It seems appropriate that the inaugural issue of "Clarity," the newsletter of the Dennis Prager group in northeast Ohio, reach your in-boxes during Hanukkah and Christmas, and just before the new year is launched. We have a politically stressful 2008 nearly behind us and an exciting 2009 ahead. Dennis' Christmas and Hanukkah week shows put me in a good mood if for no other reason than I enjoy Dennis enjoying Christmas and Christmas music.
Hopefully you heard Dennis this week when a youngster called to ask Dennis what his favorite movies were. I was relieved to learn that "Miracle on 34th Street" is still a Christmas tradition in some homes.
"A Christmas Story" is pretty popular and may be the new paradigm in many American homes if for no other reason than there's a lot of familiar familial stuff going on.
"It's a Wonderful Life" can stand on its own, serving as a year-round reminder that we can make a difference in every life we touch; that's an awesome responsibility when you think about it.
Early in December Marjorie Henderson sent us these thoughts on the November 2008 election:
"My first reaction on November 5 matched that of many of who feared what Barack Obama's election might mean to our beloved nation. My biggest concern was that "he didn't know what he didn't know", but in these ensuing weeks I have been heartened by the possibility that his movement more to the center might be the result of his meetings with President Bush. I do think he is very smart, and perhaps he is now beginning to know things he didn't know. I believe his reason for wanting the presidency in the first place was to change domestic policy and to allow his advisors to handle foreign policy. He may now realize, after having been brought up to date by the President, that he has a lot more on his plate than he had bargained for. (President Bush, when he campaigned, certainly never dreamed he would become a wartime president. Unforeseen events happen!) Since the Iraq war seemed to have been de-escalating under Gen. Petreus, it was not the focus of the campaign, so B.O. may have been a bit naive in his evaluation regarding the importance of continued vigilance.
His recent appointments, at least, (especially retaining Robert Gates) seem to indicate a different kind of change than I had feared would be the case. I had looked for him to choose some of those less-than-savory Chicago associates, and am pleasantly surprised by some of his selections; however, there is still a reason for caution. He might use his first four years campaigning to win over Republicans and Congress so that he could possibly be re-elected in 2012. It would be in his second term in office that he could do the most damage, having the power to appoint (who knows how many) new Supreme Court justices. I know he wants what he thinks is best for America. I don't share his values but he will be our president for at least the next four years. I'll support him as such, but let's pray for the sake of our nation that he will come to understand that socialism has failed everywhere in the world that it has been tried.
God bless America!
Marj
Were you as surprised as I to learn something about Hanukkah recently, something that would change the way I thought about Christmas and Hanukkah forever.
Dennis pointed out that Hanukkah was not only the commemoration of the miracle of the lamp oil burning for eight days but this miracle happened after the Jews, the Maccabees, had survived another battle - this time with the Seleucid Empire in 167 BCE. By winning this battle the Maccabees had in effect given Jews and Christians the opportunity to continue to worship ONE god, the god of Abraham, and, of course, God's son, Jesus.
I'll never think of Hanukkah the same way again.
I'll never think of Hanukkah the same way again.
* "We may give without loving, but we cannot love without giving."
"Love cannot be wasted. It makes no difference where it is bestowed, it always brings in big returns."
"Real friends are those who, when you've made a fool of yourself, don't feel that you've done a permanent job."
"One of the great arts of living is the art of forgetting."
"Interesting people are people who are interested. Bores are people who are bored."
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go."
"Patience - in time the grass becomes milk."
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Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah, to All - and to all a Happy New Year, too!
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See you all at the next meeting on January 11, at the Panera's in Mayfield Heights, at the Golden Gate shopping center.
*From "Apples of Gold," a compilation by Jo Petty, who herself admits to not knowing all the authors but credits them, wherever they are.
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