There was a time when, if a conservative was complaining about a
holiday, he was complaining about political correctness around the
Christmas season. The I can’t say “happy holidays vs. Merry Christmas”
debate was one in which I never involved myself, but it is annoying that
some people feel the need to censor themselves.
I never would’ve imagined there was a slippery slope on this – or how
steep that slope turned out to be. In the name of political
correctness, one elementary school has a solution: let’s get rid of them
all.
Via Syracuse.com
A Minnesota elementary school has kissed Valentine’s Day goodbye. Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, too.
Bruce Vento Elementary in St. Paul is joining other public
schools in opting out of holiday celebrations as school officials strive
to be more culturally sensitive and inclusive. The school has a
predominantly Asian and black student body, and English is a second
language for more than half of its pupils, who come from a range of
faith backgrounds.
In a letter to parents last week, Principal Scott Masini said his
rationale was to avoid “encroaching on the educational opportunities of
others and threatening a culture of tolerance and respect for all.” He
acknowledged it would be an unpopular decision for some.
“I have come to the difficult decision to discontinue the
celebration of the dominant holidays until we can come to a better
understanding of how the dominant view will suppress someone else’s
view,” he said.
The letter drew both criticism and support as it started
circulating on social media, with some people praising the policy for
its sensitivity to diverse cultures and others decrying it as political
correctness. The Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis ran an editorial
calling the decision misguided and urged Masini to reconsider.
Other schools across the country have also decided to forego
holidays out of concern for student sensitivities, while others have
adjusted their celebrations.
Who exactly was offended by these holidays remains a mystery. Does
the administration at this school not think Asians and blacks celebrate
Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or Thanksgiving? Those
assumptions sound neither culturally sensitive or inclusive.
As Col. West often says, “when tolerance is a one-way street, it
leads to cultural suicide.” Call the suicide prevention hotline on this
one!
[Note: This post was authored by The Analytical Economist]