I want to have a great year. I’m not being selfish, I want you and yours to have a great one too. Recycling what you may had received via email, here’s your form/check list for a great next year.
Now that we’ve all been blessed, I’m ready to share some thoughts of Christmas.
Years ago, while leaving in Canada, people had campaigned against the establishments wishing Merry Christmas. Christmas, the argument went, is not a holiday shared by all, therefore it’s offensive to me, me and me. Really? Seriously? So if it wasn’t for Christmas, what is the cause for this gift shopping craze? Yes, I’ve spotted Hanukkah gift shoppers here and there, but they are the minority.
As far as i recall, Kwanzaa didn’t yet come to life at that point. The extremists went as far as saying they’ll boycott any 
store/mall/establishment that its decorations will include “Merry Christmas”. I thought it to be stupid then, and now i think of it as a case of politically correctness going stupid.
I can’t recall anyone saying “this is not a holiday, i should go to work today”. Nor can i recall a non-observer saying “I’m offended by Boxing Day sales, I cannot take advantage of these amazing prices, it’s against my beliefs”. What seasons are we talking about, anyway? Originally it was the celebration of winter. Later, I read, it was the solstice festival. And it kept evolving…the Twelve Days of Christmas are attributed to the Saturnalian traditions of the Romans. You can read more Christmas myths HERE. Rick Shenkman wrote about the Top 5 Myths about Christmas. So weather one likes it or not, it’s Christmas, and the proper greeting is Merry Christmas. To all of us, regardless of religion.
True, if I’m a student in a public school, I don’t want to be studying about things that are not part of my own heritage and religion unless we all study about all traditions. Anything else implies that my heritage/religion is not as important. Respect to one’s beliefs should not be proportional to the demographics, so don’t give me the minority BS, or the “this is a Christian country”. Hence, if there’s a Nativity Scene in school, I’d like for Passover to ahve a scene with Moses floating in the basket or crossing the Red Sea. It’s OK to skip the ten plagues. For Sukkot, I want a Sukkah and the school cafeteria should be serving lunch there.
Sounds absurd? to whom? I am still touched by the Hannuka Gelt (Maot or D’mei Hanukkah in Hebrew) a Christian colleague gave me for Hanukkah. we can respect and enjoy from the inside, from the outside… it does not really matter. and it’s CHRISTMAS.
Clarification: The Sukkah pasted here is not a Kosher one. I think the artist referred to it as “SeussSukkah”.
Clipart Credits:
I sit, looking at the browser window as it tries to find its way to this very page – the one you are viewing right now, unless you are in China, which means you have to read the attachment. Thoughts of freedom and free flow of information run through my mind. Like shoes which come in different sizes, freedom comes in different doses. There are places however, where one size fits all is enforced. Walking in too small a shoe can be painful. Binding your feet, as was the tradition for hundreds of years, may break and twist your bones. What does it do to one’s spirit, I wonder. My stomach turns at the thought.
man is busy as ever. The Brazilian chuseria is still there, and on a Friday night the majority of the patrons is Western. But so many of the Chinese-styles stores are gone; replaced by Western-style ones. it’s cleaner, harder to see jaywalkers, the ticket automates in the subway are much better and there’s the button to shift to an English menu. It seems that many people developed such a button. We are not followed by 5-6 “can I practice my English” students, one here, one there. And instead of the massive “looka, looka, want-a-bag, want-a-watch” intense attacks I grew to hate, it’s one every 50 meters or so.
uld not resist. And with Fiona one never pays the list price. How Israeli I want to say and no better than that. there’s a lot to say about the Chinese art of negotiation so I say nothing, only smile happily with my new purchases.
en using your company for almost two years, and never before a driver lost me in the street. And… I really don’t want to miss my flight.”
most are destined to spend the next few days with me @ the same resort. I am not too excited with the prospects. Few retirees, few families with overbearing moms and over-spoiled branded kids, few young can’t-take-my-hands-of-you couples… no one that seems to be really interesting. A horrible latte later we board the ferry. 
Considering that I have 3 flights ahead of me, I decide that a 2nd shower is the best way to use the time left before the taxi’s arrival. It is with physical pain that I turn off computer and router. 
crossing the lights, in a ONE WAY street. Redial and now I sound lethal “maybe you should get glasses, you just passed me”. “i already have glasses” is the stoic answer I get. “turn right, turn right and wait for me @ the corner” I command. The Einstein of cab drivers makes an extra right turn, just for the hack of it. 
