I love Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies. I am radically accepting, a feminist, reproductive justice activist, reality believer, political junkie, and….
I still love Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies. They are romantic nonsense. AND, they are total fun. They also help remind me of our Unitarian Universalist values. Love being number one. A Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie is mostly about Romantic Love. Also, about the deeper points of Love: Family, Justice, Interdependence, Pluralism, Generosity, Transformation, and more and more often Equity.
Family is not a UU principle – yet it is implied in all our values. In every Hallmark Christmas Movie I love, there is a parent, a sibling, or friends who are “family”. Family, true family, like you readers, evidence Love.
Justice – all must come out in balance – I’m not talking reality stuff but story time “Good” vs. “Bad” Interdependence –I truly love how friends, siblings, and family help the hero make the best decision.
Pluralism– initially there were mostly white folks having romances. Hallmark Channel is changing, and we are seeing Asian Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans as leads in the cast, as well as seeing language changes to honor gender diversity. Not yet the leads in the story but lifting diversity with the language used.
Generosity – There is always someone ready to help someone in need or the hero is helping someone in need or someone giving up something to help someone else.
Transformation – the leads usually transform in their understanding of
themselves, their potential future partner, their friends, or a family member comes to understand themselves or someone else in a deep way.
Finally, a LOVEly happy ending. The true interdependence of our world comes at the end after some drama where people don’t believe in Love. We can win when we lead and live with Love. That is my tradition of Christmas.
~Barbara Stahnke
