Christmas Light Shaming Is Going On In A Minnesota Neighborhood

Imagine you're just going about your business at your three bedroom, two and a half bath house in Minnesota. On Friday nights, you crack open a few beers, text with your friends, maybe watch a game on the garage TV and try to unwind from another busy week at work. Saturday you do pretty much the same thing, but then out of nowhere, your wife comes barreling out of the laundry room into the garage telling you to look at the letter that was delivered earlier in the day.

You take a deep pull off the Busch Light and start reading. Here's what it says:


“I couldn’t help but notice your Christmas lights display. During these unprecedented times we have all experienced challenges which casual words just don’t describe what we’re feeling. The idea of twinkling, colorful lights are a reminder of divisions that continue to run through our society, a reminder of systemic biases against our neighbors who don’t celebrate Christmas or who can’t afford to put up lights of their own.

"We must do the work of educating ourselves about the harmful impact an outward-facing display like yours can have. I challenge you to respect the dignity of all people while striving to learn from differences, ideas, and opinions of our neighbors. We must come together collectively and challenge these institutional inequities; St. Anthony is a community of welcoming of all people and we must demand better for ourselves."

Written by
Joe Kinsey is the Senior Director of Content of OutKick and the editor of the Morning Screencaps column that examines a variety of stories taking place in real America. Kinsey is also the founder of OutKick’s Thursday Night Mowing League, America’s largest virtual mowing league. Kinsey graduated from University of Toledo.