Vox, writing on the mystery of Christmas (read the whole thing), has this one comment:
I hope that we will not be returning to those harder times when a child was delighted to receive the simple gift of an orange on Christmas morning, but the future will be what it will be and only God can be expected to know what it will hold.
I recall the tale of a woman who grew up under Communism, in Eastern Europe. Every Christmas, the government news agency (glad we don’t have THOSE!) would report the progress of the ship with the oranges, and how close it was coming to port. If it was a cold year, the Baltic would be iced over and there would be none. If it was a good year, the ship would dock in enough time for the lousy Commie distribution network to get the oranges to all the small towns in her country.
Those children had no store-bought toys, just items made from locally available materials. They in fact WERE delighted to get the “Simple gift of an orange on Christmas morning,” but then that is because they all had two parents, living at home and caring for them. We Patriactionaries will work for a world where all children get the greatest gift on earth, two loving parents, married to each other; everything else eventually just becomes clutter.
ray
December 24, 2012 at 4:17 pm
I hope that we will not be returning to those harder times when a child was delighted to receive the simple gift of an orange on Christmas morning
well Vox (whoever that is) gets it exactly wrong
the complicated, mechanized, materialistic world he wants to sustain is a totalitarian femarchy — but like most folks, including righties, he’s OK with that as long as there’s lots of cool toys to buy, and uh, Somebody Else is the Poor
:O)
a glad child receiving a wholesome orange for Christmas is an unspoiled child who wont grow up as a Princess, gutting the planet, destroying masculinity, demanding ever More More More for Me Me Me
instead, it was a content (yep even excited) child, with a FATHER, instead of the newest ipod solipsism de-vice to blather inanities to girlfriends
Vox, and america, do not get it
We Patriactionaries will work for a world where all children get the greatest gift on earth, two loving parents, married to each other; everything else eventually just becomes clutter
a worthy Christmas wish, selah
Carnivore
December 24, 2012 at 5:10 pm
Interesting story about the woman happy to get an orange under Communism. I exchanged Christmas greetings over the telephone today with one of my German cousins. My cousin described the contrast in Christmas programming today vs. the former East Germany. Before the Wall came down, Communist TV and radio always carried beautiful and uplifting Christmas music programs with mostly German Christmas carols and music.
Today, my cousin turned on the TV, arriving in the middle of a “Christmas” broadcast. On stage, was a black man belting out some carol, in English, with rock music blaring while behind him a group of women danced half-naked in skimpy Santa outfits in red with white trim. My reply was that it ain’t any better here. The secret is to keep the TV turned off!
May the Christ Child bless all those who receive him with an open heart. Merry Christmas!!
Anonymous age 70
December 24, 2012 at 5:44 pm
In the Fifties, my parents moved us to the Ozark mountains in Arkansas. One Christmas things were very tight, and my mother was apparently upset that we didn’t have money for decorations for the tree. We made long chains of rings made of cuttings from newspapers, and glue of flour and water.
We also made long strings of popcorn to hang on the tree.
That is the Christmas which gives me the fondest memories, because we made all the decorations with our own grubby hands.
a tiny little mouse
December 25, 2012 at 5:47 am
Merry Christmas!