Re: Culturally Sensitive Xmas
Kim M. Bayne/wolfBayne Communications (kimmik@WOLFBAYNE.COM)
Wed, 11 Dec 1996 12:15:24 -0700
This was posted to the Scouts-L list -
> I can speak from personable experience how "unsettling" a Christmas
>theme can be on scouts who are not Christian. Where we used to live my
>boys were the *only Jewish* scouts in the pack.
> From an adult point of view, I could understand and accept the
>issue of "Santa". But through the young, non Christian cubs, eyes this
>meant that he was *not a part of the Pack*(!!).
I am a Jewish parent with a Jewish Brownie daughter. I hope that my daughter
feels that she is a real part of her troop. I hope that she believes that
she is both a Jew AND a Girl Scout, rather than a Jew who participates in
some Girl Scout activities.
My daughter is the only (religious) Jewish girl in her Brownie troop. Every
year, the troop participates in the Giving Tree project, which includes
making ornaments for Christmas trees. The participation patch includes a
picture of a Christmas tree. I try explain to my daughter that someone does
not have to be Jewish for us to do a Mitzvah (a good deed) for them. Yet,
she still asks why her troop doesn't do something similar for Jewish people.
She's a pretty smart kid.
If I were to deny my daughter participation in this troop activity because
we do not celebrate that holiday, she would feel singled out. (After all,
you go to a birthday party when it's not your birthday, don't you?) As it
is, my daughter has allergies, which means she can't eat many of the same
foods as her sister Brownies. Who needs another social barrier? YET, I must
admit, that despite my very liberal point-of-view, I still feel that
something is amiss with GROUP SCOUTING activities centered around ONE
specific religion.
Many people use the phrase 'the secular aspects of Christmas' to avoid the
issue of multiculturalism. I was flabbergasted when someone, who knew I was
Jewish, asked me why I would deny my daughter the 'right' to visit Santa,
since he *wasn't* a Christmas icon. One troop leader was overheard saying
that everyone in her troop was Christian so she didn't have to worry. You'd
have to wonder about troop leaders who sigh in relief at not having to deal
with diversity or creating awareness. It must be extremely convenient not
having to recognize that other religions, cultures and winter holidays exist
in this world.
Just WHO IS A SCOUT anyway? One look at the Christmas tree patch on the back
of everyone else's vest and it can become painfully clear who is and who
isn't. Also, troop activities do not stand alone. Any activity where two or
more troops interact with each other is sure to bring up questions of who is
a 'real scout'.
Sometimes troop leaders will try to balance winter holiday activities. One
meeting might include playing Hanukkah dreidel, reading a story about
Kwanzaa (an African-American winter holiday), or breaking a Pinata (Los
Posadas). However, these cursory activities do not balance the very visible
'award' that appears on a vest for participating in an activity based on a
very specific religious holiday. My daughter sees this reminder of the
importance of this eventyear-round, while the Hanukkah dreidel activity is
only a few minutes at a meeting long forgotten. Furthermore, playing dreidel
for Gelt (chocolate coins) hardly compares to performing an unselfish good
deed for someone else.
I would never suggest to our local Girl Scout Council that we eliminate the
Giving Tree activity, since it promotes good will. Besides, the uproar would
result in my being labeled as 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.' However, I
would prefer that this activity be EXPANDED to include and respect everyone
else's culture. Additional multi cultural GIVING activities should be added
so that the girls can do them all and receive a multi cultural participation
patch, rather than a Christmas tree patch. The emphasis on these type of
GROUP activities should be CHARITY and not one religion over another.
In order for me to propose a change to the local GS council, I would need
alternatives. DOES ANYONE HAVE AN IDEA FOR WHAT I COULD SUGGEST FOR A NEW
NAME FOR THIS ACTIVITY? The Giving Tree could become The Giving Scout,
perhaps. Of course, the snappier, the better. I will also have to come up
with suggested activities and people to coordinate them. It will go a long
way in helping me convince the local council.
--> Any suggestions? Please post them to Scouts-L so we can all share.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?
There are numerous awards by various religious organizations that can be
earned by both girl and boy scouts. Check out the Web at
http://www.gsusa.org/affil/affil.html#RELIG. I was recently appointed as
coordinator for the Wagon Wheel Girl Scouts Council for the National Jewish
Girl Scout Committee. I am also in the process of trying to organize an
all-faiths or inter-faith committee. I hope to see more promotion of these
recognition awards at my local level, not just for Girl Scouts who are
Jewish, but for Girl Scouts of all faiths. I hope that I will create more
awareness so that we will honor the culture, religions and ethnic
backgrounds of all girls, whether or not they fit into the majority.
Regardless of the success of the individual religious recognition awards,
the emphasis for GROUP activities in scouting should be on fellowship,
brotherhood, sisterhood, and community. Troops should be founded and
operated on a feeling of mutual respect. All scouts, regardless of color or
faith, should feel that they belong. Singling out one religion over another
for a patch or any other activity does NOT further that cause. And I will no
longer accept excuses such as majority rules, so-called secular activities,
convenience, troop funds, staffing issues, we've always done it this way,
nobody's ever complained before, or even The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
