Editorial: Commentary
HUMBUG?
"Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, won't you please
put a penny in the old man's hat?"
Yes, friends, Christmas is upon us once again. Apropor of the season,
we pause briefly from a busy year of hate, violence, prejudice, and greed.
And everyone, especially the merchants, overflows with joy, love, and peace
"Why can't it be Christmas all year 'round?" some heretics have asked.
"Insipid question," we have replied. If the season were perpetual,
the defolication would be terrible to behold. Continuous Christmas would
mean changing trees from time to time. As the pine needles covered the
floor, it would be ridiculous to insist that the dog stay outside and the
children wipe their feet before entering the room. They'd be around the
house too because the twelve months of Christmas would necessitate an
unending vacation.
Time away from work would cost the parents a drastic loss in filthy
lucre. They might forget how important getting and spending really are.
Keeping up with the Jones' is nothing , surpassing them is everything.
Oh yes, we would lose our razor edge for competition.
Our unrelenting and splendidly self-centered drives for success
would lose their appeal. Unstinting good will would be unbearable after
being so long at one another's throats in the battle of wits, guile,
and pretensions. "What s yer gimmick?" would not have its prominent
position as an oft-asked question. Instead, we would find people acting
decently in accordance with the spirit of Christmas, i.e. giving,of
oneself, of one's time, and of one's possessions.
It would indeed be sad since the churches could never again send fruit
baskets to the families across the tracks they had been blandly ignoring
until a religious holiday motivated their social conscience. Of course,
no one institution would stand alone in such shaken self-complacency.
Churches and all other organizations consists of individuals. Too
many of us regard owing or giving ten per cent as ultimate munificence.
This hardly strengthens the group or the cause we purport to proclaim.
Therefore, three-hundred and sixty-five days of Christmas would call
for actions that square with our words.
Over many years of Christmas, a season of approximately four weeks
duration, we have loudly and at length mouthed phrases about peace,
brotherly love, and individual freedom. And perhaps in our little actions,
we have manifested some of these sweeping generalizations.
Possibly, it hasn t cost us any pride to converse with people we've
never talked to before, to practice real courtesy, and to be honest for
awhile anyway. Were it Christmas forever and we were compelled to live by
our favorite phrases, petty actions would not suffice. We would have
need of more compassion, of larger, more inclusive neighborhoods,
and quite simply, "esse quam videri" or in English, "to be rather than to
seem'
It is North Carolina's and Montreat-Anderson's motto. At
Christmas, it is as meaningful as at any time. Were it this
season per annum, we might all grow uncomfortable trying to abide by it.
"joyous"
PAT AW TOM CRUMPLER
SK [Sfesseh
The inspiration of that
Holy Night lives anew.
May all its spiritual
blessings be yours, at
this Christmastide.
Nelson and Mary Walden
Grue blessings
of Christmas joyfully
arise from that
first wondrous Holy
Night. May the
spiritual glories
of the season be yours.
Mrs. Mary Woody
"Christ the Saviour
is born!” The glad
tidings of this
age-old story ring
out anew, and
the message of the
Nativity brings
joy and blessings.
glad, glorious
Christmas comes, and
with it best wishes,
Douga1d McO. Monroe