As we bring 2005 to a close, many will want to wipe the slate clean and start anew making many New Year resolutions. I have much that I could put on my plate; eating healthier foods, getting more exercise, losing some weight, patching up some differences among family and friends, etc. My list could on with a lot more, but as I contemplated on the past which is irretrievable, I quickly started looking to the future, which might never come and quickly forgot about the present.
I started to think of the term Carpe Diem that was uttered by Robin Williams to his students in the film Dead Poet’s Society. Carpe Diem, seize the day, should be the resolution of all resolutions for me.
It was over two thousand years ago that a Roman poet by the name of Horace penned these words;
Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make most of what you have. It is later than you think.
Over the course of time many people have given us many variations on this theme and I’ll list some just as a matter of example.
And in the end it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. ~Abraham Lincoln
Why must conversions come so late? Why do people always apologize to corpses? ~David Brin
Whether it’s the best of times or worst of times, it’s the only time we’ve got.
~Art Buchwald
If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? ~Stephen Levine
Let us endeavor to live so that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry. ~Mark Twain
Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans. ~Thomas LaMance
There are but three events in a man’s life: birth, life and death. He is not conscious of being born, he dies in pain, and he forgets to live. ~Jean de la Bruyere
Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Being alive is the special occasion. ~Author Unknown
This philosophy is now prevalent in sports. You hear many athletes and coaches stressing that they are going to take it one day at a time or one game at a time and in baseball down to one pitch at a time. Don’t worry that you’ve just missed a pitch and have a strike, just concentrate and get ready because the next pitch is on its way.
Carpe Diem
12.31.2005
12.30.2005
Feel Good Stories of 2005
Good News Stories of 2005
As each year comes to and end most newspapers, magazines and television will report on the significant events of the past year. While a high percentage, if not all of the top events of the year, seem to be of a negative nature, there are good things that have happened that never make the limelight.
Here are some positive things that occurred in 2005:
The U. S. death rates for colon, breast, lung and prostrate cancers are dropping.
Americans are living longer and there are more centenarians than ever.
Americans donated in record amounts for the various disasters; specifically to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
A lost Utah Boy Scout was found alive after being missing for four days.
Many of you have probably read about these, but I wonder how many have heard about Sister Antonia Brenner and her charitable work.
Brenner was born Mary Clarke in Los Angeles, the second of three children. Her well to do family lived in Beverly Hills and had an 11-bedroom, ocean-view summer home in Laguna Beach.
After two failed marriages, Brenner got involved in charity work and was deeply influenced by a Los Angeles priest named Anthony Brouwers. She became a nun in 1977 and took the name of Sister Antonia in his honor.
Just 5 foot 2 inches and a bundle of energy, Brenner acts as a counselor and does an assortment of tasks for the 7,100 inmates of La Mesa State Penitentiary, just across the border from San Diego.
Sister Antonia makes her home in a small cell at the end of a dark hallway in the prison. The only sunlight her cell offers filters through two tiny windows with a view of the guard tower and barbed wire fence. A white sheet serves as the door to the cramped bathroom with a cold-water shower. Her neighbors are no longer Hollywood stars, but murderers, drug runners and human smugglers. She is known as the “angel de la carcel” – the prison angel.
After raising seven children, Mary Clarke at the age of 50 traded her dresses and wonderful home for a homemade habit and a prison where conditions have led to inmate riots – including three that she quelled.
She walks through the prison with a beaming smile waving at inmates and guards and kissing many on the cheek. She calls them “mi hijo” – “my son.” She has earned their respect because of her love for them.
Her work has been recognized in books and this month she has been inducted into the Hall of Fame for Caring Americans which is based in Washington.
The current warden has called Mother Antonia “a ray of sunshine.”
As each year comes to and end most newspapers, magazines and television will report on the significant events of the past year. While a high percentage, if not all of the top events of the year, seem to be of a negative nature, there are good things that have happened that never make the limelight.
Here are some positive things that occurred in 2005:
The U. S. death rates for colon, breast, lung and prostrate cancers are dropping.
Americans are living longer and there are more centenarians than ever.
Americans donated in record amounts for the various disasters; specifically to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
A lost Utah Boy Scout was found alive after being missing for four days.
Many of you have probably read about these, but I wonder how many have heard about Sister Antonia Brenner and her charitable work.
Brenner was born Mary Clarke in Los Angeles, the second of three children. Her well to do family lived in Beverly Hills and had an 11-bedroom, ocean-view summer home in Laguna Beach.
After two failed marriages, Brenner got involved in charity work and was deeply influenced by a Los Angeles priest named Anthony Brouwers. She became a nun in 1977 and took the name of Sister Antonia in his honor.
Just 5 foot 2 inches and a bundle of energy, Brenner acts as a counselor and does an assortment of tasks for the 7,100 inmates of La Mesa State Penitentiary, just across the border from San Diego.
Sister Antonia makes her home in a small cell at the end of a dark hallway in the prison. The only sunlight her cell offers filters through two tiny windows with a view of the guard tower and barbed wire fence. A white sheet serves as the door to the cramped bathroom with a cold-water shower. Her neighbors are no longer Hollywood stars, but murderers, drug runners and human smugglers. She is known as the “angel de la carcel” – the prison angel.
After raising seven children, Mary Clarke at the age of 50 traded her dresses and wonderful home for a homemade habit and a prison where conditions have led to inmate riots – including three that she quelled.
She walks through the prison with a beaming smile waving at inmates and guards and kissing many on the cheek. She calls them “mi hijo” – “my son.” She has earned their respect because of her love for them.
Her work has been recognized in books and this month she has been inducted into the Hall of Fame for Caring Americans which is based in Washington.
The current warden has called Mother Antonia “a ray of sunshine.”
12.26.2005
Santa's a Wreck
I hope that you and your family had a MERRY CHRISTMAS; there, I said Christmas and you can’t stop me from using or referring to December 25th as Christmas.
Reading the local paper this morning I see that some people in Medway were upset with the school system for succumbing to the PC, politically correctedness, that seems to have warped the minds of the younger than me generation. When did Christmas become a four-letter word? You say that it’s a nine letter word and not four; look again, and you’ll see that it’s being treated as a four-letter word. If the ACLU had its way, they would add the word Christmas to the list of seven that can’t be uttered over the airwaves.
I don’t know what’s going on. It seems that many of my core values, beliefs and traditions are constantly under attack from people or groups of people that are supposedly trying to make the world a better place to live in. Now I know why Mayor Menino talks the way he does. I just realized that he doesn’t have a speech impediment after all, but it’s the result of trying to strain his thoughts through the politically correct filter before he utters them. So the end result is, his mouth is ready to speak but the words are stuck in the filtering system, therefore he ends up mumbling. Look for this trend to catch on. No one can get upset at you because they don’t understand what you’re saying; the worst that could happen is that they’ll think you’re a dope. It’s OK, just open your mouth and smile and you might be elected mayor of your town.
As a kid, I was taught to pray to St. Christopher and then years later the Pope decided to eliminate him. Here was a saint that was my equivalent of a starting third baseman on my all-saints team and all of a sudden he was sent to the minors to make way for a rookie named St. Sharbel Makhluf (yes this is an actual saint- check July 24 on your religious calendar if you don't believe me). I still kept my medal of him in the hopes that one day he would make it back to the majors.
My history books also taught me that it was Christopher Columbus who discovered America (albeit by accident, but he still discovered it). Now I’m told that he wasn’t the first one to come here, he just had a better PR (public relations) firm working for him, and a man by the name of Leif Erikson arrived here first. So now to discredit good old Christopher’s name they have invited a group of gays to march in the annual Columbus Day parade. And now instead of “Viva Colombo” signs, you see “Viva Elton John.” I truly think that these men have lost their way and that they were actually looking to march with Robin Hood and his “merry men.” Where’s Friar Tuck when you need him?
In between all of this, Gloria Steinem decides that men have to go; they’re not needed anymore. No more bras, no more Mrs. or Miss, they want to be addressed as MS. All the things your mother taught you as a kid about being a gentleman can be thrown out the window when you encounter a MS. No wonder there are so many people being treated for a mental disorder nowadays. Again my theory on mumbles Menino is now solidified. He’s in my age bracket and I can see the poor bum trying to address a woman; his mouth wants to say Mrs. or Miss but his thought filter is telling him to say MS. His mouth becomes enganged but his thought process is lagging behind therefore making the end product a mumbled bunch of crap.
Ms. Steinem starts altering many things. Thanks to her and the ACLU we now have a new Christmas carol titled, “God rest ye merry gentlepersons.”
First it was St. Christopher, then Columbus, and now they’re doing their best to tell me that there’s no Christmas. The word Christmas has become graffiti. Wherever it appears there always seems to be someone standing by with their brush and paint ready to obliterate it and substitute a word such as holiday in its place. The people that are offended by the word Christmas are the same ones that tell me that I’m too sensitive when and if I get mad at someone making a derogatory statement about Italians.
I’m doing my best to survive the continuous onslaught of these small groups as they try to chip away at my core beliefs, but one just has to get a chuckle from their latest caper. There’s a lot of concern over President Bush’s Patriot Act. These people say that the government is constantly prying into their lives and knows too much about them. So they are going to court and will present the following as evidence:
You better watch out.
You better not cry.
You better not pout.
I'm telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you are sleeping
He knows when you're awake,
He knows when you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness' sake.
Even gold old Santa has come under attack and it’s no wonder that we now have a politically correct Christmas poem that starts like this:
‘Twas the night before Christmas and Santa’s a wreck
How to live in a world that’s politically correct…’
When I read about this, I commented to someone that the world was coming to and end. They reassured me that it’s not, offering me proof that it’s already tomorrow in Australia.
Buon Natale
Reading the local paper this morning I see that some people in Medway were upset with the school system for succumbing to the PC, politically correctedness, that seems to have warped the minds of the younger than me generation. When did Christmas become a four-letter word? You say that it’s a nine letter word and not four; look again, and you’ll see that it’s being treated as a four-letter word. If the ACLU had its way, they would add the word Christmas to the list of seven that can’t be uttered over the airwaves.
I don’t know what’s going on. It seems that many of my core values, beliefs and traditions are constantly under attack from people or groups of people that are supposedly trying to make the world a better place to live in. Now I know why Mayor Menino talks the way he does. I just realized that he doesn’t have a speech impediment after all, but it’s the result of trying to strain his thoughts through the politically correct filter before he utters them. So the end result is, his mouth is ready to speak but the words are stuck in the filtering system, therefore he ends up mumbling. Look for this trend to catch on. No one can get upset at you because they don’t understand what you’re saying; the worst that could happen is that they’ll think you’re a dope. It’s OK, just open your mouth and smile and you might be elected mayor of your town.
As a kid, I was taught to pray to St. Christopher and then years later the Pope decided to eliminate him. Here was a saint that was my equivalent of a starting third baseman on my all-saints team and all of a sudden he was sent to the minors to make way for a rookie named St. Sharbel Makhluf (yes this is an actual saint- check July 24 on your religious calendar if you don't believe me). I still kept my medal of him in the hopes that one day he would make it back to the majors.
My history books also taught me that it was Christopher Columbus who discovered America (albeit by accident, but he still discovered it). Now I’m told that he wasn’t the first one to come here, he just had a better PR (public relations) firm working for him, and a man by the name of Leif Erikson arrived here first. So now to discredit good old Christopher’s name they have invited a group of gays to march in the annual Columbus Day parade. And now instead of “Viva Colombo” signs, you see “Viva Elton John.” I truly think that these men have lost their way and that they were actually looking to march with Robin Hood and his “merry men.” Where’s Friar Tuck when you need him?
In between all of this, Gloria Steinem decides that men have to go; they’re not needed anymore. No more bras, no more Mrs. or Miss, they want to be addressed as MS. All the things your mother taught you as a kid about being a gentleman can be thrown out the window when you encounter a MS. No wonder there are so many people being treated for a mental disorder nowadays. Again my theory on mumbles Menino is now solidified. He’s in my age bracket and I can see the poor bum trying to address a woman; his mouth wants to say Mrs. or Miss but his thought filter is telling him to say MS. His mouth becomes enganged but his thought process is lagging behind therefore making the end product a mumbled bunch of crap.
Ms. Steinem starts altering many things. Thanks to her and the ACLU we now have a new Christmas carol titled, “God rest ye merry gentlepersons.”
First it was St. Christopher, then Columbus, and now they’re doing their best to tell me that there’s no Christmas. The word Christmas has become graffiti. Wherever it appears there always seems to be someone standing by with their brush and paint ready to obliterate it and substitute a word such as holiday in its place. The people that are offended by the word Christmas are the same ones that tell me that I’m too sensitive when and if I get mad at someone making a derogatory statement about Italians.
I’m doing my best to survive the continuous onslaught of these small groups as they try to chip away at my core beliefs, but one just has to get a chuckle from their latest caper. There’s a lot of concern over President Bush’s Patriot Act. These people say that the government is constantly prying into their lives and knows too much about them. So they are going to court and will present the following as evidence:
You better watch out.
You better not cry.
You better not pout.
I'm telling you why.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you are sleeping
He knows when you're awake,
He knows when you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness' sake.
Even gold old Santa has come under attack and it’s no wonder that we now have a politically correct Christmas poem that starts like this:
‘Twas the night before Christmas and Santa’s a wreck
How to live in a world that’s politically correct…’
When I read about this, I commented to someone that the world was coming to and end. They reassured me that it’s not, offering me proof that it’s already tomorrow in Australia.
Buon Natale
12.25.2005
Class- You either have it or you don't.
Recently I wrote about the quiet departure of Bill Mueller from the Red Sox, and now we have seen the other end of the spectrum with Johnny Damon’s, as some people call it, traitor like defection to the rival Yankees.
Johnny Damon used Boston and did a good job of marketing himself. He drew attention to himself with his long hair and beard. Now he has to shave it off in order to join that money laden team from the Bronx. That is a small pittance to pay in order to earn a nifty $52 million dollar contract; some people would cut off a leg to earn that amount of money. I say good luck and good riddance to him. I wonder how many times he and his wife is going to appear on Letterman and shows of that ilk.
This is another case where the person that makes the moist noise gets the most attention. OK, you decided to sign with the Yankees, that’s fine, but do us a favor, just go and stop your yapping about nonsensical stuff. The public unfortunately eats this stuff up.
Bill Mueller had what many lack and that’s CLASS. Yet people with class seem to be underappreciated. Ray Bourque had it and was criticized because he wasn’t outspoken Ray left Boston and guess what, he won a Stanley Cup.
Look at the NBA (the National Boob Association) and see who gets most of the press. You’ll find people like Shaq, Koby, and Iverson getting a lot of attention, but someone like Tim Duncan, although respected as a player, gets very little notoriety in comparison.
Jim Brown, one of the greatest running backs in the NFL had class. Barry Sanders and Walter Payton had it also. They just went about doing their business without any fancy celebratory dances. They didn’t need to have the spotlight drawn to them; they already had it. Some have forgotten about Jerry Rice, one of the greatest receivers, because he wasn’t flashy.
Some others that come to mind that are in this category are Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, John Havlicek, and Johnny Bucyk. There are many that are being left out for the sake of brevity.
Johnny needs to look at his new teammates and see how Jeter and Matzui carry themselves.
There’s an English proverb that says, “Every ass loves to hear himself bray.”
Johnny, I hope you don’t make an ass of yourself in the big Apple.
Johnny Damon used Boston and did a good job of marketing himself. He drew attention to himself with his long hair and beard. Now he has to shave it off in order to join that money laden team from the Bronx. That is a small pittance to pay in order to earn a nifty $52 million dollar contract; some people would cut off a leg to earn that amount of money. I say good luck and good riddance to him. I wonder how many times he and his wife is going to appear on Letterman and shows of that ilk.
This is another case where the person that makes the moist noise gets the most attention. OK, you decided to sign with the Yankees, that’s fine, but do us a favor, just go and stop your yapping about nonsensical stuff. The public unfortunately eats this stuff up.
Bill Mueller had what many lack and that’s CLASS. Yet people with class seem to be underappreciated. Ray Bourque had it and was criticized because he wasn’t outspoken Ray left Boston and guess what, he won a Stanley Cup.
Look at the NBA (the National Boob Association) and see who gets most of the press. You’ll find people like Shaq, Koby, and Iverson getting a lot of attention, but someone like Tim Duncan, although respected as a player, gets very little notoriety in comparison.
Jim Brown, one of the greatest running backs in the NFL had class. Barry Sanders and Walter Payton had it also. They just went about doing their business without any fancy celebratory dances. They didn’t need to have the spotlight drawn to them; they already had it. Some have forgotten about Jerry Rice, one of the greatest receivers, because he wasn’t flashy.
Some others that come to mind that are in this category are Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, John Havlicek, and Johnny Bucyk. There are many that are being left out for the sake of brevity.
Johnny needs to look at his new teammates and see how Jeter and Matzui carry themselves.
There’s an English proverb that says, “Every ass loves to hear himself bray.”
Johnny, I hope you don’t make an ass of yourself in the big Apple.
12.24.2005
Do You Hear What I Hear?
Well, we starting preparing for the festive day 39 days ago with the beginning of Advent and tomorrow we culminate it with the celebration of the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though He walked the Earth approximately 2000 years ago, His teachings and beliefs are followed through faith and love by over one billion people today. That’s quite a statement for a society that has the attention span of a gnat.
Where did the forty days of Advent go? Did we spend some of the time in reflection or prayer of what over one billion people world wide are about to celebrate? Or were we too busy shopping and planning and running around aimlessly in preparation for THE DAY? If you did only that, your day might just as well be like any other day.
Remember, that even though you might have forgotten Him, Jesus never forgets about you. His actions as documented by the four great doctors of the church, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, serve as an example to us.
While many children here await the arrival of Santa Claus, children in France set out their shoes for le petit Jesus to fill with gifts. Mexicans attend Midnight Mass, la misa del gallo (rooster) and sing lullabies to Jesus. The Swiss wait for their presents from Christkindli (Christ Child).
So as you sit down with family and friends to enjoy your seven fish course, or lasagna or goose or turkey or ham, take time to reflect on why we gather and why we celebrate the festive occasion. If you do nothing at all, at least give thanks for what you have. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good His mercy endures forever.
"I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." ~ Luke 2:10-12
Where did the forty days of Advent go? Did we spend some of the time in reflection or prayer of what over one billion people world wide are about to celebrate? Or were we too busy shopping and planning and running around aimlessly in preparation for THE DAY? If you did only that, your day might just as well be like any other day.
Remember, that even though you might have forgotten Him, Jesus never forgets about you. His actions as documented by the four great doctors of the church, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, serve as an example to us.
While many children here await the arrival of Santa Claus, children in France set out their shoes for le petit Jesus to fill with gifts. Mexicans attend Midnight Mass, la misa del gallo (rooster) and sing lullabies to Jesus. The Swiss wait for their presents from Christkindli (Christ Child).
So as you sit down with family and friends to enjoy your seven fish course, or lasagna or goose or turkey or ham, take time to reflect on why we gather and why we celebrate the festive occasion. If you do nothing at all, at least give thanks for what you have. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good His mercy endures forever.
"I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." ~ Luke 2:10-12
12.20.2005
...who will be like me?
“If I try to be like him, who will be like me?”
This is an old Jewish proverb that basically tells us to be ourselves and to stop trying to be someone else. I think if we follow these words of wisdom we’ll all be much happier for it.
Why do people put so much pressure on themselves? Why does that grass always look greener on the other side? Why is it that people who dislike change are always trying to change into something or someone else? How can you go out with someone for 2 years and then after the honeymoon you start bickering because you discover that the person you married is not the same as the person you dated?
Maybe it’s because we lack self-worth. Maybe we haven’t realized that even with all our warts we’re still very unique individuals and have something that no one else has. I’m not a fan of Kurt Cobain and I don’t much about him, but he’s credited with the following quote, “Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.”
As you try to become something you’re not, you are wasting all the gifts that God gave to you and you alone. Why do people hate the way they look? Isn’t there a saying that beauty is only skin deep? Why do we want to become what someone else deems as being beautiful? Who is the true judge of beauty? Is being thin beautiful? Whenever my mother saw someone thin she would always comment they were all skin and bones (literally translated from Italian). I like a little meat on the bone. Some of the prettiest women I’ve known have been a little on the so called plump side. Look at some of the famous paintings from the Renaissance and see if you can find any one under hundred and thirty pounds.
Question: What is the advice that you often hear given to someone who is concerned about how they’re going to appear or perform during a presentation?
Answer: BE YOURSELF!
If you’re well grounded, well rooted, and ooze confidence, why would you want to be like someone else? Don’t try to be like him otherwise we will lose YOU and everything that you have to offer.
Lao-Tzu said, “When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.”
This is an old Jewish proverb that basically tells us to be ourselves and to stop trying to be someone else. I think if we follow these words of wisdom we’ll all be much happier for it.
Why do people put so much pressure on themselves? Why does that grass always look greener on the other side? Why is it that people who dislike change are always trying to change into something or someone else? How can you go out with someone for 2 years and then after the honeymoon you start bickering because you discover that the person you married is not the same as the person you dated?
Maybe it’s because we lack self-worth. Maybe we haven’t realized that even with all our warts we’re still very unique individuals and have something that no one else has. I’m not a fan of Kurt Cobain and I don’t much about him, but he’s credited with the following quote, “Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.”
As you try to become something you’re not, you are wasting all the gifts that God gave to you and you alone. Why do people hate the way they look? Isn’t there a saying that beauty is only skin deep? Why do we want to become what someone else deems as being beautiful? Who is the true judge of beauty? Is being thin beautiful? Whenever my mother saw someone thin she would always comment they were all skin and bones (literally translated from Italian). I like a little meat on the bone. Some of the prettiest women I’ve known have been a little on the so called plump side. Look at some of the famous paintings from the Renaissance and see if you can find any one under hundred and thirty pounds.
Question: What is the advice that you often hear given to someone who is concerned about how they’re going to appear or perform during a presentation?
Answer: BE YOURSELF!
If you’re well grounded, well rooted, and ooze confidence, why would you want to be like someone else? Don’t try to be like him otherwise we will lose YOU and everything that you have to offer.
Lao-Tzu said, “When you are content to be simply yourself and don’t compare or compete, everybody will respect you.”
12.19.2005
A Christmas Carol
It was on this day in 1843 that Charles Dickens published “A Christmas Carol.” Since his first book “Martin Chuzzlewit” proved to be a commercial failure and finding himself strapped for cash, Dickens decided to write a heartwarming tale with a holiday theme.
The story of Ebenezer Scrooge, who had so little Christmas spirit that he wanted his assistant Bob Cratchit to work on Christmas day came to him in October of 1943.
He struggled to finish the book and since he had no publisher, he published the book himself. He priced it modestly at 5 shillings in hopes that it would be affordable to many. It was released a week before Christmas and proved to be an instant success, selling 6,000 copies in just a few days. The demand was so great that it went to a second and third printing.
History shows that at this time Christmas was on the decline and not celebrated much. People were forced to work 16 hour days, 6 days a week and could barely make ends meet. England was in the midst of the Industrial Revolution and most people were poor. Many couldn’t afford to celebrate Christmas, and the Puritans believed it was a sin to do so. They felt that celebrating Christmas too extravagantly would be and insult to Christ.
The famous American preacher, Henry Ward Beecher, a prominent Congregational minister and educator whose sister was Harriet Beecher Stowe writer of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, said that Christmas was a “foreign” day and he even wouldn’t recognize it.
In writing “A Christmas Carol” Dickens reminded many people in England and the United States of the old Christmas traditions that had been dying out since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, of cooking a feast, and spending time with family, and spreading warmth and cheer. Dickens helped people return to the old ways of Christmas. He continued to write a Christmas story every year, but none endured as well as A Christmas Carol.
What would have happened if Dickens didn't write A Christmas Carol?
I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which
shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.
Their faithful Friend and Servant,
C. D.
December, 1843.
12.16.2005
Thank You, Bill Mueller
He’s been called the consummate ballplayer. He came walking through Fenway’s storied doors without fanfare and left without anyone really noticing. He gave me and hopefully many other Red Sox and Major League Baseball fans, three wonderful and productive years as the Red Sox third baseman.
There are very few professional athletes that I would hold up as a role model for my sons or any other youngster and Bill Mueller is one of the selected few. He was instrumental in helping the Red Sox win a World Championship in 2004. Many remember Dave Roberts’ steal of second against the Yankees in game 4 of the playoffs, but few remember that it was Bill Mueller who singled up the middle off Mariano Rivera to drive Roberts home.
How many will remember Bill Mueller hitting a walk off home run off Mariano Rivera in the infamous A -Rod- Varitek brawl game. That homer sparked Boston’s second-half comeback and rendered the once invincible Rivera as beatable. Will anyone remember that Bill Mueller hit .429 in Boston’s first World Series win since 1918? He was the American League batting champ in 2003 and also hit two grand slams in one game. He wasn’t Brooks Robinson but was an above average fielder.
He was overshadowed by the likes of Curt Schilling, Johnny Damon and Kevin Millar who needed to be in the limelight. Bill Mueller seemed to like being in the background. I loved to hear him being interviewed, because he was very articulate and always gave thanks to the Lord for giving him the talent and ability that made him the ‘professional’ that he was.
I want to thank that curly top reporter for writing a column about him today. It’s nice to see someone as humble as Bill Mueller given his dues and brought to the attention of the masses that are worrying about the future of Manny or Theo.
Bill Mueller, I wish you continued success as you don your Dodger blues.
12.14.2005
How Quick We Forget
In eleven days we will celebrate the birth of Jesus. Jesus brought joy to the world and I hope that some of this joy is somehow spread to the areas affected by hurricane Katrina.
To some of us with a short attention span, Katrina might seem something that is past and everything is now OK because we made our token feel-good contribution, but to the hundreds of thousands of people impacted the nightmare continues.
For some, just because the news media stops reporting from these areas in order to pick up and report on new disasters, the thinking is that everyone has been taken care of. The sad fact is that the aftermath has brought with it an onslaught of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and yes, even suicide.
These poor souls have lost, as one psychiatrist calls it, “the way of the world.” They have lost their families, their neighborhoods, and their communities. They are dealing not with one issue but several at the same time and it has been overwhelming for many. One woman lost her home, her church, her supermarket, and her three children have been displaced to three different states.
Just imagine how you would feel locally if this had happened here and destroyed, South Boston, East Boston, the North End and Charlestown. Look at the history and culture that would be lost forever. The Old North Church gone, Bunker Hill Monument gone, Castle Island washed out – the place where you grew up left totally devastated- how do you think you would cope in the aftermath? How would you feel about being housed in a temporary shelter on Camp Edwards with your son housed at the Worcester Centrum and a daughter sent to the Springfield Armory? I wonder what your Christmas would be like under these circumstances.
Grief and despair have set in. People feel betrayed at the non-reaction of a nation to their plight. Instead of trying to take the necessary action to help our fellow citizens we are debating whether to do anything about the area. How would you feel if FEMA won’t give you a housing voucher?
Before Katrina, the National Suicide Prevention hotline averaged 3,000 calls a month, since then, the calls have doubled, with most new calls coming from the affected areas.
One doctor at a New Orleans clinic said that he had written more antidepressant, sleep medications and anti-anxiety prescriptions in the last seven weeks than he had in the last seven months."
It’s at times like these that I get angry when I think of the trillions of dollars spent to send a monkey in space, men to the moon, building a space station, yet we can’t give someone a pittance in comparison to the aforementioned to put a roof over their head in time of need. For all intents and purpose these people must feel like they’re out in space.
What’s happened to us? There seems to be quite a difference on the help the victims of 9/11 received versus the help or lack of the people of Louisiana and Mississippi are receiving.
I pray that the Lord shine a light on our elected officials and everyone else to make them take the necessary action that will give these people a sense of hope. Instead of giving more tax cuts and incentives to the rich, do what has to be done to take care of the victims of Katrina.
To some of us with a short attention span, Katrina might seem something that is past and everything is now OK because we made our token feel-good contribution, but to the hundreds of thousands of people impacted the nightmare continues.
For some, just because the news media stops reporting from these areas in order to pick up and report on new disasters, the thinking is that everyone has been taken care of. The sad fact is that the aftermath has brought with it an onslaught of mental health problems, including anxiety, depression and yes, even suicide.
These poor souls have lost, as one psychiatrist calls it, “the way of the world.” They have lost their families, their neighborhoods, and their communities. They are dealing not with one issue but several at the same time and it has been overwhelming for many. One woman lost her home, her church, her supermarket, and her three children have been displaced to three different states.
Just imagine how you would feel locally if this had happened here and destroyed, South Boston, East Boston, the North End and Charlestown. Look at the history and culture that would be lost forever. The Old North Church gone, Bunker Hill Monument gone, Castle Island washed out – the place where you grew up left totally devastated- how do you think you would cope in the aftermath? How would you feel about being housed in a temporary shelter on Camp Edwards with your son housed at the Worcester Centrum and a daughter sent to the Springfield Armory? I wonder what your Christmas would be like under these circumstances.
Grief and despair have set in. People feel betrayed at the non-reaction of a nation to their plight. Instead of trying to take the necessary action to help our fellow citizens we are debating whether to do anything about the area. How would you feel if FEMA won’t give you a housing voucher?
Before Katrina, the National Suicide Prevention hotline averaged 3,000 calls a month, since then, the calls have doubled, with most new calls coming from the affected areas.
One doctor at a New Orleans clinic said that he had written more antidepressant, sleep medications and anti-anxiety prescriptions in the last seven weeks than he had in the last seven months."
It’s at times like these that I get angry when I think of the trillions of dollars spent to send a monkey in space, men to the moon, building a space station, yet we can’t give someone a pittance in comparison to the aforementioned to put a roof over their head in time of need. For all intents and purpose these people must feel like they’re out in space.
What’s happened to us? There seems to be quite a difference on the help the victims of 9/11 received versus the help or lack of the people of Louisiana and Mississippi are receiving.
I pray that the Lord shine a light on our elected officials and everyone else to make them take the necessary action that will give these people a sense of hope. Instead of giving more tax cuts and incentives to the rich, do what has to be done to take care of the victims of Katrina.
12.12.2005
Christmas and Giving
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Ev'rywhere you go;
Take a look in the five-and-ten, glistening once again
With candy canes and silver lanes aglow.
Each year it begins to look a lot like Christmas earlier and earlier. The retail stores can’t wait to enter into their bonanza period. This year I saw Christmas decorations before the Thanksgiving holiday.
The lyrics to this old song tell us to look in the five-and-ten to see what Christmas looks like. The five-and-tens are extinct and have been replaced by the Wal-Mart’s and Target’s of the world.
To me it begins to look a lot like Christmas when I see the first Salvation Army volunteer ringing a bell while standing next to the kettle.
Christmas for some starts in early November when many churches and other non profit organizations hold their yearly bazaars. A bazaar can be a street market in a Middle Easter country or a retail store that sells a wide variety of items. The bazaar I’m talking about here is a sale of goods to raise money for charity. Charity is the voluntary provision of money, materials, or help to people in need.
Charity is synonymous with Christmas. Americans are extremely charitable as can be seen how they step up to the plate each time there’s some natural disaster in the world. It seems that the world has had it’s fill of disasters recently, both home and abroad and that has stretched many to the limits of giving.
How many times have you seen a crowd of people gathered and noticed someone holding a sign that has John 3:16 written on it? Some people brush that person off as being some kind of kook. Christians celebrate the gift that God gave us at Christmas for John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have Eternal life.”
Given this greatest example, we should follow suit and be mindful of the needy among us. You can’t escape from the numerous solicitations that will be presented to you especially during this time of year. In the past month I have received or encountered the following solicitations;
The mailman has delivered a number of calendars and sets of greeting cards and spiritual cards from various charitable organizations in hope that their gifts would solicit a donation from me.
This morning I received via e-mail a request for help from an organization which I contributed to during the tsunami. They suggested that instead of shopping for the customary gift, that I make a contribution in the name of a friend or family member. A gift of $35 would be enough to provide 11 blankets to protect earthquake survivors in Pakistan from the cold of winter. Or if I gave $5000, they could rebuild seven houses that were destroyed by the tsunami in the Indian Ocean.
You can’t get away from being reminded to give because even radio stations have various charities that they are trying to raise money for. A local sports talk show targets different organizations daily whereby they try to get listeners to contribute. Saturday, I heard some poor soul call a talk show that deals with handling various problems. The caller, a woman, asked how she could go about purchasing a new propane heater to heat the dilapidated farmhouse that housed her and a handicapped daughter. The woman explained that she had filed for bankruptcy and couldn’t get credit. She had a job where she made approximately $17,000 a year, just above what the government considers the poverty line, thereby negating any chance of public assistance. The talk show host immediately started a call to all of his listeners to see if he could have someone donate the heating system to this woman.
I recently tuned into the local PBS TV station, Channel 2, and found that they were broadcasting extra special shows in order to solicit funds from viewers.
In order to raise funds to support the various ministries provided, the church which I frequent has the following fund raising programs ongoing during Christmas; you are to bring a gift that’s specified on a paper tree ornament and it will be given to a needy child. You can purchase an ornament for $5 which will have your prayer intention and will also decorate a huge Christmas tree in the lobby. Or you can purchase spiritual Christmas cards or buy a raffle Christmas calendar.
Because of all the busy-ness of the season people find less time to donate blood. Blood banks and organ banks and food banks are much neglected at this time of year.
On top of all the organizations that are asking you to give, you’ll definitely run into many of the homeless especially if you visit downtown Boston, that have their hands or cups out asking for your ‘spare change.”
I’ve only listed things that I’ve seen and I’m sure that you could add a lot more to this list. The question arises as to how much and to how many different people or groups can I give to?
Well, the answer my friends, is not blowing in the wind but in sacred Scripture;
"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Matthew 19:21
He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." – Mark 12:41-44
Maybe this year unstead of getting caught up in the frenzy of running around to try to find something to give to people who have tons of “stuff,” you can give to the needy and sit back and relax knowing that you have made someone’s Christmas a little brighter.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
Each year it begins to look a lot like Christmas earlier and earlier. The retail stores can’t wait to enter into their bonanza period. This year I saw Christmas decorations before the Thanksgiving holiday.
The lyrics to this old song tell us to look in the five-and-ten to see what Christmas looks like. The five-and-tens are extinct and have been replaced by the Wal-Mart’s and Target’s of the world.
To me it begins to look a lot like Christmas when I see the first Salvation Army volunteer ringing a bell while standing next to the kettle.
Christmas for some starts in early November when many churches and other non profit organizations hold their yearly bazaars. A bazaar can be a street market in a Middle Easter country or a retail store that sells a wide variety of items. The bazaar I’m talking about here is a sale of goods to raise money for charity. Charity is the voluntary provision of money, materials, or help to people in need.
Charity is synonymous with Christmas. Americans are extremely charitable as can be seen how they step up to the plate each time there’s some natural disaster in the world. It seems that the world has had it’s fill of disasters recently, both home and abroad and that has stretched many to the limits of giving.
How many times have you seen a crowd of people gathered and noticed someone holding a sign that has John 3:16 written on it? Some people brush that person off as being some kind of kook. Christians celebrate the gift that God gave us at Christmas for John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have Eternal life.”
Given this greatest example, we should follow suit and be mindful of the needy among us. You can’t escape from the numerous solicitations that will be presented to you especially during this time of year. In the past month I have received or encountered the following solicitations;
The mailman has delivered a number of calendars and sets of greeting cards and spiritual cards from various charitable organizations in hope that their gifts would solicit a donation from me.
This morning I received via e-mail a request for help from an organization which I contributed to during the tsunami. They suggested that instead of shopping for the customary gift, that I make a contribution in the name of a friend or family member. A gift of $35 would be enough to provide 11 blankets to protect earthquake survivors in Pakistan from the cold of winter. Or if I gave $5000, they could rebuild seven houses that were destroyed by the tsunami in the Indian Ocean.
You can’t get away from being reminded to give because even radio stations have various charities that they are trying to raise money for. A local sports talk show targets different organizations daily whereby they try to get listeners to contribute. Saturday, I heard some poor soul call a talk show that deals with handling various problems. The caller, a woman, asked how she could go about purchasing a new propane heater to heat the dilapidated farmhouse that housed her and a handicapped daughter. The woman explained that she had filed for bankruptcy and couldn’t get credit. She had a job where she made approximately $17,000 a year, just above what the government considers the poverty line, thereby negating any chance of public assistance. The talk show host immediately started a call to all of his listeners to see if he could have someone donate the heating system to this woman.
I recently tuned into the local PBS TV station, Channel 2, and found that they were broadcasting extra special shows in order to solicit funds from viewers.
In order to raise funds to support the various ministries provided, the church which I frequent has the following fund raising programs ongoing during Christmas; you are to bring a gift that’s specified on a paper tree ornament and it will be given to a needy child. You can purchase an ornament for $5 which will have your prayer intention and will also decorate a huge Christmas tree in the lobby. Or you can purchase spiritual Christmas cards or buy a raffle Christmas calendar.
Because of all the busy-ness of the season people find less time to donate blood. Blood banks and organ banks and food banks are much neglected at this time of year.
On top of all the organizations that are asking you to give, you’ll definitely run into many of the homeless especially if you visit downtown Boston, that have their hands or cups out asking for your ‘spare change.”
I’ve only listed things that I’ve seen and I’m sure that you could add a lot more to this list. The question arises as to how much and to how many different people or groups can I give to?
Well, the answer my friends, is not blowing in the wind but in sacred Scripture;
"If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Matthew 19:21
He sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, "Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood." – Mark 12:41-44
Maybe this year unstead of getting caught up in the frenzy of running around to try to find something to give to people who have tons of “stuff,” you can give to the needy and sit back and relax knowing that you have made someone’s Christmas a little brighter.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
12.09.2005
Apperance vs. Substance
Do you care more about appearances than substance?
This is a choice that’s made everyday by most of us and it runs the gamut from picking fruit to choosing a soul mate. I have found that if you make a selection strictly on the appearance criteria many times you will not be satisfied.
We are constantly bombarded with messages that target appearance over substance. Human resource specialists that are in the business of hiring people tend to make their hiring decisions on appearance only. So, we are told to “put our best foot forward” or “make ourselves presentable;” we have to market ourselves. We might not have all the necessary skills but if we look good we will stand a chance of getting hired.
Look at what happened to the New England Patriot’s offensive coordinator. Charlie Weiss, because of his appearance (being overweight) was continuously bypassed in his attempts to become a head coach. He became so desperate that he opted to undergo a very dangerous surgery that almost cost him his life. I’m glad for him that Notre Dame University chose him to head their football program for the next ten years. This man of tremendous substance was constantly passed over because of appearance.
The saying, “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” has been turned around to where choices are being made strictly by looking at the cover without ever looking at the table of contents. Speaking about books, walk into any large bookstore and see which books attract you; which books are you tempted to pick up to look at? I bet most will be tempted by the attractive covers.
Look at what’s happened with haute cuisine. It seems that the way a dish is presented is more important than the substance. I want a chef to cook for me not to give me an artistic presentation. I can get my fill of art at the museum, thank you. And I don’t want to spend twice the amount because of the artistic presentation. Don’t try to elevate the peasant dish of pasta e fasul (pasta and beans) into something that it’s not by masking it with different colored leaves and herbs that are frankly non edible.
Some categorize appearance and substance as two different philosophies, sort of a starting point in life when one comes to the fork in the road. The people who choose the road named appearance believe that it’s important how you appear and not what you are. Conversely, the ones who choose the road marked substance believe in what they are and not in what they appear to be.
The first philosophy leads into a personality of sham, deceit and superficiality, while the second leads into a personality of honesty, sincerity and substance. If you choose a friend hopefully you’ll choose one that subscribes to the second philosophy. There’s an old Italian saying that goes something like this; “A true friend is one that’s not afraid to point out that your nose is dirty.” This is probably my variation on the actual saying but in any case it should point out that a friend will not make you look bad.
Appearance versus substance is the subject of an old song from the Doo Wop era. The lyrics (If you want to be happy for the rest of your life never make a pretty woman your wife), although somewhat comical, when you come right down to it makes sense. We get back to the saying, “Beauty is only skin deep.” It’s not what’s on the outside but what’s on the inside. Unfortunately society has become obsessed with appearance. Come out with a new fangled diet and you could make millions. People will go to any extreme to look like something that’s impossible to attain.
Appearance has become a deciding factor on choosing our elected officials. Would Abe Lincoln get elected today? Too much value and worth has been given to appearance. The scales of appearance and substance are heavily weighted on the appearance side. We’ve lost the proper balance and it’s hurting us more than we realize.
This is a choice that’s made everyday by most of us and it runs the gamut from picking fruit to choosing a soul mate. I have found that if you make a selection strictly on the appearance criteria many times you will not be satisfied.
We are constantly bombarded with messages that target appearance over substance. Human resource specialists that are in the business of hiring people tend to make their hiring decisions on appearance only. So, we are told to “put our best foot forward” or “make ourselves presentable;” we have to market ourselves. We might not have all the necessary skills but if we look good we will stand a chance of getting hired.
Look at what happened to the New England Patriot’s offensive coordinator. Charlie Weiss, because of his appearance (being overweight) was continuously bypassed in his attempts to become a head coach. He became so desperate that he opted to undergo a very dangerous surgery that almost cost him his life. I’m glad for him that Notre Dame University chose him to head their football program for the next ten years. This man of tremendous substance was constantly passed over because of appearance.
The saying, “you can’t judge a book by its cover,” has been turned around to where choices are being made strictly by looking at the cover without ever looking at the table of contents. Speaking about books, walk into any large bookstore and see which books attract you; which books are you tempted to pick up to look at? I bet most will be tempted by the attractive covers.
Look at what’s happened with haute cuisine. It seems that the way a dish is presented is more important than the substance. I want a chef to cook for me not to give me an artistic presentation. I can get my fill of art at the museum, thank you. And I don’t want to spend twice the amount because of the artistic presentation. Don’t try to elevate the peasant dish of pasta e fasul (pasta and beans) into something that it’s not by masking it with different colored leaves and herbs that are frankly non edible.
Some categorize appearance and substance as two different philosophies, sort of a starting point in life when one comes to the fork in the road. The people who choose the road named appearance believe that it’s important how you appear and not what you are. Conversely, the ones who choose the road marked substance believe in what they are and not in what they appear to be.
The first philosophy leads into a personality of sham, deceit and superficiality, while the second leads into a personality of honesty, sincerity and substance. If you choose a friend hopefully you’ll choose one that subscribes to the second philosophy. There’s an old Italian saying that goes something like this; “A true friend is one that’s not afraid to point out that your nose is dirty.” This is probably my variation on the actual saying but in any case it should point out that a friend will not make you look bad.
Appearance versus substance is the subject of an old song from the Doo Wop era. The lyrics (If you want to be happy for the rest of your life never make a pretty woman your wife), although somewhat comical, when you come right down to it makes sense. We get back to the saying, “Beauty is only skin deep.” It’s not what’s on the outside but what’s on the inside. Unfortunately society has become obsessed with appearance. Come out with a new fangled diet and you could make millions. People will go to any extreme to look like something that’s impossible to attain.
Appearance has become a deciding factor on choosing our elected officials. Would Abe Lincoln get elected today? Too much value and worth has been given to appearance. The scales of appearance and substance are heavily weighted on the appearance side. We’ve lost the proper balance and it’s hurting us more than we realize.
12.03.2005
Responsibility
Maybe you think I’m out of step, not in tune with the times, maybe you see things differently from me, but what I see as a difference maker nowadays is people using their common sense. Society slowly but surely with the help of some greedy lawyers is telling the masses that they don’t have to be responsible for their actions. They send the message that they don’t have to be held accountable for making the wrong choices. They send many of the weak-minded the message that says to them, it’s ok if you made a mistake or chose to do something that would get you in trouble, were here to help you. We’ll sue.
I have no problem with lawyers taking on big corporations or industries like the tobacco companies and taking them to task for selling a product that’s injurious to your health and may even cause death. I smoked for many years by my choice and continued to smoke even after the bombardment of warnings stating that cigarette smoking leads to cancer. I made a choice to stop when I finally came to the realization that it was doing damage to my body. I made the choice, it was not made by my lawyer. The only way he would give me advice is if I payed him. Now they come looking for the injured, the sick, the obese and the dumb so they can exploit them to make money.
I have no problem suing the tobacco companies if we find that they intentionally put something in cigarettes that made them addictive. If they did something that made it difficult to stop using it then I say go for the jugular.
Maybe I should do more research before I start ranting but yesterday’s story in the Washington Post made me think about responsibility. The story, “Lawyers Ready Suit Over Soda,” is about the case that is being built linking obesity to the sale of soda in schools.
Watch out on Hanover Street, because I’m getting a lawyer to sue the pastry shops for selling me all those cannolis that have made me fat. I need someone to protect me because I can’t use my common sense to say no to things that are not good for me.
What is the school’s responsibility in the matter? Did someone force them into putting soda machines in their facilities? Did someone pay them a visit and say, “Mr. Principal, we want you to place these soda machines in your school otherwise we’re gonna break a yo legs?”
When are people going to start taking responsibility for their actions and stop trying to turn the tables. Who’s telling these kids to drink all the soda that they do? Do they offer Health education classes in school nowadays or are they too busy teaching them about alternative lifestyles?
No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible - Voltaire
I have no problem with lawyers taking on big corporations or industries like the tobacco companies and taking them to task for selling a product that’s injurious to your health and may even cause death. I smoked for many years by my choice and continued to smoke even after the bombardment of warnings stating that cigarette smoking leads to cancer. I made a choice to stop when I finally came to the realization that it was doing damage to my body. I made the choice, it was not made by my lawyer. The only way he would give me advice is if I payed him. Now they come looking for the injured, the sick, the obese and the dumb so they can exploit them to make money.
I have no problem suing the tobacco companies if we find that they intentionally put something in cigarettes that made them addictive. If they did something that made it difficult to stop using it then I say go for the jugular.
Maybe I should do more research before I start ranting but yesterday’s story in the Washington Post made me think about responsibility. The story, “Lawyers Ready Suit Over Soda,” is about the case that is being built linking obesity to the sale of soda in schools.
Watch out on Hanover Street, because I’m getting a lawyer to sue the pastry shops for selling me all those cannolis that have made me fat. I need someone to protect me because I can’t use my common sense to say no to things that are not good for me.
What is the school’s responsibility in the matter? Did someone force them into putting soda machines in their facilities? Did someone pay them a visit and say, “Mr. Principal, we want you to place these soda machines in your school otherwise we’re gonna break a yo legs?”
When are people going to start taking responsibility for their actions and stop trying to turn the tables. Who’s telling these kids to drink all the soda that they do? Do they offer Health education classes in school nowadays or are they too busy teaching them about alternative lifestyles?
No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible - Voltaire
12.01.2005
They're Trying to Steal Christmas
More and more you hear people saying, “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” When I was in school, the vacation that we had around Christmas time was called the Christmas vacation – today it’s called the winter recess. Yesterday I got an invitation to attend a Christmas party, but nowhere on the invitation does the word Christmas appear – it says Holiday party. It’s getting out of hand when a commotion arises over what to call a spruce tree donated annually to the city of Boston by the wonderful people of Nova Scotia. Some don’t want it called a Christmas tree, so the city of Boston’s official site succumbs and calls it a Holiday tree.
The last time I checked, the majority of this country’s population is made up of Christians, who celebrate Christmas, yet we are forced to be “sensitive” and make sure that we include everyone and to be politically correct. So now when the City of Boston announces the lighting of its tree, it refers to it not as the Christmas tree but the holiday tree.
Why does the word Christmas bother some people? I can’t figure it out. The only thing I can think of is because Christ makes up part of the word Christmas. Christ bothers some people because they don’t believe in Christ, I guess. Christ warned his disciples as is mentioned in Matthew Chapter 10 Verse 22 “.and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake.”
Isn’t it interesting that many people who originally came to this country, your parents, grandparents or great grandparents, came because this country had much to offer including the freedom of speech and worship. What’s happening to our freedom of speech? There’s a book out on the market written by a nationally syndicated radio talk show host, called “The Enemy Within” that we I first heard about it wrote it off as someone wanting to profit from his stature in life. Now the more I see things like the de-Christmasing of Christmas, I’m starting to believe in this man’s opinion that the enemy we face in this country is not external but right here among us. The enemy within will bring this country down if we let them.
Don’t be surprised if the book, “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas” is changed to “The Grinch Who Stole the Holidays.” You better tell anyone you know that's named Natale (Christmas) to be on guard.
I thought I was starting to lose it until I read an op-ed piece in yesterday’s Boston Globe written by a Jewish man named Jeff Jacoby and this is how he summarizes his column:
As a practicing Jew, I don't celebrate Christmas. There is no Christmas tree in my home, my kids don't write letters to Santa Claus, and I don't attend church on Dec. 25 (or any other date). Does the knowledge that scores of millions of my fellow Americans do all those things make me feel excluded or offended? On the contrary: It makes me feel grateful -- to live in a land where freedom of religion shelters the Hanukkah menorah in my window no less than the Christmas tree in my neighbor's. That freedom is a reflection of America's Judeo-Christian culture, and a principal reason why, in this overwhelmingly Christian country, it isn't only Christians for whom Christmas is a season of joy. And why it isn't only Christians who should make a point of saying so
Sometimes people offer opinions and for whatever reason for me they take time to settle and make sense. A woman had responded to an e-mail on the above subject matter and mentioned that maybe all this attempted neutering of Christmas is what the Lord wants. The reason she presented was that this country has lost the true meaning of Christmas. Too much is spent on the materialistic side of the Christmas holiday and very little is spent on reflecting on the true meaning of an event that occurred 2000 plus years ago.
I hope you don’t get too caught up with Santa Claus that you forget to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Don't be afraid to say Merry Christmas, or Buon Natale
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