Yes, Mystic - you've got it exactly right. And bonus points for knowing that Anglicans have a tradition that predates the Roman Catholic church in the UK.
And Drole - I think the thread has gone fairly far afield from the original discussion of the ND incident. My stating my problem with ANYONE'S cultural/religious holidays or observances being co-opted as an excuse to get drunk is certainly not an attempt to excuse a chapter's ill-advised actions. It is a typical GC digression - I did want to point out that many times if it's not your ox being gored you will excuse behaviors that you yourself indulge in. I realize that because I'm a Gamma Phi you might think that I am somehow seeking to justify the ND chapter's actions - but I haven't. I think the statement from HQ is perfectly succinct and to the point.
I'd like to think you "know" me well enough, Drole, to know that I wouldn't support any activity, even by my sisters, that was insulting to anyone or any group. I find it interesting that you basically have said I have no right to be upset at the degradation of Mardi Gras because I come from a small, yet ancient, religious tradition. You've essentially negated my point of view, going so far as to lecture me about ecclesiastical history. I would argue that you shouldn't have to justify your beliefs in order to have them respected.
The funny thing is that this all started because someone didn't think that NPC sororities are multi-cultural, and who went so far as to tell me that I was wrong to state that they were. Here is where I am drawing the definition of multi-cultural (Merriam-Webster)
Main Entry:
multi- Function:
combining form Etymology: Latin, from
multus much, many — more at
meliorate
1 a
: many
: multiple : much <
multivalent> b
: more than two <
multilateral> c
: more than one <
multiparous> <
multibillion>
AND
Main Entry: cul·tur·al
Pronunciation: \ˈkəlch-rəl, ˈkəl-chə-\ Function:
adjective Date: circa 1864 1
: of or relating to
culture or
culturing
Using this definition, all NPC groups are indeed multi-cultural, as they all contain members from many different cultural backgrounds. I realize that GLOs who define themselves as multi-cultural chose to parse the word differently. That does not, in my estimation, mean that the dictionary meaning is incorrect. Different, yes, but not incorrect. It seems to me that there is actually a fair amount of misunderstanding and negativity that has derived from the newer, group-specific definition.
As to Christmas, the date of December 25th is of itself of no consequence. What is important is that a large portion of the Christian community have chosen that day to commemorate the birth of Christ. I always think of it as like the birthday of Queen Elizabeth II, which is celebrated in June even though that was not the month in which she was born - but the weather is much better then.
Many other faiths and beliefs have winter celebrations, and of course they are entitled to celebrate them. I do have a problem with taking symbols of these various faiths and using them simply because they are pretty, or popular, without even a basic respect for the meaning they have to others. A menorah is more than just a bunch of candles, a tree is more than just something to decorate, and I can't for the life of me figure out why you would want to take the symbolism away and just, for example, put a dead tree in your house. I don't worry too much about non-believers who do it - but I do find it sad that you can find Christians who have no idea of the symbolism involved in all the trappings. It's like those GLO members who don't realize the rich meaning of their symbols, crests, etc.
eta - I think the word "offended" is too strong for what I'm discussing - and that may be where some of the conflict has arisen.