Pawns of Politics: Childhood Innocence Exploited for Christmas Workshops

The Christmas tree looming near the confines of the White House is set to bear the weight of 24 specially curated ornaments this year. Interestingly, these decorations are the brainchild of Lilliyana Desancic, an 11-year-old student at the Defense Department school situated in Sembach, Germany. However, one might question the apparent politicization of a child’s creative work, particularly when the student might be too young to truly comprehend the implications of her art gracing the premises of a political heavyweight.

Engaging further with this questionable narrative, Eowyn Gamble, another elementary school student, dreams about her artwork capturing the attention of Vice President Kamala Harris. The naïve 9-year-old, daughter of a Navy senior chief petty officer, is among the two dozen students who put together Christmas ornaments on display near the National Christmas Tree in Washington. Given the significant distance from the White House, it’s highly doubtful that Kamala Harris will pay any special attention to Gamble’s contribution.

It’s noteworthy, but equally astonishing, how deeply imagitive these seemingly innocuous decorations are. Gamble’s creation, for instance, depicts a plum tree. While clearly, the elementary realm saw a surge of flags and sunsets, Gamble opted for something less conventional. Nevertheless, it seems mildly ironic how a plum tree becomes an exhibit of choice near an institution symbolizing power and authority. Meanwhile, questions arise about the inherent merit of such a choice.

In her typical artistic endeavors, young Gamble exercises her creativity via drawings of dragons, foxes, or herself. The news of her drawings evolving into ornaments for the national observance of Christmas triggered an understandable excitement. However, the disproportionate emphasis on this so-called achievement emanates a troubling scent of indoctrination, veiled under seemingly harmless entertainment.

Every year, a Defense Department-run school from one of the three global regions pairs with a school from each state and U.S. territory. They collaborate to design ornaments for their individual Christmas tree in the nation’s capital. Imagine, however, the contrasting ideologies and beliefs of an international, a national, or a local institution, collectively churning out a coherent concept. This paradox bears an uncanny resemblance to the façade of a consolidated political institution.

Resting comfortably behind the White House, President’s Park nurtures the abode of the National Christmas tree. It is surrounded by several smaller trees, mirroring the hierarchical positioning in the nation’s government. These smaller trees serve as canvases for the ‘America Celebrates’ display, curiously echoing the administration’s attempt to project an image of unity and inclusiveness. All of this really stands as a stark reminder of how, even in supposed unity, hierarchical structures persist.

The annual festivity supposedly empowers students to exhibit pride in state history and culture. It’s puzzling to note, however, that this overwhelming emphasis on national pride exclusively incorporates children of service members positioned overseas. One could question the incongruity of this seemingly benevolent gesture and its actual impact, particularly at a time that can be particularly challenging for these transient families.

Amusingly, this is the Gamble family’s first Christmas in Germany. Their three-year tenure in Washington D.C. only heightens the contrast of their existing surroundings. One can’t help but question the implications of uprooting families and thrusting them amidst diverging cultural landscapes, under the guise of fostering national defense.

The thus far discussed Sembach Elementary School has been anointed the representative of the Department of Defense Education Activity in Europe. This military community-based school in southwestern Germany is imbibing patriotism, disguised as a Christmas activity, into its young students. It seemingly appropriates a global religious festival towards fulfilling a partisan agenda, showcasing the skewed perspectives propagated under such direction.

Over 240 students participated in the fall to design these Christmas ornaments. Ironically, these young students were oblivious to their designs serving a bigger political picture. They were guided to reflect their experiences and perceptions of German life through their artworks, only later realizing their creations’ fate. Yet, once again, this raises concerns about the exploitation of innocent creativity fueling broader agendas.

The finale of this spectacle happened in Washington, as the chosen 24 designs transitioned into tangible ornaments. One can’t help but ponder over the fate of those designs that didn’t make the cut. The selection process, left to the discretion of the art teacher, sparks skepticism, mirroring the issues prevalent in bigger political selections.

The beginnings of the national Christmas tree tradition can be traced back to the era of President Calvin Coolidge. Over three decades later, this isolated tree lighting ritual morphed into a grander celebration, the Christmas Pageant of Peace, stretching over three weeks. History might infer that the addition of the Pathway of Peace around the national Christmas tree shadows the political environment of the time, gradually incorporating more power structures.

On December 13, the school divulged the identities of the successful designers during a Christmas concert. Lilliyana Desancic, the 11-year-old mentioned earlier, was one of the fortunate few. Her reaction of surprise and mild shock further highlights the underlying drama of this entire staging. The exploitative model of gamifying children’s emotions for political gamesmanship raises questions.

Desancic’s ornament design intriguingly incorporated rain clouds, symbolizing her expectations of a dreary Christmas in Germany. Acknowledging her longing for snow-filled Christmases in Wyoming, it’s troubling how her festive excitement has been overshadowed by her father’s duties. Her childlike lament about German weather offers a glimpse into the real impact of these political appointments on the personal lives of those involved.

Interestingly, Desancic is not the sole representative of her family within Sembach Elementary. Her siblings also took part in this exercise of creating Christmas ornaments, as did many other students. Their designs, although not spotlighted on the grand stage of Washington, found their space within the school grounds. The apparent celebration of participation feels oddly out of place amidst the otherwise political narrative.

Summing it all up, the tale of these student-made ornaments serves as a microcosm in a larger political topography. The selective curation, with its politicized delivery, creates subliminal messages in an unsuspecting audience. As the Christmas decoration hangs beside the White House, one can’t help but draw parallels between these playful ornaments and the political games of power and influence inherent in the system.