have shared the fear and dismay that they feel in response to the American election. To them, the U.S. moved overnight from being the cornerstone of stability in the world to being one of the world’s great uncertainties.
Foreign leaders, strong allies of the U.S. in the past, feel abandoned, while some countries have already warned their citizens not to travel to the U.S. because of the upswing of hate groups.
In all of these responses, I hear hopelessness and a sense of “darkness over the land,” as the biblical writer expressed it.
In light of this widespread despair, I have been thinking more and more about a comment I first heard in 2007 and have repeatedly heard in the years since. Leaders within Christianity, Buddhism and other religions, as well as within various spiritual movements, have been predicting a great spiritual awakening that will soon occur in the world.
The first time I heard this prediction, I laughed inwardly. Such a change is what our world needs, but I saw little evidence of such a transformation at the time. And on the surface, it would seem that our next president, who demeaned, labeled and targeted one group after another in his campaign, makes a mockery of any hope of a spiritual awakening.
But I am now not so sure. In fact, I am thinking that this moving of the human spirit is more likely to occur under Trump than under Clinton.
Clinton’s victory would have seduced those of us in the center and left of center to sit back and watch as Hillary battled the waves of intolerance, fear and hatred that had found voice in the election.
But on Nov. 9, we who voted for Clinton awoke to the reality that we would not have someone in the White House, nor a majority in the Senate and House to do the work for us. The work is now up to us.
The good news is that are many signs of new progressive activism since the election.
I think of the school systems that, in the wake of increased harassment of minorities, have acted immediately to remind all students that such behavior will be punished.
I think of the Muslim college student who in the days following the election was blocked from entering her class by a wall of white students. The next day, 300 fellow students escorted her to all her classes.
I think of the increasing number of persons who are wearing a large safety pin prominently on their shirts, blouses, sweaters or coats. Although this campaign began in Britain after Brexit, many Americans in the aftermath of the election are wearing the pin to make a similar statement: that they are safe persons for minorities.
I think also of all those Americans who have pledged, if any government official tries to make Muslims register in this country, to declare themselves as Muslims as well.
A study of such movements in the past reveals that spiritual growth rarely occurs in times of ease and comfort. Instead, it is times of crisis that stir the human spirit.
Even as Obama’s election and reelection spawned racist and hate groups in our country, so Trump’s election is bringing to the surface a commitment by millions to stand with those who are labeled or targeted.
We will no longer pretend that we don’t hear the racist or homophobic joke. We will no longer lower our heads when someone’s religion is demeaned. Those who think the election result gives them permission to belittle others should expect to hear from us. And we won’t be whispering.
So, let us celebrate this holiday season, and do so by changing the story of Christmas. As those of us who are Christians remember the story of Joseph and Mary, that refugee family from Nazareth that was turned away by the ancient citizens of Bethlehem, we pledge to do the opposite: to leave our lights on and our hearts open to the coming of God in the guise of our neighbors — all of them.
David Carlson is a professor of philosophy and religion at Franklin College and the author of “Peace Be with You: Monastic Wisdom for a Terror-Filled World” available in bookstores or on Amazon.com. Send comments to [email protected].
