Every year along about this time I decide to become Russian Orthodox- the Orthodox Christmas, you see, falls sometime in mid-January, which not only gives me an extra month to do the shopping I have not even started yet, but also allows me to take advantage of the post-Xmas sales.
Sorry, I know I should take this all more seriously, but wtf??? I'm among the school of thought that holds that if Jesus came back today he would be appalled at all the crap being done in his name, including the Xmas Shopping Season. Each year I am sorely tempted to get relatives a card that says "a medical kit has been donated in your name to some God-forsaken 3rd world country", or some such. I'm not sure why I don't do it- I have cool relatives and inlaws, and they'd probably appreciate it. Maybe I will this year... hmm. Stay tuned.
Meanwhile, for those looking for something a little more spiritual this Xmas, I can suggest a Buddhist retreat, as reported in today's New York Times...
7 comments:
Colonel--You are looking at this all wrong. We know that Jeebus wasn't really born on Christmas day anyway, so why make such a big deal out of it. I prefer to think that Christmas is really about the birth of commercialism. If you look at it that way, it's not such a bad thing. Now get out there and do your part for Commercialism and buy somebody a really cool present.
Besides, if you buy medical kits for a 3rd world country you know they are somehow just going to use those to make IED's to blow us up.
mike- well, yea, that is true, there are lots of things in medical kits that could be used to destroy America. All sorts of needles, I suppose, and a copmplete lack of high-cost prescription drugs.
i need to harken back to the wise words spoken by our beloved president in the xmas season of 2001, as he rallied america after 9-11 to fight terrorism- the best way to fight international terrorism, he proclaimed, was to go out and shop!!
halle berry, mama-o'god, i have heard your cry!! let's go out there and SHOP!!!!
I think that is what they really mean when they say "The Christmas Spirit.'
God bless us one and all....
mike- I believe the Christmas Spirit is either rum or Audrey...
but 2nd best is ok too...
I had to laugh when I saw your link to that Buddhist article. I read that today, too, and was contemplating sending it to a friend of ours who is a Christmas FREAK!
She e-mailed right after Thanksgiving to report on how she had loaded up her car's CD player with carols so she could listen to them over and over and over again. She is a gift nut who buys presents for her children and grandchildren and great grandchildren and spouses and ex-spouses and cousins and aunts and uncles and...and...
Sorry, guess I got carried away. Or soon will be.
One of my nephews this year has announced that he doesn't want any presents, just donations to nothingbutnets.net, which buys mosquito nets for families in Africa. He's 15, and apparently a good deal wiser than the rest of the family.
catalyst- i actually like listening to xmas music- though usually classical xmas-type stuff. july is a great month to listen to it...
phoebe- no shopping???? why does your nephew hate amerika? have you contacted the department of homeland insecurity?
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