I like Christmas. I like baby Jesus and the story of his birth. I like the peace on earth, good will to men philosophy. I like Christmas trees, Christmas carols and songs, Christmas lights, Christmas gifts, and the idea of Santa. Christmas is magical but the spirit of the season seems to be more accessible to children than adults.
I remember how a five-foot tall Christmas tree looked to be about twenty-feet tall when I was a little girl. The hurry Santa, I can't wait slow down of time. Shopping with my mother in downtown Denver at night. How cold it would be walking up and down 16th Street stopping to look at the Christmas windows at the May D&F, The Denver Dry Goods Company, and Neusteters department stores. The way people kept accidentally bumping each other because the sidewalks were so crowded with shoppers and window lookers.
I remember the wonder of Midnight Mass and the way the church would be lighted with what seemed to be millions of tiny white lights. How the music, the Christmas decorations, the candles, and the creche all felt so sacred. How people were jammed into pews that would normally hold at least one or two more worshipers but could not this night because everyone was wearing either an overcoat or a parka. How quiet hundreds of people could be when they want to be.
And now? Well, I won't be writing about how commercialism has hijacked a large part of Christmas. Or how, for a lot of people, Christmas begins right after Halloween; so that by the time Christmas really gets here they are sick of it and toss the Christmas tree out the day after, happy to have it over. What I am going to be writing about is how fanaticism is creeping into Christmas both religiously and politically.
A few years back I wrote about a Shepherd's Party I attended here in town. I attended one more party two years ago and was shocked when one of the attendees at that party stood up and started talking about how Jesus had died for our sins and this was what we should remember as it was more important than his birth. He then invited everyone else there to partake in bread and wine (communion) to honor his sacrifice. I did not partake. I was surprised to see others also pass up this chance.
First of all, Christmas is about the birth of a baby. A baby that grew-up to bring a philosophy of love and hope to mankind. It is not about his death. I don't know how many crosses I have seen up in lights this year but I find it very annoying each time I do see one. What happened to the Star of Bethlehem? That is the symbol of Christmas I remember. I have been told that the cross is a symbol of Christianity and therefore belongs in Christmas light displays. I disagree. The cross is also a symbol of Jesus' death and as so has nothing to do with Christmas. Christmas is a celebration of Jesus' birth; we already have a religious holiday celebrating his death, it is called Easter.
Next, there was the action that officials at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, who had placed Christmas trees all over the airport, took when a rabbi asked that a 8-foot-tall menorah be placed in the airport to coincide with the start of Hanukkah. Instead of saying yes they over-reacted and took down all of the Christmas trees amd pretty much said it was the rabbi's fault. Then, after public outrage, they reversed themselves and put the trees back up. But they did not allow the menorah saying, "we look forward to sitting down after the first of the year with not only Rabbi Bogomilsky but others as well, and finding ways to make sure there's an appropriate winter holiday representation for all faiths. We want to find out a way to celebrate the winter holidays that is sensitive to all faiths."
So, they could decide to take down and put back up the Christmas tree very quickly but they need a whole year to decide how to put up a menorah. There is a good article discussing this at the Yakima Herald Republic online.
Earlier this week I saw a news report on a Denver television station that showed a house displaying Christmas lights. Front and center was a large American flag made out of red and white lights. What the hell does the American flag have to do with Christmas? I am pretty sure Jesus was not an American citizen.
Yesterday I saw a report about a Maine Christmas wreath maker who has put Christmas wreaths on the graves in Arlington National Cemetery for the last fifteen years. This year he will be sending out wreaths for military graves all over the country. This morning I opened my copy of The Denver Post to find three photos of wreath laying ceremonies across the country. One of the photo's main focus was of several large flags blowing in the wind. The whole lay-out reminded me of Veteran's and Memorial Day news stories. This angered me greatly. I do not appreciate the military or veteran groups trying to turn the Christmas season into a time to worship at the altar of our war dead. It is opportunistic, jingoistic, and obscene.
Christmas is about the birth of a child. Christmas is about peace on earth and good will to men. Christmas is about the magic of faith. Faith in the goodness of man. Faith in the future. Faith in love. Have we lost the true meaning of Christmas? Or is the Christmas spirit still here and most people just unwilling to see it?
Friday, December 15, 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
My Dog's Goofier Than Your Dog
Last Thursday I had to take my dog Duke to the vet because he had, I thought, broken his nose. He had yipped loudly when my husband reached down to pet his muzzle that morning and we thought he did so because he had got zapped by static electricity when my husband touched him. When I looked at him closer I could see that his nose had an upward tilt to it and looked a little swollen. In fact, he looked like he had been chasing parked cars. Next stop-the Vet clinic.
At the clinic the Vet examined Duke and discovered that at some point earlier in the week Duke had driven something sharp into his gum right above his right canine tooth and then into the sinus right above that. The object was no longer in his mouth but the wound had abscessed and the infection had spread into his sinus. After the Vet put hot packs on Duke's muzzle to bring as much of the infection to the surface as possible I watched as he stuck a needle full of a numbing agent into Duke's gum. Duke did not like that at all. Then the Vet sliced opened the abscess and puss and blood started oozing out of Duke's mouth and nose. Duke did not like that either. In an effort to expel as much goo as possible he then forcefully massaged Duke's muzzle. Duke liked this even less than what had gone on before. After ten minutes of hell, with Duke fighting the doctor and the vet technicians all the way, they managed to get most of the puss and blood out and Duke no longer looked as if he had his nose bobbed.
I took Duke home along with two pill bottles, one with pain meds and the other with antibiotics, and instructions to put hot packs on his muzzle for five minutes followed by a massage twice a day for the next seven days. And, being Duke, he has come to enjoy his hot packs and muzzle massages. At some point he decided that the hot packs were just another way of getting water into his body and he spend each five minute period either trying to lick my wet hand or trying to lick the water off the washcloth I wrapped around his nose; as you can see in the photo below.
I think the only reason he let me do this without any protest is because he learned very quickly that he got a dog biscuit after each session. My other dog Kate also figured this out and would come sit by Duke so she could get her own biscuit. Today is the last day of this regime and Duke is doing great. He and Kate will have to figure out another way to get extra dogs biscuits from now on.
At the clinic the Vet examined Duke and discovered that at some point earlier in the week Duke had driven something sharp into his gum right above his right canine tooth and then into the sinus right above that. The object was no longer in his mouth but the wound had abscessed and the infection had spread into his sinus. After the Vet put hot packs on Duke's muzzle to bring as much of the infection to the surface as possible I watched as he stuck a needle full of a numbing agent into Duke's gum. Duke did not like that at all. Then the Vet sliced opened the abscess and puss and blood started oozing out of Duke's mouth and nose. Duke did not like that either. In an effort to expel as much goo as possible he then forcefully massaged Duke's muzzle. Duke liked this even less than what had gone on before. After ten minutes of hell, with Duke fighting the doctor and the vet technicians all the way, they managed to get most of the puss and blood out and Duke no longer looked as if he had his nose bobbed.
I took Duke home along with two pill bottles, one with pain meds and the other with antibiotics, and instructions to put hot packs on his muzzle for five minutes followed by a massage twice a day for the next seven days. And, being Duke, he has come to enjoy his hot packs and muzzle massages. At some point he decided that the hot packs were just another way of getting water into his body and he spend each five minute period either trying to lick my wet hand or trying to lick the water off the washcloth I wrapped around his nose; as you can see in the photo below.
I think the only reason he let me do this without any protest is because he learned very quickly that he got a dog biscuit after each session. My other dog Kate also figured this out and would come sit by Duke so she could get her own biscuit. Today is the last day of this regime and Duke is doing great. He and Kate will have to figure out another way to get extra dogs biscuits from now on.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Yesterday's Double Header
-two games, contests, or events held consecutively on the same program
-Merriam-Webster dictionary
I had frustrating problems with both Blogger and HaloScan yesterday. I find the Blogger problem a little amusing because I got an invitation to switch my blog over to the new BetaBlogger. I decided to hold off because I have read about the many problems that others have had when they switched to it. That plus the fact that HaloScan doesn't work in BetaBlogger without a great deal of code hacking made me decide to stay where I am for now. Now, after reading these last two messages on Status Blogger:
I am not sure (Stuck in the middle with you) what to do.
When I got online this morning and checked my blog I was disappointed to find HaloScan missing. I went to their page and updated my settings. Doing so brought it back. I don't know what else is going on today but I do notice that my page is taking longer to load than normal and that the hang-up is HaloScan.
This will be my only post today because I am disgusted with this technical part of the blogging experience right now.
-Merriam-Webster dictionary
I had frustrating problems with both Blogger and HaloScan yesterday. I find the Blogger problem a little amusing because I got an invitation to switch my blog over to the new BetaBlogger. I decided to hold off because I have read about the many problems that others have had when they switched to it. That plus the fact that HaloScan doesn't work in BetaBlogger without a great deal of code hacking made me decide to stay where I am for now. Now, after reading these last two messages on Status Blogger:
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Old Blogger is currently down. The new version of Blogger in beta and Blog*Spot are unaffected. We are investigating.
Update, 5PM: This has been fixed.
Posted by Pete at 16:22 PST
Friday, December 08, 2006
We are diagnosing and fixing problems with the new version of Blogger in beta right now. Users are seeing 502 server errors when posting to blogs on the beta, and the site's overall performance is poor.
I am not sure (Stuck in the middle with you) what to do.
When I got online this morning and checked my blog I was disappointed to find HaloScan missing. I went to their page and updated my settings. Doing so brought it back. I don't know what else is going on today but I do notice that my page is taking longer to load than normal and that the hang-up is HaloScan.
This will be my only post today because I am disgusted with this technical part of the blogging experience right now.
Monday, December 11, 2006
Another Manic Monday
Four news stories caught my eye this month.
First, this about the murder of Iraqi comedian Walid Hassan. Max over at The Fifth Column wrote a thoughtful post about it and humor in our chaotic times.
Next, in Gaza City three children, the youngest only three-years-old, were killed when the car they were traveling in was sprayed with automatic rifles fire.
Then, this. The horror that is Darfur has been taken on the road.
Finally, GodMen a Christian movement dedicated to making church going and Jesus more manly in an effort to bring men back into the Christian faith. David Morrow, author of a book called Why Men Hate Going To Church, blames this lack of attendance on, "the feminization of mainline churches."
GodMen think they can chance this by showing a, more forceful, more rugged expressions of their faith.
"Thank you, Lord, for our testosterone!"
(Sigh) Just what we need in the middle of all this testosterone driven violence- more testosterone.
First, this about the murder of Iraqi comedian Walid Hassan. Max over at The Fifth Column wrote a thoughtful post about it and humor in our chaotic times.
Next, in Gaza City three children, the youngest only three-years-old, were killed when the car they were traveling in was sprayed with automatic rifles fire.
Then, this. The horror that is Darfur has been taken on the road.
Finally, GodMen a Christian movement dedicated to making church going and Jesus more manly in an effort to bring men back into the Christian faith. David Morrow, author of a book called Why Men Hate Going To Church, blames this lack of attendance on, "the feminization of mainline churches."
GodMen think they can chance this by showing a, more forceful, more rugged expressions of their faith.
"Thank you, Lord, for our testosterone!"
(Sigh) Just what we need in the middle of all this testosterone driven violence- more testosterone.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Monday, December 04, 2006
Friday, December 01, 2006
Santa Clause Is Coming
Now that we are truly into the holiday season it is time to talk about Santa. If you remember, last year I said I would not be letting Santa into my house because I felt he was scary. In the past I may have also mentioned my fear of clowns. If not, I am afraid of them and I blame this clown:
Frightening, isn't he? That is Clarabell the Clown from the Howdy Doody Show. I think I saw my first episode of Howdy Doody when I seven-years-old and let me tell you, when Clarabell first appeared in all his black-and-white glory I knew I had just entered Creepy City. Yikes!
Which brings me to Santa.
Santa is creepy too- remember, I have photographic evidence. And, since I also know that most of you do not believe that clowns or Santa are the least bit scary, next week I will be running a five day series of photos that prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that clowns and Santa are the most frightening people (if we can call them that) on earth!
Frightening, isn't he? That is Clarabell the Clown from the Howdy Doody Show. I think I saw my first episode of Howdy Doody when I seven-years-old and let me tell you, when Clarabell first appeared in all his black-and-white glory I knew I had just entered Creepy City. Yikes!
Which brings me to Santa.
Santa is creepy too- remember, I have photographic evidence. And, since I also know that most of you do not believe that clowns or Santa are the least bit scary, next week I will be running a five day series of photos that prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that clowns and Santa are the most frightening people (if we can call them that) on earth!
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