Something For Christmas Eve

Subject: Re: Something For Christmas Eve

 Dear All,

My problem remains with what these sort of "hearts and flowers" stories cover up. 

Of course I am moved by the kindness of folks who go out of their way on Christmas to bring a little comfort and happiness into a child's life.  Or to reach out to the homeless veteran, or the war widow with her five hungry children. 

But far too often these "feel good" stories are presented to us around the Holiday Season to remind us all just how wonderful we Americans can be...when we want to be. 

What if our news media, papers,

TV, radio and internet all began each day with a story about a downtrodden person or persons being lifted up by unselfish, caring neighbors? 

I mean, now that we no longer report on our wars around the globe, couldn't we help set a new tone, a sharing, giving concept?  Perhaps even those folks hunkered down in their safe, remote gated world might get into the mood and give their hard working underlings a decent pay raise, rather than merely bringing the fatted goose around to the Cratchit home, along with the reporter and photographer. 

Rather than wallowing in the sentiment of the Holiday Givers, shouldn't we be up on our hind legs demanding that this become our way of life, rather than the Christmas exception? 

 

Curious Carl

 

To: Blind Democracy Discussion List

Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 4:29 AM

Subject: Re: Something For Christmas Eve

Miriam,
    I certainly understand what you are saying, and
fundamentally, I don't really disagree, I guess.
    We don't all fall in love with the same person, we don't all
choose the same "pretty" or "delicious" or "interesting." We
don't all like the same books, the same music, the same people,
the same foods.
    So I think these differences also apply to what touches our
hearts sufficiently to jog us into action. If every person would
act as these ranchers did on even one "story" that touches them,
whether at Christmas or any other time, many more people could
have their lives improved...maybe even everyone.
    I realize this does not address the underlying issues we
discuss here over and over, the ones you mentioned here and in
your previous message. But at this point, I think all those "food
insecure" (thanks for the new example of the kind of language I
still despise, our arguments about it on this list
notwithstanding!) don't really care whether their food or that
Christmas orange comes from the government or a generous
individual touched by their plight.
Alice
alicedh@verizon.net
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