Holy Family in an Olive Grove by Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour.

"We know and pretend not to know." ~ Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories

by Kiera Merriam

I'm sure by now some of you may have heard about a Palestinian float that was denied entry into the 'Christmas Around the World' parades in Port Elgin and Southampton, hosted by Saugeen Shores Rotary.

The float in question was the would-be creation of Palestinian Solidarity Grey Bruce and the Owen Sound branch of Christians for Just Peace.

Their initial proposal was a depiction of Rev. Munther Isaac's 'Christ in the Rubble', a powerful display at the Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank last December, depicting what it would look like if Jesus was born today, as well as the current reality for children living and being born in Palestine.

They were asked to make concessions so as not to engage in "expressions of opinion on political or religious subjects," and told that "while we warmly welcome the inclusion of a traditional nativity scene on your float, we are unable to approve the depiction of Rev. Munther Isaac's 'Christ in the Rubble.'"

Organizers were disappointed but agreed and landed on 'Christmas in Palestine,' a traditional nativity scene with participants, some of whom are Palestinians living in Saugeen Shores, wearing keffiyehs, a traditional Palestinian scarf, and playing familiar Christmas songs in Arabic. In addition to banners for both groups, the proposed float was said to include a replica of the silver star that to this day marks the place in Palestine where Jesus is said to have been born.

Again, they were rejected.

Float creators allege discrimination on the grounds of national or ethnic origin, something Rotary denies.

In an email to Saugeen Shores Hub, Becky Stein, spokesperson for Christians for Just Peace said the aim of the float was to normalize support for the people of Palestine, to counteract the dehumanization of Palestinians, and to raise awareness about both organizations.

While it's not clear whether it was specific elements of the final proposal or the groups involved that were the reason they were denied entry, the final decision came from higher up in the organization and as District Governor Katherine Hahn put it in an email to Saugeen Shores Hub, Rotary's need to remain "apolitical and neutral" and a Christmas parade being an "unsuitable venue for addressing politically sensitive or divisive issues" were cited as reasons for the decision.

Is Christmas really a time when we should be burying our heads in the sand and denying the reality of what 'Christmas Around the World' really looks like for some? Or is Christmas a time when we should be giving our neighbours, those whose families and communities are experiencing unimaginable violence, genocide, and human rights violations, a chance to show their faces, stand proud, and bring a message of solidarity, hope, and peace?

Who are we as a nation, as a community, if we can't face the reality of 'Christmas Around the World'; if we consider standing in solidarity with these neighbours and their allies as 'divisive' and fail to acknowledge our collective complicity and unwillingness to act against these atrocities?

Indeed, what is 'Christmas Around the World' if not Christmas around the world?