I already posted this in the forum that shall not be named, but the sentiment applies here as well, so if you'll indulge me a little sappiness and seriousness.
2016 has been a difficult year for many people. We've lost a lot of celebrities who have entertained us and enriched our lives. We've had bitter political fights that have divided us and threatened to negatively affect our way of life in different ways. Millions of people around the world are suffering from war, violence, poverty, hunger, disease, and natural or man-made disasters. Some of us are missing family and friends who we've lost. It's easy to retreat into hopelessness and despair, to think that there's no way things will get better.
But we need to remember that things demonstrably have gotten better. Not for everyone and not at the same rate, and it ebbs and flows, but on the whole quality of life has been steadily improving around the world. People are being better nourished, better educated, gaining more freedoms, and living healthier and longer lives. That's not something any one regressive political outcome or backwards politician can take away from us. The tide of progress inevitably marches onward and eventually leaves them in the dust to be analyzed as a historical anomaly while the rest of us move on with our lives.
I'm not a religious person, but Christmas is very important to me, as are many of the traditional trappings of the holiday, religious or otherwise. The concept of what Christmas means has been bastardized and appropriated from countless sources over the centuries, so no one group can claim ownership over the holiday or its message or tell anyone definitively how they should celebrate it. I think the principles behind the holiday transcend any one religion or nation, nor are these principles exclusive to the Christmas holiday or Christianity, and they can be embraced by people from all backgrounds. Goodwill towards your fellow person, empathy and caring for those in need, the spirit of giving and sharing with others, spending time with friends and family however you define that, and being thankful for what you have are universal concepts that should be embraced.
For all our disagreements around here I am thankful for the opportunity to have this community of people of diverse backgrounds to talk to. You all bring me enjoyment, you challenge my preconceptions, and you broaden my horizons on a regular basis, and I am immensely grateful for that. So, it's in that spirit that I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year. May the year ahead be kind to you and yours, and may you be kind to others. Peace and goodwill to you all.
On that note, and to memorialize someone we lost this year whose music has brought me much enjoyment and inspiration throughout my life, here's David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing about the meaning of Christmas:
2016 has been a difficult year for many people. We've lost a lot of celebrities who have entertained us and enriched our lives. We've had bitter political fights that have divided us and threatened to negatively affect our way of life in different ways. Millions of people around the world are suffering from war, violence, poverty, hunger, disease, and natural or man-made disasters. Some of us are missing family and friends who we've lost. It's easy to retreat into hopelessness and despair, to think that there's no way things will get better.
But we need to remember that things demonstrably have gotten better. Not for everyone and not at the same rate, and it ebbs and flows, but on the whole quality of life has been steadily improving around the world. People are being better nourished, better educated, gaining more freedoms, and living healthier and longer lives. That's not something any one regressive political outcome or backwards politician can take away from us. The tide of progress inevitably marches onward and eventually leaves them in the dust to be analyzed as a historical anomaly while the rest of us move on with our lives.
I'm not a religious person, but Christmas is very important to me, as are many of the traditional trappings of the holiday, religious or otherwise. The concept of what Christmas means has been bastardized and appropriated from countless sources over the centuries, so no one group can claim ownership over the holiday or its message or tell anyone definitively how they should celebrate it. I think the principles behind the holiday transcend any one religion or nation, nor are these principles exclusive to the Christmas holiday or Christianity, and they can be embraced by people from all backgrounds. Goodwill towards your fellow person, empathy and caring for those in need, the spirit of giving and sharing with others, spending time with friends and family however you define that, and being thankful for what you have are universal concepts that should be embraced.
For all our disagreements around here I am thankful for the opportunity to have this community of people of diverse backgrounds to talk to. You all bring me enjoyment, you challenge my preconceptions, and you broaden my horizons on a regular basis, and I am immensely grateful for that. So, it's in that spirit that I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year. May the year ahead be kind to you and yours, and may you be kind to others. Peace and goodwill to you all.
On that note, and to memorialize someone we lost this year whose music has brought me much enjoyment and inspiration throughout my life, here's David Bowie and Bing Crosby singing about the meaning of Christmas:
