Oh "Merry Christmas"

I really don't mind "Merry Christmas." I know I celebrate Christmas, so, obviously I have a comfortability bias. But, I guess I think Christmas is a national holiday. Our nation, for better or for worse, was founded in Christianity. It's American culture to say "Merry Christmas" around December 25th.

"Merry Christmas" is not (and should not be) mandated American culture by any means. People who are offended by "Happy Holidays" can choke on a candy cane. Who honestly cares? Your holiday/beliefs/religion are not tainted when someone different than you does not choose to reflect a casual intended-to-be-cheerful sentiment. But, why not say "Merry Christmas" if that's what I choose to celebrate? "Celebrate" is even a loose term. I watched Scrooged and had an apple pie, ya know? I have no plans to view a baby Jesus tomorrow.

I would not be offended if someone chose to wish me a holiday greeting of their choice (any time of year, not just in winter). I'd be totally a million percent happy to hear "Happy Purim!" from Jewish friends (or strangers). One of my students last term asked for Eid off this fall, and I enjoyed learning about it. For sure, she could write the in-class essay remotely.

But, I suppose I know that being a non-white non-Christian person in America is inherently difficult at times. Perhaps casual reminders that the majority of your culture believes something you don't is suffocating. I check my privilege here. I get it. I think I'm dreaming of the world I wish we lived in--where people would all openly say what they believe and how they choose to do so and we're all in awe of each other and how unique we all are...not the world we live in where people don't want to wish anyone a pleasant Ramadan because someone may want to kill them in response.

Dang Latina Cantina Language PCness

Am I the only one who seems to have endless difficulties when it comes to Latino things? I don't even think that's the politically correct way to say what I mean here...Okay--here's what I mean:

1. The big whoopsie is saying "Mexican" when referring to two Mexicans speaking a language. It makes you sound like a major squat brain, and, really, the best of us have made that error. "Do you speak Mexican?"--an instant goober is born, and really, it is a totally understandable mistake.

YET

2. Because of Number One, when I am referring to Mexican cuisine I sometimes (in attempt to not sound like a ding-dong) automatically say "I ate at a Spanish restaurant," which of course, is super wrong. Chimichangas and tapas are way diff, my amigos.

3. There's also no umbrella food term. Like...Brazilian and Columbian and Mexican...do you say South American? I guess that makes sense. As I'm typing this I feel like an idiot. Like everyone else really does know how to refer to everything, and all my future potential employers found this blog and are reading it RIGHT NOW laughing and HOOTing, "WHAT A JERK!" I just...I mean...Asian food is just Asian, can be more specific, but, if you don't know...it's Asian. Okay. I'll shut up now.

Really, maybe everyone feels stupid about this stuff, so that's why everyone gets freaked out and thus the jealousy spurred people to fearfully make up the stereotype that Latino/a people (is that even what you SAY?) are dumb. Beating them to the punch before they realize us WASPS ain't got a clue on the board game.

Upside inside out! Livin' la vida loca!