I am a Vegan,Atheist and Socialist so the holiday season,with it’s overdose of Capitalism and Religion is not pleasant,to say the least. The consumerism,the dead turkeys,the endless visions of Santa Claus and talk of baby Jesus makes me want to play a game of Russian roulette with a full chamber.
In the past years I have bent over backwards to accommodate family and friends who do not share my views because I didn’t want to be rude,or hurt their feelings. I sat in on Christmas dinner,eating bread and side dishes,turning my head during the prayer,and pretending that I was not completely miserable. Why? because I wanted everyone else to have a good time. I didn’t want to be that “strange” family member who becomes and inconvenience to everyone else. I kept my political views and passions to myself out of respect for theirs.Recently,however,I have been questioning my decision to conform to these traditions that I am so against.I have come to believe that it belittles and de-legitimizes who I am and what I stand for when I silence myself. One of my favorite quotes of all time comes from a song by the band Refused: “Rather be forgotten then remembered for giving in”. I am proud of who I am. I am proud of being a Vegan,Atheist,and Socialist. I am proud of what I stand for and I think that when I embrace and take part in celebrations of lifestyles and beliefs that I find to be unethical and destructive I am betraying myself and surrendering a fight I have dedicated my life to. I am trading my beliefs in for peace of mind. I am keeping quiet out of respect for people who do not give me the same respect,and I can no longer respect myself if the only time that I stand up for my beliefs is when it’s convenient or accepted. I knew damn well when I chose to get involved in this fight that it would be a lonely road.
A lot of us do this. We do it for our family,for our neighbors,for our co-workers and our friends. We take part in Secret Santa,and Christmas parties,Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas shopping. We say “Happy Holidays” to strangers because we tell ourselves that it shows we are not believers and yet we’re still nice people because deep down we feel as if what we believe is wrong. We do all these little things because we don’t want to be Scrooge. We don’t want to be mean. We don’t want our family members to hide their children from us because they know we’ll tell them Santa is a lie. We don’t want to be the outsider and we don’t want to make anyone else feel like the outsider.
However,when are we the recipients of such thoughtfulness? When do our family members,neighbors,co-workers and friends sacrifice their beliefs and traditions for us?
When do they skip eating Turkey in front of us because they know it offends us? When do they skip celebrating Christmas because they know we don’t? When do they say their prayers quietly because they know we are non-believers? When do people conform to our lifestyle out of respect for us?
The answer is quick,easy,and we all know it’s true…NEVER.
The truth is,no matter how much your family,neighbors,co-workers and friends love you,respect you,and enjoy your company they will never sacrifice these important traditions for us because to them our beliefs are fringe. They either believe we’ll grow out of it or we’re not that dedicated,because we are so quick to surrender our beliefs to theirs. The only way we can begin to make a place for our beliefs and traditions,and begin to make an impact on society,is by NOT sacrificing our beliefs for the sake of friends and family when they may seem inconvenient. We have to stop being afraid of being the bad guy and we have to stand firm in our beliefs. We have to make a statement and tell those around us that we simply can not take part in their traditions. We have to tell them that these traditions are offensive and obscene to us and we can not comprise who we for peace of mind. We have to remember the reasons why we are against these traditions to begin with. We have to remember that religion and religious traditions lead to war,death and suffering. We have to remember that Capitalism and the rampant consumerism we are constantly pressured by our corrupt leaders to take part in is not a sustainable way of life. We have to remember that the Turkey on the Christmas table suffered and was slaughtered because of religious tradition and a capitalist system in which the giant food corporations brainwash our citizens into believing that meat is something we need for survival and an educational system that is so lacking that it fails to teach children that we are NOT carnivores and our human body was not meant to live on meat and dairy. That turkey didn’t surrender it’s beliefs so that people can celebrate their holiday,it’s life was taken by people who believe God gave them the Earth to do with as they please. Christmas is not the innocent birthday of a mythological,Progressive and enlightened man who’s message has been lost over the years,rather it is the anniversary and celebration of a Dogma that has led to countless crusades and wars. Senseless death and suffering brought upon those who do not subscribe to it. The calculated stupefaction of a nation by denying science and instead telling children that fossils are the handy work of Satan who placed them there to lead God’s followers astray. These are not things I can simply ignore.
I pride myself on being an open minded person,but I really think that sacrificing my beliefs is not something I can be proud of. To me,as a progressive,I am against Religion,Capitalism,and the countless other horrors that are glorified and celebrated this time of year. I can not take a “Christmas vacation” from being an activist and have any self-respect left the next time I see my reflection in the mirror.
I have made the decision this holiday season to start my own tradition by NOT taking part in this celebration,and it might cost me friends,relationships and start a few fights but that is the ONLY sacrifice I’m willing to make this holiday season.
On Christmas day you’ll see empty streets. Everyone around you will be with their family,neighbors,co-workers or friends celebrating. You’ll fell alone,you’ll feel isolated,and you’re dedication will be challenged by the desire to join in on the fun…but you won’t because you’re not alone. I’m out here going through the same thing.
In solidarity
Guerilla Monk
