The Learning Teacher

It has always irritated me when I see the greeting Selamat Hari Natal as a Christmas greeting. It isn’t one!

If you can’t or don’t want to wish Christians a Merry Christmas, then don’t. It is bad enough when people wish Christian friends Merry X-mas (too unwilling to say Christ?). Then don’t greet. Better than to be insincere.   So what is Natal Day? I did some reading and below is a quick description: “Both the form natalis (sc. Dies) and natalicium were used by the Romans to denote what we call a birthday, i.e., the anniversary of the day when a man was born. Also the Greek words genesia and genethlios were similarly employed. But in both Greek and Latin a certain extension of this primitive use seems to have taken place even in pre-Christian times. In Latin natalis apparently came, at least sometimes, to mean little more than “anniversary”, and it was used of the accession day of the emperor as well as of his birthday”. 

Source: Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)  Natal Day

So where does the birth of Jesus come in this greeting? It doesn’t. It is as good as saying happy birthday to nobody.Or is that what is really intended? So if you really want to wish Christians a merry or blessed Christmas – say just that. If not, don’t bother.

A Happy and Blessed Christmas to all Christians!!!!!!

This year I decided that I would do my bit for the Malaysian AIDS Council and help them on creating AIDS awareness and raising funds on 1 Dec. I felt good being a volunteer. I felt even better when I realised that I will be responsible just for myself and didn’t need to worry about organising anything or anyone.After the preliminary briefing, we were sent out to Sungai Wang Plaza to meet the public and raise awareness and funds. It was good to see so many volunteers. It got better when Malaysians seem generally willing to part with a ringgit or more for a good cause. Well there were some exceptions of course.When we approached some, they would look away or worse still push your hand away, as if placing a red ribbon on their shirt or blouse could infect them with AIDS. Some just said no thank you and we obliged. But generally, it was quite routine. Stick red ribbon on a person, ask for a small donation and say thanks for their contribution.The day moved very much this way. Then a memorable encounter! A young man in his late 20s decided to be different. When I approached him, he said he “supported AIDS”. I was slightly taken aback but not daunted. So I asked him why he said that. His reply: It reduces the world population. At this point, his companion added, “Don’t worry, he’s a non-conformist”.I could not help reply but that it had nothing to do with being a non-conformist.  To this he replied: Shit happens.Pity that, I thought to myself and told him so too. It made no difference to him, of course. I told him that AIDS does not happen. Lives can be saved. Still he walked away refusing a red ribbon. I hoped his callous remarks were just meant to be provocative and shock me. I just felt sorry for him and thought, “Shit has not happened in your life”, without wishing him any ill.Contracting AIDS is not a matter of “shit happens”. It can be prevented.  We need to care. We need to take action. Most of all, we need to educate and speak up.