Be Merry, Dammit!

Can you believe adults behave this way, in this day and age?
Why must we say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"?
Why is it now a "holiday tree" and not a "Christmas tree"?
So what about Christian connotations about certain holidays, in particular, Christmas?

Grow the hell up, people!

Adults, by their definition, should be able to tolerate different ideas and inconveniences. Christmas certainly isn't an inconvenience for those who would like to have a day off from work.

Christmas is a specific holiday, not a generic one. If you remember my previous post on Christmas, Christmas has its own origins, history and customs. Could you imagine the reaction if one were to ask that Chu-Sok (a thanksgiving festival in Korea) be blended with American Thanksgiving in order to mollify those who might feel left out? Or if Diwali (the Indian festival of lights) was banned because some may not like the glare of lights? If these ideas are absurd, then so is the gradual- and blatant- eradication of Christmas.

If the majority of people happen to celebrate a certain holiday, then so be it. I am currently in South Korea where holidays like Chu-Sok and Seonal (the lunar new year) are the major celebrations, not Halloween, Christmas or Easter. Though the latter are celebrated in some measure, they are not observed by everyone. Instead, one sees the flourish of hanboks and huge brown pears. I am priveliged to see this side of a culture, something I might not be able to see at any time. If one is able to see and experience other cultures, or even indulge in their own, be grateful for it. It is better to live life than have no opinion or feeling at all.

Furthermore, in countries that claim cultural pluralism (I'm looking right at you, Canada and the US), I'm not seeing what the problem is. Is there a ban on Diwali or Ramadan and not Christmas? No, there isn't. There is room and freedom to observe whatever holidays one wishes to observe or not observe. Where is the threat? Where is the lack of movement or freedom of belief? Remember- midnight Mass was cancelled in Iraq last year for fear of terrorist attacks. Even mosques are bombed by the very people who profess the faith of those they wilfully kill. There is NO freedom in North Korea or its puppet-master, China. Feel restricted now? Didn't think so.

In short, just grow up everyone. Live and let live. Celebrate Christmas or don't. Just don't ruin it for those who do.

Emily Dickinson

December 10th is the birthday of Emily Dickinson. I would like to post one of her poems here.


BEFORE the ice is in the pools,
Before the skaters go,
Or any cheek at nightfall
Is tarnished by the snow,

Before the fields have finished,
Before the Christmas tree,
Wonder upon wonder
Will arrive to me!

What we touch the hems of
On a summer’s day;
What is only walking
Just a bridge away;

That which sings so, speaks so,
When there’s no one here,—
Will the frock I wept in
Answer me to wear?

Unpopular Opinions

Get ready to be offended.....

You know what? I liked Lord of the Rings. And the guy on Lord of the Rings who is now on Lost? I think he's a good character. I think he adds something to the show.

This "young and randy" thing on TV shows, especially the WB, is tiresome. Actors, learn to act, writers, learn to write, and TV audience, watch something else.

Mullets are BAD. Parents who let their children have mullets are bad parents.

Shut up, Volpe and Dryden. And Martin. And Layton. Shut up all of you. Haven't you ruined Canada enough just by living there?

People who let their kids eat snacks in church: God doesn't go to your house, whine if He doesn't get Cheerios and then leave bits of food on the floor. Don't do that to HIS house. Say no to your kids if they want snacks. Say no to them every once in a while. It will feel good.

Chretien: why do you have to be difficult about this? You. Are. Guilty.

To people who don't get that Chretien and the Liberals are guilty: I can't use crayons on this blog so I will do this very carefully. You know that $325 million donut and beer fund? It's gone, and they took it.

I've never felt rolled up jeans looked good. Never did.

To people who wear purple on a continual basis: you can wear another colour if you want.

Karma is God's way of showing you why you shouldn't laugh at people when they trip.

South Koreans are some of the finest people on the planet (unpopular in bits of North Korea).

North Koreans are people with real feelings (unpopular in North Korea, with the UN and the South Korean Teachers' Union).

Dogs are better than cats. There is no need to discuss this further.

Christmas is the best time of year, next to Halloween and St. Patrick's Day.