HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Since when did the innocuous phrase "Happy Holidays" become an attack on Christians? How narrow-minded and self-absorbed to you have to be in order to take offense at that phrase? The last time I looked, there are multiple holidays this time of year: Christmas, New Years, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc. Instead of listing a multiple choice, we just say "Happy Holidays".

I'm getting very tired of the so-called "Christian Right" whining about how they are being persecuted. When it comes to Christmas, let's not forget that the early Christians stole the holiday from the pagans in the first place. Shepards do not abide their flocks in December in the Holy Land. Jesus was probably born in the spring. Our observance of Christmas coincides with the winter solstice, which the pagans celebrate to this day (another holiday).

The pilgrims did not observe Christmas because they thought it too festive and they were very un-festive people, apparently. In fact, penalties were imposed for those who did observe the holiday. So much for "keeping Christ in Christmas". It's a cultural observance as well as a religious one. Our retail world depends on the season for a large part of its annual income. Santa is a secular icon who personifies the season of giving. One does not have to be Christian to observe Christmas.

If you are a Christian, you are free to worship as you please. Nobody is preventing you from your beliefs. We who are not Christians would appreciate the same respect.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

RICHARD PRYOR

I don't mean this to be an obituary column, but I can't let Richard Pryor's passing go without comment. They are calling him a comedian on the news, but he trancended that category. He was nothing short of brilliant and he changed the world of entertainment forever. His electric performances were part therapy, part exorcism of his personal demons. He demonstated the relationship of comedy to tragedy more than anyone since the Greeks. I can't think of anyone else who could take an embarrasing event in his life and make you laugh until you cried. He and I shared a birthday with Woody Allen and Bette Midler and I always felt that I knew him personally. His battle with MS has been lost, but I can always play "Richard Pryor on Sunset Strip" on my DVD player and he will live forever. Thanks, Richard for pointing out that we all are human and make mistakes, but if we can laugh at ourselves we can survive.

JOHN LENNON

It was 25 years ago today John Lennon was murdered by a deranged "fan" (short for fanatic). He was a poet, musician, songwriter, peace activist, artist and the political Beatle. He ranged from profound to profane and people either loved or hated him. His statement that the Beatles were more popular than Jesus ignited a firestorm of protest among some Christians, even though it was true. His collaboration with and competition with Paul McCartney resulted in some of the best music of the times. He will be remembered as we remember Louis Armstrong or Mozart.

One has to wonder what he would have accomplished if he had lived these past 25 years instead of being shot in the back. We will never hear the music that was still inside him when he died. It is still much too easy for any fruitcake to acquire a handgun and go out and shoot someone. I hope the NRA can sleep at night. Someone may be coming for them.

WATCHING THE TITANIC

I should really be enjoying the self-destruction of the Bush administration, but I can't help thinking that these bozos still have three years left to do great harm to our country. Maybe we should have a Parlimentary system and be able to call for a "vote of confidence" like they do in England and Canada. They throw the bums out and elect someone new. I have no doubt that this adminstration will go down in history as one of the most inept, if not downright corrupt. These people couldn't run a McDonalds, let alone a country. Bush's war has turned on him and is about to devour him and all his little petrol-playmates. In the meantime, the country is going down the tubes. Is there any relief in sight?

Don't look to the Democrats for much help - they don't have a clue either. I have yet to hear one Dem (with the exception of Rep. Murtha) say anything remotely intelligent about anything. Their mantra seems to be "We're not the Republicans". Maybe not, but exactly who are they? What do they stand for? What would they do about Iraq? The economy? New Orleans? Anybody?

I've heard some people say that we need a hero on a white horse to ride in a rescue us. No thanks. If charisma were the answer, Bill Clinton would be on Mount Rushmore. What we need is for more ordinary citizens to rise up and take back the power that has been taken from us by greedy corporations, lobbyists, lawyers and professional politicians. President Eisenhower's advice to keep an eye on the "military-industrial complex" looks like sheer prophesy from here and now. If we took one tenth of the money spent on "defense", we could send every kid to college, rebuild the railroads, feed the hungry, house the homeless and have plenty left over for a big party.

Our entire political system needs a tune-up. We must get big money out of the process before we can hope to have a government that works for us rather than for the highest bidder. We can start by rejecting big money campaigns and voting for write-ins or third party candidates. We should challenge candidates to compete to see who can spend less money on a campaign. Some time should be allotted to candidates on the public airwaves to state their goals and ideas. Until this happens, we will get the best politicians money can buy.