In recent weeks, another one of those absolutely unnecessary controversies has occurred in the area of Education, largely as a result of supposed good intentions arising from a conception of tolerance, inclusion and political correctness that leaves a lot to be desired.
I am referring to a school that decided, this festive season, to eliminate external signs of connection to the specific Christian tradition of Christmas in photographs taken with students. Photographs that are traditionally taken at this time, as it is… Christmas. This time, it was requested that the background and decorative elements used were “neutral”, because, according to a news report “not all families celebrate Christmas for cultural, religious or personal reasons and, in this sense, the option for a neutral background sought to create an inclusive environment for all children”.
If I can glimpse the possible concern that exists, I cannot in any way agree with the “uniformizing” solution, disguised as “inclusive” that was resorted to. Because there would be, at least, a couple of obvious possibilities to turn the situation around: consulting those in charge of education who did not want Christmas-themed photos (in which case the so-called “neutral” scenario could be used) or who did not even want to be part of the initiative. Because being “inclusive” does not mean erasing identities, homogenizing them in pastel shades, but giving each person the freedom to choose their way of expressing their cultural or religious traditions. For example, allowing non-Christian students to have photographs with their own motifs appropriate to their identity and context.
Let it be clear that I am an agnostic who seeks to respect other people’s beliefs, because religious Faith is something that is part of the identity of an important number of individuals and, even though I don’t share any of them, I think that they should all have the freedom to express themselves in a peaceful way. Tolerance is that, just as “inclusion” is incorporating differences into a shared coexistence and not blurring them out in a false simulation of false ecumenism.
Schools must be examples of a plural experience, without imposing “white label” solutions. Christians should be able to celebrate their Christmas, as well as Muslims, Eid al-Fitr (end of the Ramadan fast), Jews, Hanukkah, Hindus, Diwali (the latter two even share the common name of Festival of Lights), as well as other communities that have their special celebration dates. Thinking that “inclusion” means choosing cream clothes for all babies, to protect the sex or future gender identity of each one, is a sad mistake that only serves, in a paradoxical way, to exacerbate feelings of exclusion.