Before I get too far into today’s RobZerrvation, let me start by saying I am a huge protector and defender of everyone’s rights. To each his own. If you believe in a higher power, great. If you’re godless, that’s OK, too. If you worship the sheep that lies next to you in bed every night, cool.
But in California and in other parts of the world, the very concept of democracy is crumbling all around us. The basic rule of democracy is that while every vote has equal weight in the end, it’s majority rules. It’s not a plurality, it’s not a dictatorship. I will repeat, it’s majority rules.
Now, I’m no Bible beater. I went through a long period of time when I doubted the presence of a supreme being.
At one point I decided it was better to believe, just in case there was a god. It was a safe bet – if there wasn’t a god, no harm, no foul, no eternal damnation. As I’ve gotten older, I am more spiritual than I ever have been. I don’t really count myself in the Christian category, as I have elements of Hinduism, Buddhism, Wicken and just a wee bit of the Church of Frisbeetology.
So what does democracy and a belief in a higher power have to do with one another? At this time of year, plenty.
In California, a bunch of atheists stopped a 60 year tradition of the nativity that the community has cherished for longer than most of us have been alive. It seems that the atheists won most of the 21 spaces available in the park and put nothing there instead the traditional nativities.
Again, before my agnostic and atheist friends jump on me, I don’t think we should be adding new traditions that would be hurtful to anyone. We should not allow any new Christian-based displays or celebrations. I’m good with that.
But we have to stop messing with tradition. Whether we like it or not, we live in a democracy. Majority rules. Sixty to 76 percent of all Americans say they are Christian. As I said, I really don’t identify with that. But 9 out of 10 Americans believe in a higher power – yes, God.
Somehow, and again, this isn’t just about godless people, the country is being highjacked by minority interests who have an ax to grind. They clog the judicial system with lawsuits that are total B.S., all because they didn’t get their way in a democracy.
When I was a kid, we had Christmas concerts. We made paper chains out of construction paper. We sang Christmas carols. That’s all gone these days – why? You tell me. Yes, we had some children who didn’t celebrate Christmas. It was OK that they didn’t participate. They could go to the library if they wished. We learned about the other celebrations that took place. We had kids who did not say the Pledge of Allegiance either. We were taught to accept our differences and be good with that. But majority still ruled.
If we look at politics, we all don’t get our way every four years. Someone is elected to the country’s highest office that a vast minority of people (sometimes, just shy of half of us) don’t like. And yet we live with it. We don’t try to overthrow the government or have the majority’s will be usurped, all because we didn’t get our way. We just suck it up and deal with it.
I know that I have had to learn to live with it. In 1976, Jimmy Carter was elected. I couldn’t stand the guy. I knew he was going to be a total loser. And he was. For four years I lived with it, fuming inside that a total moron had ascended to the world’s most powerful office. But, majority rules.
In 2010, the people spoke again and sent a bunch of right wing psychos to the House and Senate. Yes, the Tea Partiers. These people don’t seem to have a clue about what a democracy is either and until just yesterday (Dec. 22), were imposing their will on all of us by trying to take more money out of our wallets and play the Grinch during the holidays, cutting off thousands of Americans from unemployment in the midst of the Great Recession.
I have no problem with atheists having their own display. I am the first to admit it and I will defend it to the death. But taking over half of a park’s displays isn’t representative either. Technically, you should get 10% or less (some of these folks are agnostics) and leave the rest to tradition. There is plenty of room for us all in this country.
I know that this looks like I am beating up on minority groups. I am not. In many areas, I am in the minority. Try being an over 50 white male these days when you’re trying to get a job. I live with it. I lick my wounds and have learned to get along in a world where majority rules, even if it’s not something I believe in, support or want.
I also believe tradition should rule. While we obviously needed to get rid of some traditions (slavery comes to mind), I don’t see what harm is caused by allowing a 60-year tradition to continue in Santa Monica that shows scenes of the nativity, not put up by the city, but by local church groups, albeit in a public park. I’ll tell you what, give another park to the non-believers if you wish. They can put up nothing there to show their beliefs. I am fine with a park that has nothing in it, too.
In my own home this holiday season, it’s tradition to have an all seafood dinner on Christmas Eve. I am told it’s an Italian thing.
Now, I like seafood, but not all of it. Each year, the main course is bullheads. These are bony fish that come from some lake up in New York. Everyone looks forward to them but not me. I don’t like bullheads. Out of the 10 people at the table, I am the only one that doesn’t like bullheads.
But I don’t raise a fuss and tell everyone else that they can’t have bullheads. I don’t demand that they be removed from my holiday table because their very presence is insulting my tastes, usurping my rights and making me feel uncomfortable and isolated.
No, I get over myself. I know that the world doesn’t revolve around me. It doesn’t revolve around anyone. We live in a world where the majority rules. The world isn’t fair. Unfortunately, we live in a society that believes in bullheads, even if I don’t.
The people of Santa Monica are fans of bullheads. They have enjoyed them for 60 years now. Get over it. Move on. They don’t want a piece of humble pie instead. The majority has spoken and they win.
Out on the Treasure Coast, looking so forward to bullheads(?) tomorrow night,
— Robb