Festive White House Christmas celebration defies fears of terrorism

By Hazel Trice Edney
Contributing Writer

(TriceEdneyWire.com) – With the White House flag flying at half-staff in the wake of America’s most recent mass shooting, thousands gathered in President’s Park Dec. 3, determined to celebrate the holiday season at the White House Christmas tree lighting.

“Merry Christmas everybody!” President Obama shouted to a cheering and applauding crowd as he took the microphone at the festive, star-studded event.

But, not far into his remarks, he acknowledged the pain of families, friends and co-workers of 14 people killed and 21 wounded in a terrorist attack in San Bernardino, Calif. Dec. 2. The incident is seen as the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil since Sept. 11, 2001. The San Bernardino attack compounded alright deep concerns after the terrorist killing of 14 people in Paris Nov. 13.

“Now, this is, of course, the most wonderful time of the year. But we would be remiss not to take a moment to remember our fellow Americans whose hearts are heavy tonight – who grieve for loved ones, especially in San Bernardino, California,” the President said.

“Their loss is our loss, too, for we’re all one American family. We look out for each other in good times, and in bad. And they should know that all of us care about them this holiday season. They’re in our thoughts, they’re in our prayers, and we send them our love.”

The applauding audience had come to celebrate the 93rd lighting of the National Christmas Tree, often viewed as the official start of the holiday season. But, their minds were not far from the heaviness of the controversial issues swirling in America; not only international terrorism, but domestic terrorism, including the constant threat of racial violence against Blacks and police shootings of Black people.

One woman reflected on the need to defy fears of terrorism by simply going about your business and acting normal. “It’s just a great night to be around people you love and that’s what’s normal,” she said, identifying herself only as Carmalita D. from San Francisco.
Wesley Nerette, who traveled from Miami to the DC event, apparently agreed. “You just have to keep on going,” he said. “I didn’t want to miss this chance to celebrate the opening of the Christmas season.”

As the president was joined by the first family to light the tree, watching over them were members of the Secret Service on top of the White House, standing beside the flag poll that honored the San Bernardino victims. The audience sang Christmas carols – everything from “Silent Night” to a closing round of “Jingle Bells,” led by President Obama.

The main program was hosted by Academy Award-winner Reese Witherspoon. The event also included “two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famers David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash; multi-platinum selling artists Fall Out Boy; retro-pop-soul singer Andra Day; Grammy-nominated singer Aloe Blacc; Bellamy Young; chart-topping singer/songwriter Kelsea Ballerini; multi-instrumentalist Tori Kelly; musician, producer, and philanthropist Trombone Shorty; the Joyous String Ensemble; and the United States Coast Guard Band,” according to TheNationalTree.org. First Lady Michelle Obama did the annual reading of Twas the Night before Christmas with Miss Piggy.

Comforting the audience, President Obama stressed the meaning of Christmas as being “The spirit of giving and compassion.”

He concluded, “That’s the message of the child whose birth families like mine celebrate on Christmas – a prince born in a stable who taught us that we should love our neighbors as ourselves; and that we are our brothers’ keeper and our sisters’ keepers; that we should feed the hungry, visit the sick, welcome the stranger. These are the lessons of Jesus Christ. But they’re also the bedrock values of all faiths—values to be cherished and embraced not only during the holidays, but to be practiced in our daily lives.”

This article originally published in the December 14, 2015 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.