There is a child in all of us, a child who wants that TV-picture perfect Christmas morning; amazed at the glitter and show of all the packages, so neatly wrapped and placed strategically around the tree, knowing that if the wrapping is so nice, so new, so perfect, than what is inside must be just what we have wanted, desired but dared not hope for, since the Christmas ads started to invade the Sunday papers and all the television shows. (Full disclosure: in my youth, it was the mail-order catalog Christmas “wish books” that prompted the Christmas morning dreams.)
Christmas Eve, that wonderful night of hope and anticipation! Children small and large believe that this year, the new bike, the engagement ring, the new car, will be under the tree in the morning. The expectation, that this year we will get what we most desire; and with it the nagging thought, if the bike, ring, or car is not there, we will bravely and cheerfully accept the presents offered, and begin again to wait for next Christmas.
To the child waiting the magic day, every trip to the mall for the past few months has been a glorious adventure! Santa is waiting for us to climb upon his lap and tell him our fondest dreams; the lights and decorations are even prettier than we remember. The latest fad items are on display, and we just know that they will be under the tree, that Santa Claus will not fail us. The elves have been busy, working overtime, promising delivery of the dreams and the joy that special gift will bring. We’ve been counting the days, sometimes even the hours, until we can unwrap our gifts and acclaim our pleasure at the perfect present.
Was November 2nd our electoral Christmas Eve? Americans went to the polls, expecting the Kris Kringle of our personal political dreams to deliver on the promises that have been made through the past many months of campaign rhetoric and sound-bite promises. Editorials, web-sites, position papers and pledges may have replaced the colorful wish-books of childhood, but the effect is still the same. We know what we want, this year, this cycle; we have been guided to it by the masters of political posturing and focus groups.
It’s now “December 26th”, the wrapping paper has been discarded, and the toys are scattered about in disarray. We have talked excitedly with our friends, and now secretly covet the gifts they received that we did not, much as they covet our perfect presents. In the malls, Christmas is now on sale, ½ off or more. The fad item that was so hard to find, and priced so high, is now abundant and cheap. The decorations are down, and it is back to business as usual.
As every child knows, Christmas, like the 2nd Tuesday in November, will come again.
Very well said. There are so many issues here and most of them have been been covered in this blog. I am going to attempt to connect them all here.
ReplyDeleteFirst, there is certainly a sense of apathy and disinterest in the younger generation. Is it education? Do we not teach the importance of voting anymore in schools? How its affects them?If they are our future, then we're in trouble. Did you know in the Presidential election Obama had the largest number of votes from the 18-29 age group. They put him in office. Be it his vitality,or his charisma, he polarized this demographic and made them vote. This last past November only a small number of this group came out to vote. As you know the Republicans won by a percentage vote in some States. Its sad to wonder what the out come would have been if this age group had been as interested. Did they think their duty was done, that this one didn't matter? Now the Republicans rule the House. I don't see much being done when the Republicans are promising grid lock. Promising to get Obama out of office. Where does the good of the country come in on all this? Its personal, another reason for term limits........to be continued
I'm back!!!
ReplyDeleteI teach occasionally. 20-30 yrs olds mostly. I get so disappointed that there is such apathy. That age group are so unaware and really seemed so disinterested. I don't know where this comes from but I find it very sad. Is all the news they get off of Twitter? Texting? Do they watch the news? Not that I can see. Is this as a sign of the times..... So much is changing between the family unit and the class room. Be it as crazy as it was in the 60's there was an involvement by all. Remember Penn State? Protests on the streets? The draft? Where has that passion gone? When the extreme right can say anything they want and have it believed as law, I'm scared. They can lie and I'm scared. No one challenges them. And I blame the media for giving attention to the Rush Limbaugh's of this country who hide behind free speech when all they want to do is disrupt. If we wouldn't focus on their lunacy maybe they'd go away. We shouldn't give them 2 seconds of importance. Sarah Palin is thinking of running for President in 2012...." if no one else will do it" What kind of a reason is that??? She wants to be taken seriously as a canidate but has a reality TV show?? I'm embarrassed. Her daughter is in Dancing with the Stars...... just the kind of family I want representing me. NOT! And I'm scared what she could with Foreign Policy, after all she can see Alaska from her backyard and her experience with foreign affairs goes as far as having Russian planes fly over Alaskan airspace......her words, not mine.
Ask any teenager of voting age if he knows who the Vice President is..... go on, I dare you. You might be surprised with the answer.