Christmas through the years has always served as a sort of western-world 'time-out,' a few days at the tag end of a year where we sit back, reflect on the inherent goodness of the human species and express our collective hope that, with suitable inspiration and resolve, life will be better next year. This year? Fuhgedaboutit!
On network TV, 'Merry Christmas' as a news anchor sign-off has sunk to historic lows; Happy Hanukkah has become ubiquitous, Happy Kwanzaa is on the rise, but Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings have all but replaced any mention of actual Christmas.
The demise of Christmas nomenclature apparently applies as well to the spirit of the season. For the first time within memory, the citizenry is rebelling against traditional Christmas carols; shopping malls have received complaints about tired old music being piped through their halls, and several successful satirical songs seem to suggest that America has had quite enough of O Holy Night, Noel, and the Little Drummer Boy.
The spirit of -- dare we say it? Christmas -- also seems, if not dead, certainly on life support. With less than a fortnight to go before the birthday of Christ, Peace on Earth, or even the thought of such melodramatic tripe, is nowhere to be found. Tiger Woods, Tarp money, and Terrorism fill the airwaves; there simply appears to be no room for 'Good Will Toward Men.'
Jaxonia is going to give it one last shot.
The photo of the decorated war machine says it all.
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