You Have To Stand for Something -
or You’ll Fall for Anything

Norris Baker

As I was sending out my annual letter to Lower School families about how important it is for all of us to celebrate everything about the Holiday Season, I was reminded of the Country and Western song, “You Gotta Stand for Something or You’ll Fall for Anything.” I truly believe that if we “all stood for what the Holiday Season truly represents,” our character and moral fiber would be intact.

Susan and Steven Manchak, lifelong educators, wrote an article about how important it is to acknowledge the beliefs and traditions of all the people who make up a school, instead of giving in to the political correctness of not mentioning anything “religious” during December. I totally believe the Manchaks are right, because this is a very special time of the year. In schools everywhere, children grow excited at the prospect of what is to come. Stores are crowded with shoppers, streets explode with light, and messages of goodwill abound. Even when people say hello to each other, there is a special friendliness in it - a bright and warm feeling that improves our days.

Yes, we are at a very special time, indeed, and we should not act as if nothing special is happening. What is it that takes the dark and cold days of winter and fills them with light and warmth? It is the anticipation of some special holidays which we will soon be celebrating.

For some of us it is Christmas, for some of us it is Hanukkah, and for others something else. Whatever the holiday, the feeling transcends any boundaries of religion and unites us all in a common feeling of affection for each other.

This is as it should be. The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is called the Festival of Lights. A candle is lit each night for eight nights to commemorate a miracle of light. The Christian holiday of Christmas has been called the Feast of Love. It commemorates the birth of Jesus.

So, what do we have? We have a combination of the feasts of Light and Love. Light and Love, Love and Light. Here are two qualities that fill the world at this special time, and the world becomes a better place for it. What a need there is for each of them. The world is filled with ignorance and prejudice. There are corners where the light of knowledge and truth has not yet reached. If only we could reach everywhere with the light of learning, what a bright and happy world this would become for us all.

And, what a need there is for love. Each day we read in the papers or see on our television sets the tragedies of our world. If only we could reach into each mind and replace bad thoughts with love, what a change there would be and how much better the world would finally become.

Love and Light, Light and Love – in combination, what wonders could they not produce? Together they could build a world where kindness would be the rule, where concern for each other would be a part of daily life, where each individual would grow and thrive and contribute and find happiness and compassion. That should be what we aim for at Forsyth Country Day.

At this special season of Light and Love, let us have the courage to believe that this is not a dream, not a fantasy. Let us believe that it is a possibility within our grasp - at least in the world that we can affect.

If, for this one season of the year, our lives can be filled with happiness and warmth and a spirit of giving – a spirit of light and love – then surely we can work at making that feeling last throughout the rest of the year, as well. Yes, it would take work and cooperation and compassion, but wouldn’t it be worth it if the warmth that came from within lasted the whole year through?

Let us honor these special holidays in our lives the whole year through. Let us cherish them and hold them dear, and then let us spread that feeling, that light, that love, to all we meet.

Then the world would truly be brightened and warmed by us.

Whether you celebrate Hanukkah or Christmas, or whether you celebrate in another way, let me leave you with the same wish: May Light and Love be yours forever, and may we always see the season through the eyes of our children.

What a great thing to stand for! If you do stand for this, you’ll not “fall” for anything.

Norris T. Baker
Father and Director of Lower School at Forsyth Country Day School