Vote LaneLutter

Something about this time of year makes one want to be wistful; wishy-washy. How come whenever it gets cold outside everybody suddenly has the urge to shop? It might be a little uncreative to start harping on the commercialization of Christmas, but that’s a tradition too, one I can recall even back to some of my earliest Christmas memories. I look back fondly on those days, a kid who hated kindergarten and, even then, hated getting up early. I still remember a lot. I remember my aunts and uncle’s hand-me-downs, earth toned corduroys and tasseled leather vests, sandals, my favorite E.T. shirt, back when I had my full head of hair. I remember my parents, still young and full of moxie, and I remember my three little brothers as they grew, one by one, into the men they are today. Now my youngest brother is a Freshman at college, and he just happens live in the same building I lived in during my Freshman year at UCSC.
It blows my mind. There are so many reasons for me to turn away from the Holidays. I’m sick of corporations marketing directly at everyone who might be a little nostalgic for their childhoods. I’m sick of the Christian Right making this into a holy war and trying to get nativity scenes onto public property. I’m sick of all the damn advertising. I’m sick of seeing Santa portrayed as a business man in that one commercial. Santa wouldn’t push the easy button. There’s something wrong with all of this, and it’s hard for me to put my finger on exactly what it is. I could care less about the implications it may have on Jesus, who I have a grudging respect for, if not really a belief in. All I know is that Jesus probably wouldn’t have supported the death penalty.
Religion is the last thing I want to celebrate at this time of year anyway. I want to relive those childhood memories, get a few presents, eat some tasty food, and enjoy however much time I have left on this little planet. I want to spend some time shut in out of the cold with some egg nog and some amusing conversation. Why does God have to be a part of it? Why should I have to ponder my own sinful nature while I munch on cookies and hang up little blinking lights. Everybody knows what’s happening, what has already happened, but still we have a fair amount of Christians who keep trying to bring Christ back into Christmas.
I think they’re wasting their time. I suppose this means that I’m glad that the true meaning of Christmas has been lost. It seems a little wrong to actually support the over commercialization of what is supposed to be a true holy day, but that isn’t precisely where I stand either. I could care less about any of that. All that matter’s is what this time of year means to me. It means family, it’s an excuse to hang around with relatives you never see, it means junk food and turkey dinner, it means being giving and thankful, and taking nothing for granted, and that’s it.
Here’s to you and yours,
j