
If Jesus had come to Australia, he would have been born a First Nations Aussie and, if lucky, he would have avoided his own Massacre of the Innocents as a member of the Stolen Generations.
If he was born in Palestine today, Israeli soldiers would have shot him in his cradle.
In Russia, he may have fallen victim to another Massacre of the Innocents by becoming cannon fodder in an egotistical politician’s war of self aggrandisement.
In Uganda, his family would have denounced his progressive declarations and the government would have sentenced him to death for advocating the human rights of LGBT+ people and other opppressed groups including women.
In the USA today, the MAGA cult would have declared him illegal for cross dressing in a galabaya; and deported him back to die, along with a million other black people.
Happy Christmas.
The lines of the old song declare:
“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas,
Just like the ones I used to know…”
That was a generation ago, before modern communication brought the world together. These days, we cannot be ignorant of the suffering of others across social media – unless we choose to.
These days, we see a clear divide between the western nations and others. Christmas in the west is often one of eating turkeys, ham, foodstuff and sweets, while exhanging gifts and excess. Christmas in most of the world is a time of deprivation, hunger, or ongoing suffering.
Any message of Christmas and deferral to the philosophies of that refugee from Nazareth, is lost in rabid consumerism and consumption and toxic capitalism. Santa is more important than peace on Earth. No room at the inn.
As I write this, I am mindful of the LGBT+ refugees I know across Africa. For Christmas, they are enduring the usual starvation, medical suffering, homelessness due to unpaid rent, detention due to outstanding medical expenses, or hungry children with no food. Seeking consolation in the very same faith that encourages their families and communities to reject or imprison them, they suffer on the one day of the year that possibly means the most to them.
Meanwhile, people in white nations enjoy excess, and overlook the suffering of others. Happy Xmas indeed.
The apartheid of Christmas emphasises the division during the rest of the year. White Christmas? Enjoy it if you are white and affluent.
But maybe ponder the suffering of others – and if humanity means anything to you, listen to your conscience and do something.
©2024 Geoff Allshorn
Well said, Geoff.
Thank you.