Merry Christmas

Don't mind Saddam Claus; he's just sore because instead of milk and cookies (or in English homes, a mince pie and a hefty belt of brandy) he got an ass-whuppin' from the Arkansas National Guard. But we are not here today to discuss politics and world affairs- no! Instead, let me from the bottom of my Weasel heart wish you a merry christmas, happy hanukkah, or best wishes for whatever holiday you chose to commemorate or use as an excuse for time off work and visits with family. One more day of work (Thursday) and then on Friday Country Mouse and I will be loading the dogs into the charabanc and pootling off all over hell and creation in pursuit of relatives and (hopefully) keeping ahead of various predicted snow and rain storms. Normal ranting will be resumed Tuesday or Wednesday of next week.

One thing however. Like many of you I have noticed a couple of trends this year, stronger than in years previous. One is from the right, bemoaning the removal of Christ from Christmas (not coincidentally a campaign taken up with intense vigor by Fox News after one of their presenters wrote a book on the subject this year that needed a shove up the Amazon listings). The other is from the left, wailing and gnashing teeth about the horrendous commercialization of Christmas (because we all have guns to our temples forcing us to shop and watch Frosty II: This Time Its Personal). Some of the religious wrong have gone so far as to suggest that stores that are having "Holiday Sales" rather than "Christmas Sales" should be boycotted, as we all know Jesus ultimately wanted retailers to flog crap mde in China in his name rather than in honor of a non-specific "holiday". Meanwhile, my fellow lefties have been long on having a good bemoan (oh, how we lefties love a good bemoan) and short of alternatives.

For those of you who, regardless of how you align yourself with in the culture war, feel Christmas is lacking a little, well, Christmas spirit; might I suggest forgoing that reissue of the Chronicles of Narnia released to cash in on the movie buzz or that subscription to the Nation that confirms that smart angry people feel like you do and instead sling a few bucks in the direction of this?

It will make you feel good, I promise.