[cross posted from Frameshop]
By now, most Americans have realized that the so-called ‘war on Christmas’ is not about ‘war’ and has nothing to do with ‘Christmas.’ Nonetheless, the ‘war on Christmas’ PR campaign being repeated by Evangelical leaders and Fox TV personalities, has begun to sour this holiday season and raise deep concern among Americans of all ethnic, political and religious backgrounds.
But we are not concerned about which words are used on greeting cards or department store circulars. Nor are we concerned about which corporations promote December as ‘Christmas’ or ‘Holiday’ season, or about which icons are displayed in village squares across America. All of these are interesting topics for a high school midterm paper, but they are not what concern Americans.
As we head into the last two weeks of 2005, there is only one war on the minds of Americans–only one war that weighs heavy on all hearts: The War in Iraq.
This year–no matter how we celebrate this season–Americans should join together and remember that for the second year in a row, we are a country at war.
But how should we do that?
This year, I call on Americans of all religions–of all cultural backgrounds, and in every part of the country–to include one more symbol alongside the seasonal decorations that fill their homes: an empty chair.
As a sign of honor and respect for American soldiers who have died in Iraq, place an empty chair next to your Christmas tree.
As a sign of support for those soldiers who will finish out yet another year fighting the Iraq war, place an empty chair next to your Hanukkah Menorah.
As a sign of solidarity with those families who have lost or are without a loved one in the Iraq war, place an empty chair by the family manger scene.
The empty chair is a symbol of the loss and the love that we feel for family members who are unable to be with us because they are serving in Iraq.
For those of us who do not have family members in Iraq–or who do not know anyone personally who has died fighting in Iraq–the empty chair is a way to reach out to families in pain because of loved ones in the war.
When we all place an empty chair near the holiday decorations in our homes , it does not matter if we are Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist or atheist. It does not matter if we are religious or secular. The empty chair brings is all together. It is our way of saying to ourselves and to each other: When a soldier dies in Iraq, every home in American feels the loss.
This year as you prepare to celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or whatever festival marks this season for you and your family, please take a moment to place an empty chair next to the decorations in your home.
With two more weeks left in 2005, America will once again end the year as a nation at war. And so many families will feel that loss.
The message on our poster reads:
"In America, it does not matter which holiday you celebrate. We are a country at war and we miss our loved ones. Show solidarity with our soldiers and their families by placing an empty chair in your home. Show you care, display an empty chair."
This year, show your solidarity by joining the The Empty Chair Campaign.
Email this article to family and friends.
Make copies of the poster and distribute it.
Spread the word.
© 2005 Jeffrey Feldman
The most common question I get from readers of Frameshop is: How can I send this to my Senator, Congressman, etc., etc., etc.?