Subscribe
Just when you think the “standards” of diversity and inclusion can’t get any lower, something new occurs that makes you wonder how far this madness can go. When a school puts an end to a traditional celebration that has long brought joy, but which today causes “discomfort” because it is not inclusive enough, this should not be seen as an isolated case or one that should be ignored, but as a symptomatic case. De Schakel primary school in the Dutch city of Utrecht has replaced the Sinterklaas (inspired by St. Nicholas) celebration with a “neutral and inclusive” party, so that parents and teachers are no longer subjected to the “ordeal” of celebrating St. Nicholas, the bringer of joy and gifts to children all over the world.
This year is not the first time that the Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas, whose celebrations begin in November and last until December 5, has been completely canceled at De Schakel school in Utrecht. It happened last year too, and now the school management decided to organize again the same “inclusive” party with games and lots of fun. This kind of party “protects” children from discussions about the religious significance of Sinterklaas, a tradition that causes “discomfort and pain.” In other words, any form of entertainment that does not remind them of one of the most beautiful and beloved Christian celebrations, that of St. Nicholas. Considered the protector of children, students, and young married couples, and one of the staunch defenders of the true faith, Saint Nicholas was bishop of Myra in the first half of the 4th century and was highly regarded for his charitable work. He is celebrated by Christian believers on December 6, the day of his death. Every year, on the morning of the Feast, for many hundreds of years now, children everywhere eagerly look in their shoes to see the gifts they have received from St. Nicholas.
At the school in Utrecht, most parents reacted favorably to the idea of canceling the Sinterklass celebration. Native Dutch people are in the minority here, but even among them, most preferred to comply with a decision that replaced an old and very popular tradition with a “neutral” one that would not cause “discomfort.” According to the school administration and parents, the new celebration, which lacks any meaning whatsoever, brings “calm to the classrooms, and the overall mood has improved.”
“We are no longer interested in traditions, we are no longer interested in our identity, in our moral, spiritual, and cultural values that we should be proud of and pass on from generation to generation! All of these are obsolete, and we want to be modern. We want to be ‘neutral’ and to find peace and quiet!” said, probably to themselves or out loud, most of the parents and teachers at that Dutch school.
As I wrote above, the case of the school in Utrecht is illustrative. Today, anything can be deleted, censored, or banned for reasons of “inclusivity.” This is especially true for anything related to Christian heritage or spirituality. A cross around a child’s neck, an icon on the walls of a school, a prayer said in front of a place of worship, a carol sung by a group of children, or the recurring celebration of a centuries-old tradition—all of these drive these so-called progressives crazy. They must be canceled or annihilated in the name of these “dogmas” of diversity and inclusivity. Which, as we see, means exactly the opposite of what they claim.
Orwell’s Ministry of Truth slogans often echo in my mind: “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.” When we see how the fundamental pillars on which our civilization was built are being destroyed in the name of some pseudo-values, I have no doubt that inclusion is exclusion, and diversity is uniformity.