Sascha-Lee Solomons
Edenvale was recently privileged enough to have its festive lights back after 25 years and I call it a privilege because some towns don’t even have electricity, let alone the water crisis we are currently facing.
However, much to my surprise, this positive initiative, which did create some community spirit, also resulted in what I call a negative and useless debate.
And what is the debate – “Why is is called festival lights and not Christmas lights?”
At what point do we consider ourselves to be ungrateful?
I ask this question because as a community we are hardly satisfied with positive outcomes.
We are made up of complaints and concerns and when a good thing comes along, we fail to acknowledge it.
I personally attended the mardi gras in Edenvale, not only because I was the journalist on duty for the NEWS, but also because I enjoyed the vibe.
It was well-planned and executed and my family soon joined me in enjoying the festivities on Edenvale’s main road.
We live in a society made up of individuals and groups who follow and believe in different things.
So the issue with the lights contradict basically everything we’re supposed to stand for.
We will never all be the same in terms of our preferences. So why not embrace and support, or even learn more about each others ways.
The lights could represent Christmas for a Christian, Diwali for a Hindi, Hanukkah for a Jew and all other holidays celebrated this time of the year.
Should we not acknowledge and be thankful that as individuals we all have one thing in common and that is to celebrate our holidays the way we want to?
Do we expect to have our way every time we remove the platform for a diverse community?
For those objecting to the lights being identified as “festive lights” and not “Christmas lights” – by demanding it be called Christmas lights, are you not enforcing your own beliefs on others?
For a second, put the shoe on the other foot.
As a community, let us be grateful to have the festival lights back and not take away the element of individuals uniting.
Let us see the lights for what they are – LIGHT!
@_LeeSolomons
