Tuesday, December 25, 2012

A Christmas message from InsaneDavid.

A Christmas message from me, InsaneDavid.

Today is Christmas, and as I watch the Pope conduct mass as usual, I have a few things to say.  This year's feature has been all about advertising and as I said in the earlier Appendix, advertising and commercialism may go hand in hand but that wasn't the intention here.  I do grow tired of Political Correctness concerning Christmas.  An example was a banner outside a tourist attraction in San Jose proclaiming "Celebration Trees" in every room of said tourist trap.  They're Christmas trees, not celebration trees, especially when Christmas is mentioned elsewhere on the banner.

No matter what religion you may follow, even a sampling of different religions and faiths such as I do, or none at all, roughly 2000 years ago a child was born.  What that child was or wasn't isn't for me to debate but from that event grew a holiday.  A holiday celebrating and commemorating the birth of a child and gifts presented to a child.  From this child's day sprang thousands of customs and celebrations across the world, more than could ever be documented or known.  I think of Christmas as a children's holiday, I've said that before, but that's what the key representation is to me.  That a child born in a stable could go on to do great things, inspiring things, and more importantly than anything else - make people think about things beyond their status.  That the regular, previously cast off people were as important as everyone else.  That salvation for those previously looked down on as unworthy would be obtained through brotherly love and helping one another.  That those turned away by elitist society deserved to walk with a king.

Isn't the true message of Christmas to give of one's self?  Of our skills, our talents, and our love?  Isn't that truly the representation of the holiday and also the embodiment of Santa Claus?  A symbol that gives all those things to the children of the world, and spreads cheer and good will?  The embodiment of the spirit of Christmas.  A modern symbol of the kindness and joy of being behaved and kind to one another?  I know some people try to tear the legend of Santa Claus apart from the religious root of the holiday, but aren't they truly one in the same - don't they stand for the same things?  Are not they both carriers of stories to enrich the lives and upbringings of the most important thing on this day - children?

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"

Yes, this year's feature was about advertising but as Edmund Vance Cooke once wrote,

It is not the weight of jewel or plate,
Or the fondle of silk or fur;
'Tis the spirit in which the gift is rich,
As the gifts of the Wise Ones were,
And we are not told whose gift was gold,
Or whose was the gift of myrrh.

A last Christmas gift from InsaneDavid for this year, We Three Kings from the Will Vinton Claymation Christmas special...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnIFTtW1pko

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