The truth about the Maccabees is a slippery one. National liberators or religious fanatics? Freedom fighters or terrorists? The truth depends on who's telling their story, and for what purpose.

There has long been a war brewing in America over a December religious holiday and no, I don't mean the silly non-issue "War on Christmas." I'm talking about the hubbub over how to spell the Jewish Festival of Lights.

WikiLeaks shows us that most of modern life is about leading a double identity and being two-faced. But, as the Hanukkah story tells us, the inhabitants of ancient Israel couldn't bring themselves to do that.

I do not subscribe to the Jewish religion, but to be one who is self-hating or denying of authentic parts of me would be to deny real ecology which has to include the diversity, not only outside, but inside of us as well.