"Alexandra Trumbull" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
Using the term "holiday" in place of Christmas would seem silly to me in
a German museum...
In the States it's probably a better idea to use the term holiday
though, especially if the city you live in is pretty mixed in terms of
its religious representations...

Dear Alexandra,

Thank you, Alexandra, for this mail and a try to understand what I am
writing about. To make one thing clear: I do not got to church, I am not
a sectarian and not one of the new christian movement. My basics are in
the HISTORY of religions.
You are absolutely right with your idea that probably no museum in
Germany would discuss this question of holidays versus Xmas. But on the
other hand, we are an immigration country also! Since the Balcan wars
many Non-Christians came to us, day by day people from Africa try to
reach Europe either to flee from hunger and wars or just want a better
life (The younger ones very fast get it by sellings drugs). Most of them
are not informed about our economic situation and try to find their way
from Spain, Greece and Italy to Germany - the "richest country" in
Europe (what is definitely wrong). Many of these refugies die on hired
boats on the Mediterranian sea. Most of them are Non-Christians. We have
lots of Turks here also, refugies from the Irak, Afghanistan and other
non-Christian regions. About ten years ago, the first muslim Moschees
were built. Due to our catastrophic political governements during the
last decades (denying to be an immigration country), all these peoples
from different cultures were not motivated to integrate themselves into
our system but live their life in the cities in more or less restricted
ghettos. The result: Their children have quite some problems at school,
double cizenship and - taking the next subway train, you hear thousands
of languages all used by people not willing to learn our language. Even
after 10 years or more, their German is at lowest level. 

I did explain this a little bit more excessive pointing f.e. on the
difference between us a typical immigration country like Canada. Instead
of one culture with respect to all kinds of beliefs, we have many
cultures with many believes. The Turks f.e. are building moschees open
only for Turks - with Turkish building material and closed to other
Muslims. 

Why for heaven's sake are we, in this situation, defending our Christian
Xmas? Why are our museums planning exhibitions on Xmas trees, Xmas tree
decorations, on old handmade Xmas presents etc? Why are we not wishing
"happy seasons greetings"? Because we are nostalgic? Yes and no. But we
have to defend something: For one or two days in the year (!!!) we
remember as good as we can the birth of a little babyboy somewhere in a
Palestinean stable. 

Getting back to all polemic notes: I am not rejecting people with other
faiths from our museum exhibitions. If they are openminded, maybe they
can even learn something about of the cores of our culture. I remember a
Canadian Muslim hearing "Stille nacht, heilige Nacht (Silent night, holy
night), getting tears in his eyes. We can also compare roots. Our
museums are not missionaries but keepers of traditions. But turn it the
other way round taking your or my country: Would museums of other
religious groups turn their festive day into NEUTRALZED  holidays just
to get more visitors? 

Best wishes

Christian 

Verlag Dr. Christian Müller-Straten / MUSEUMS AGENTUR
Kunzweg 23, 81243 München, T. 089-839 690 43, Fax -44
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