“Happy Martin Luther King Day everyone!” my Caucasian co-worker said as a greeting as she made her way into the office. “Thanks,” another Caucasian co-worker replied merrily.
Their statements took me aback. There wasn’t a hint of sarcasm or resentment in their voices. How can two white people be perfectly at ease with expressing and accepting such a holiday greeting that didn’t apply to them specifically?
My co-workers’ exchange gave me hope for people’s ability to express a greeting without sensitivity being present. I thought of the growing number of people being offended by such phrases as “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Hanukkah,” when such a greeting didn’t apply to them specifically. We have become too sensitive and easily offended.
This exchange between co-workers proves that one doesn’t need to respond with bitterness to such greetings that may not apply to them. We don’t have to resort to the generic “Happy holidays” to avoid hurting the easily offended. We can and should be specific, because that holiday deeply means something to someone. It’s part of their heritage.
I hope we can remember we are all God’s children. Martin Luther King Jr. said he hoped “black men and white men, Jews and gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing ... ‘Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!’ ”
Thank God for being able to be who you are. Thank God we can still love those who are different from us, without being sensitive.
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy