As we drove along 11 Mile past City Hall, I happened to glance over at the light display on the corner, where white lights snake around the bare branches trees and a giant, lighted candle stands in honor of December-ish holidays.
In Farmington Hills and Farmington, diversity isn’t just a goal, it’s an obsession. How many communities can lay claim to a Multicultural Multiracial Community Council? Or a school district administrator assigned to oversee a department devoted to bilingual education? Where else would Shriners refuse to participate in a parade – their life’s work – because they couldn’t bring their “cowboys and indians” shtick?
And so we have the candle to remind us of whatever holiday we celebrate. Bringing light to the world has a universal look and feel.
A year or maybe two ago, a young man – how I wish I could remember his name – wrote to city officials to complain about the lack of balance in this holiday display. He wanted to see a recognition of his own religious holiday, a menorah.
City officials countered the display was not meant to be a place to recognize individual religions. And I thought they were right at the time. Now, I wonder. Because I noticed something tonight.
There’s a very tall evergreen tree sitting just behind the candle, and the lights on the tree aren’t the same white lights as grace the deciduous trees around it. The lights on the evergreen tree, or half of the evergreen tree, are multi-colored.
Like a Christmas tree.
So maybe, even though Hills officials had the best of intentions, that young man had a point.
–Joni Hubred-Golden
Michigan Woman Blogger
