A Kinder and Gentler Christianity

I was out shopping for Christmas this morning and early afternoon. Other than a Muslim store clerk wishing me a Merry Christmas I stopped by the Salvation Army kettle. The young bell ringer sang me a song he had made up to thank people who donated. These two acts I must admit warmed my heart. In four days I have a grandchild due , so perhaps I am in a more receptive mood. But then I come home , watch the news , and the same crap comes over my TV. God , what a nasty political season , coming from candidates who profess their spiritual credentials often. Got to get those conservative votes. Not quite the sound I remember from my childhood memories of church. Ones that spoke of love & tolerance and the ever elusive peace. So , for Christmas I wish one thing for my fellow citizens..........A KINDER AND GENTLER CHRISTIANITY for the coming year and oh what the hell coming decade for that matter.

Somewhere on the Verge of a New Era

Somewhat of a pompous title for this blog. But last night when I got up because I could not get to sleep something glanced past my mind as I addressed a couple of Christmas Cards. Things seemed so out of whack....our economy , our politics both overseas and domestic seems so angry and unable to find solutions. News reports how broke The Salvation Army is and how great their requests for assistance. Maybe my mind came up with something.....just maybe we are at a tipping point. The time when something new is being arranged within society. This years TIME Man of the Year was The Protester whether the Middle East or downtown London or near the financial district in NYC people demonstrated just how pissed off they are at the current status of our civil and corporate lives. People in the so called Tea Party actually would agree with some of the agenda of the Occupy Movement. Something may be happening but what I am not quite sure. Whether it leads to a betterment or a more bitter society I do not know. What I do know is I want a few more years to see where this past year may lead to. Be Seeing You.

RIP: Chris Hitchens

We lost an acid tongue pundit today. I saw him speak at the 72nd Y a couple of years ago. Though an original Brit he became a comfortable American as far as being here atleast. I read many of his political articles , saw him on W.F. Buckley's show and Chris Matthews show. He was as much a showman as political commentator. Direct and entertaining. Though I am sure The Royal Family with not be sending condolences many on both the left and right are this morning. Whether he spoke of Iraq or what he called the cult of Churchill his view was welcome in my home. He was not a cheap pundit the way so many are today. Oh and by the way he was equally at home talking Hamlet or PG Wodehouse. That is now a rare commodity. So to end with a quote from a favored TV series of his from the sixties......BE SEEING YOU.