Lacking Holiday Spirit
This is the time of year which has traditionally brought out the best in people. Whether Christmas, inspired by the birth of the Baby Jesus, or Hanukkah, celebrating the rededication of a temple, these holidays and the spirit traditionally associated with them leads people to set aside squabbles, to seek fellowship, and feel more hopeful overall.
Granted, the commercialization of all this has taken much of the joy out of the season, replacing it with expectations, stress, and blown budgets. This year, adding a blizzard into the mix does not help.
The paradox, then, between the shenanigans in Washington, D.C. surrounding the fat omnibus spending bill, and the traditional holiday spirit of “Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men”, is striking. Backing the bill up against Christmas to impose an arbitrary deadline by which action must be taken, pitting Republican against Republican in a mean-spirited House-versus-Senate power battle, threats and counter threats—well, let’s just say it’s not the stuff Hallmark movies are made of.
Actually, that’s another example…Hallmark movies aren’t even Hallmark movies anymore. Hall-woke is more like it.
With all the bickering, back-stabbing, and cultural pressure these days…I sincerely hope that your holiday—regardless of the weather, or what you celebrate—brings you the peace, love and joy that used to be present during such times. And maybe—just maybe—there will yet be a Christmas miracle of fair play, honest dealing, and true leadership among our political figures.
