Just wondering how many commenters have done what St. Nicholas did for Christmas? He gave gold coins to beggars, i.e., St. Nick threw a bag of coins into a window for a widowed woman with a child.

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is for Bush to step aside and to have Barack and family in the White House.
But, no, that is not quite enough. I also want a world that is populated with folks who mind their own "busy-ness" and revel in their own sacred traditions without feeling that they have to criticize or condemn others. For too long we humans have spent WAAAAAY too much energy, time, money and attention to waging wars of the heart and actual wars of Shock and Awe, all in the name of our religions. Sure has screwed things up, if you ask me. Of course, it never really IS about religion, but rather power and control of resources.

What I really, really, really want for Christmas or Hannukah or Ramadan or Diwali is a world of worthy people who do good work, who care about ALL of their sisters and brothers and who find a way to walk more lightly on this sacred earth and spread more joy than sorrow.
Thank you, Santa. I've been a REALLY good girl this year and so this should not be too much to ask for. Cookies and eggnog will be left next to the fireplace.
Yours,
Ann in Lake Oswego :>)

Though I don't usually celebrate Christmas in any great fashion, this year I'm going to make sure the menu includes plum-broth and mince pies, just to piss off any "papists" out there. I suppose I could also PO any historically-minded Scottish Presbyterians, by eschewing evergreen branches, so I think I'll throw in their absence, as well.

The lesson is well-taken: both the celebration of Christmas, and the lack of its celebration, have rubbed both Christians and non-Christians raw with rage, over the past few hundred years.

History shows well and truly what fools we mortals be; with our pointed celebration of celebrations, and the dire insults we take, from those with any views that counter our own. Not that long ago, it seems, we Christians were as bad with our factions as the Shias and Sunnis are today. It ill becomes us to preach at them from soapboxes. Especially when we still have our own shouting factions.

I firmly believe that people need to have their noses rubbed in their faults, before they will acknowledge them, and start mending. Therefore I'll do whatever I can to insult any and all "faith-based" views of reality, in the fond hope of a more rational future.

That's my New-Year's Resolution -- until someone points out that Jan 1 is just a day on a calendar, that is.

VERY well put LoisLane 51! I for one believe in the seperation of Church & State,it's a written part of the foundation of our government.We are also allowed to worship{or not} as we please.I was raised Catholic but dhose to worship as a Christian in many different Protestant & non-denominational Churches.A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING & JOYFUL

So what's the deal? Who's is for it and who aint?