INCONVENIENT HISTORICAL FACT OF THE DAY

Today is the Martin Luther King, Jr., holiday (as well as the day marking the official celebration of the Presidential Inauguration). As great an American as Dr. King was, however, this is not his birthday, which was last Tuesday, the 15th.

Today is the actual birthday of Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, though, which goes to show that history -- REAL history, and not the usual round of prostitution of our cultural memory to the political correctness of either the Left or the Right -- is every bit as messy and stubborn as the rest of Life.

Nature, famously, abhors a vacuum; Life harbors an equal vehemence against the tidy piles we insist on trying to sort it into.

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS QUOTES 2012, # 22:



"Hail our dear old friend, Kris Kringle,

driving his reindeer across the sky . . . .

(Don't stand underneath while they fly by!)"



Tom Lehrer, "A Christmas Carol"

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS QUOTES 2012, # 21:

Jesus of Nazareth dressed like a Jew, prayed like a Jew (and most likely in Aramaic), instructed other Jews on how best to live according to the commandments given by God to Moses, taught like a Jew, argued like a Jew with other Jews, and died like thousands of other Jews on a Roman cross. To see him in a first-century Jewish context and to listen to his words with first-century Jewish ears do not in any way undermine Christian theological claims. Jesus does not have to be fully unique in order to say something or do something meaningful.

To see and hear him in his historical context enriches the meaning of those all too familiar images and sayings. They become striking again, not just for their spiritual potential, but also for their social engagement. The kingdom of heaven is not, for the Jewish Jesus of Nazareth, a piece of real estate for the single saved soul; it is a communal vision of what could be and what should be. It is a vision of a time when all debts are forgiven, when we stop judging others, when we not only wear our traditions on our sleeve, but also hold them in our hearts and minds and enact them with all our strength. It is the good news that the Torah can be discussed and debated, when the Sabbath is truly honored and kept holy, when love of enemies replaces the tendency toward striking back. The vision is Jewish, and it is worth keeping as frontlets before our eyes and teaching to our children.

Amy-Jill Levine,

The Misunderstood Jew, pp. 51-52. 

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS QUOTES 2012, # 20:

The hands that first held Mary's child
were hard from working wood,
from boards they sawed and planed and filed
and splinters they withstood.
This day they gripped no tool of steel,
they drove no iron nail,
but cradled from the head to heel
our Lord, newborn and frail.

When Joseph marveled at the size
of that small breathing frame,
and gazed upon those bright new eyes
and spoke the infant's name,
the angel's words he once had dreamed
poured down from heaven's height,
and like the host of stars that beamed
blessed earth with welcome light.

"This child shall be Emmanuel,
not God upon the throne,
but God with us, Emmanuel,
as close as blood and bone."
The tiny form in Joseph's palms
confirmed what he had heard,
and from his heart rose hymns and psalms
for heaven's human word.

The tools that Joseph laid aside
a mob would later lift
and use with anger, fear, and pride
to crucify God's gift.
Let us, O Lord, not only hold
the child who's born today,
but, charged with faith, may we be bold
to follow in his way.

*************************
A new favorite, written by Thomas H. Troeger 

in 1985. The suggested tune (at least at the hymnary.org website) is “Kingsfold,” aka “The Star of the County Down,” although the anthem setting by Daniel E. Forrest, which is heard at the link below, is lovely:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2005BDOpZ2U.

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS QUOTES 2012, # 19:

“The Twelve Days After Christmas,” by Frederick Silver

The first day after Christmas my true love and I had a fight, 

And so I chopped the pear tree down and burned it just for spite.
Then with a single cartridge, I shot that blasted partridge,
My true love, my true love, my true love gave to me.

The second day after Christmas, I pulled on the old rubber gloves,
And very gently wrung the necks of both the turtle doves,
My true love, my true love, my true love gave to me. 

The third day after Christmas, my mother caught the croup;
I had to use the three Frech hens to make some chicken soup. 

The four calling birds were a big mistake,
for their language was obscene.

The five gold rings were completely fake
and they turned my fingers green.

The sixth day after Christmas, the six laying geese wouldn't lay;
I gave the whole darn gaggle to the A.S.P.C.A.

On the seventh day what a mess I found,
All seven of the swimming swans had drowned,
My true love, my true love, my true love gave to me.

The eighth day after Christmas, before they could suspect,
I bundled up the eight maids a milking,
nine pipers piping,
ten ladies dancing,
'leven lords a leaping,
twelve drummers drumming
and sent them back collect.

I wrote my true love,
"We are through, love,"
and I said in so many words,
"Furthermore, your Christmas gifts were for the birds!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5jRRglJA2M

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS QUOTES 2012, # 18:

"I wish to be left alone,” said Scrooge. “Since you ask me what I wish, gentlemen, that is my answer. I don't make merry myself at Christmas and I can't afford to make idle people merry. I help to support the establishments I have mentioned: they cost enough: and those who are badly off must go there.”

“Many can't go there; and many would rather die.”

"If they would rather die,” said Scrooge, “they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides – excuse me – I don't know that.”

“But you might know it,” observed the gentleman.

****************************

Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS QUOTES 2012, # 17:


"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."


***********************

Let's be honest: Is there really anyone who grew up

with the annual broadcast of A Charlie Brown 

Christmas who can hear Luke 2:8-14 in the King

James Version of the Bible without halfway expecting

to hear Linus deliver today's quote just after the 

angels sing the most famous "Gloria" of all time? 

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS QUOTES 2012, # 16:

"It hasn't snowed a single flurry,

But Santa, dear, we're in a hurry;

So climb down the chimney;

Put up the brightest string of lights I've ever seen.

Slice up the fruitcake;

It's time we hung some tinsel on that evergreen bough.

For I've grown a little leaner,

Grown a little colder,

Grown a little sadder,

Grown a little older,

ALL:

And I need a little angel

Sitting on my shoulder,

Need a little Christmas now."

+++++++++++++++++++++

Part of one of the most-performed songs from the musical Mame (and most-played on the radio), this often-omitted verse seems sadly appropriate in the light of recent events.