Christmas.
An underwhelming, capitalistic, time and money wasting period of the year.

I am joyful because I’m a cancer survivor when others have not been so lucky. December is a sad month also as both my parents died then, and I miss my family overseas at Christmas.
Many moons ago, I marvelled at snowdrops in the snow and will never forget that moment, definitely joyful. Also the Girl Guides/Sunday school parties and I’m pleased to see them here still, where I live.

Peter Sellick - posted Wednesday, 22 December 2021, writes: "For us adults it has become a bit of a burden of compulsory parties, problematic gift purchases and stale sentiment. Still, the children enjoy it. Such is the secular Christmas."

It seems you can never let an opportunity slip by without your desiccated imagination inventing worst possible scenarios for comparison with your own lugubrious cerebral pathology. That you accost those immune to your contagion demonstrates a treatable pathology, yet here we have you declaring that it is the uninfected and the immune who are sick!

Much of Earth's population has inherited the millennia-old celebration of the northern hemisphere's winter solstice. And as one of your holiest celebrations approaches you seize the opportunity to reveal a poverty of charity and goodwill that up to the advent of your post had been so redolent of religious admonition.

My own recollection of a secular christmas is one of the joy of seeing again infrequently seen relatives, loved grandparents etc, etc. As the years took them away, we began an annual gathering at a backyard BBQ of friends. At 84 I recall widespread laughter as reminiscences rose to the surface. I won't waste time with paragraphs of memories and re-telling of humorous experiences. No tedium of compulsory parties, cubic meters of "stale sentiment" hovering. Enthusiasm and expectation were never a burden.(continued)

(continued) In revealing your own experiences of secular celebrations you reveal much of your own attitude toward your fellow humans, your joyless determination not to let go once a year within a life full of stricture and unquestioning allegiance to a phantom in the sky who made you drenched in sin. I'm quite certain attenders at any secular gathering would be glad to witness the departure of such a joyless person as yourself from among them.

So many of my/our friends have gone now. My wife and I will be celebrating, just the two of us. Covid ensures the great majority will be sharing our situation. But it is the children who will not be quite so happy for a second year (at least).

You seem to have reached the limit of what religion faith can teach you as a member of the human species. There is much more awaiting you
And while your bitterness toward the secular is found in so many religious sects and you find it necessary to denigrate my way of life in order to promote your own, you will remain in the eyes of many to be devoid of grace, charity and goodwill, nevertheless I suffer no inhibition in wishing you peace, good health and happiness in 2022 and beyond. Lack of reciprocity will not be disappointing for it is not expected.

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Dear Peter,

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You wrote :

« But alas, as the Church declines and most of the population are in ignorance of its basis, we are gradually returning to the pagan ways in which self-interest dominates our actions, the poor are blamed for their poverty and the divide between rich and poor has become a chasm »
.

If only the story of Jesus were true, Peter, things would be different.

That was 2021 years ago, and still nothing.

It seems so long ago …
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7vbH3Yzz0Q&ab_channel=IQQIQQI

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Pogi,
Feel better?

I watched a program on SBS last night about the
history of the song - "Silent Night."
Perhaps I am naive, but the music brought tears to
my eyes, memories of my childhood and home, and
Family Christmases, of people who are no longer
alive. Surely as long as we're still capable of
good feelings there is still hope for all of us in
this world?

That was quite moving Foxy. We once lived on canal estate and on dark Christmas Eve a little ship came sailing up. A boy and man at the rails with Silent Night in the background, another fond memory. That time of the year.

Dear RR,

Thank You for sharing.

Music can strike a chord in our hearts.
I had forgotten how beautiful "Silent Night"
really was.

I still love watching the old movie classics
at this time of the year. Movies like "White Christmas"
and "Miracle on 34th Street."

Peter Sellick,Friday, 24 December 2021 9:47:09 AM, writes: "Feel better?"

Nothing concerning you makes me "feel better". You are not that kind of person. Your cerebral pathology blinds you to the ineluctable truth that you cannot sell or promote your wares without casting aspersions on other humans and on their way of life. Non-believers are no less convinced of their position's rectitude

If your faith cannot stand on its merit, if it creates no more spurious validations from science, if it refuses to abjure all lies and blatant misinterpretations, then reason, rationality and the scientific method trump your religious faith every time.

The issue is not about feeling better, it's about the supremacy of reason and whether humankind will deserve to survive into the future. Spirits and phantoms won't cut it. Secular physics and chemistry (Nature in other words) will if permitted.

"Men fear thought as they fear nothing else on earth -- more than ruin -- more even than death.... Thought is subversive and revolutionary, destructive and terrible, thought is merciless to privilege, established institutions, and comfortable habit. Thought looks into the pit of hell and is not afraid. Thought is great and swift and free, the light of the world, and the chief glory of man."
Bertrand Russell
British author, mathematician, & philosopher (1872 - 1970)

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Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year, everyone !

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LHl0zf09pE&ab_channel=DeanoMartin

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Thanks Banjo,

You gotta love Deano!

Wishing everyone Joy through your holidays
Wishing you all Good Health and Prosperity that
forever stays
Wishing you the Love of family and friends
And wishing you Happy Days that never end!

I made myself a snowball
As perfect as could be
I thought I'd keep it as a pet
And let it sleep with me

I made it some pyjamas
And a pillow for its head
Then last night it ran away
But first - it wet the bed!

Holly Jolly
Merry and Bright!

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-QV_I-xseA&ab_channel=AmericanBachSoloists

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCCrLnMUDqk&ab_channel=Muzi%C4%8DkaomladinaNovogSada

.

We are all wanderers on this earth.
Our hearts are full of wonder, and
our souls deep with dreams.
( Romani Proverb).