OUG you know you are a mate of mine.
And that you have every right to your views.
Please except a few truths that only good manners and a truly held wish not to hurt your feelings stops others saying.
It getting heavy your love, stated openly and often.
In truth some times just a little pinch of salt will do the job.
Folk like me, and some nothing like me, would walk two miles rather than share a bus with a would be Christian preacher.
A very long time ago I still a believer hopped of a bus rather than watch this super Christian do his very best to?
Chase some away forever from Christ.
It is always so in fact we here in this country have our own description of his act, *pushing it down our throats*
This Christmas my super Christian brother will not be here.
4 years ago at my table he listed Gods gifts to him in the year about to go.
I calmly reminded him he was my brother so I not God bought his car and furniture.
His reply?
God made me do it!
Even now I remember great Christian Ministers and songs of praise.
But OUG if Jesus spoke to me and I had a choice it would not be on my knees at the feet of any man.
It is us, not God, that are duty bound to leave a better world than the one we came in to.

Hello there ONE UNDER GOD...

Yes indeed that's the part of Christmas that I, and I suspect most other people enjoy the best ?

The family getting together, opening presents, amidst all the laughter and happiness that accompanies it.

The companionship and enjoyment that being together brings, especially with those we've not seen very much of during the year ?

Then formally sitting down together with family or friends, to a scrumptious Christmas Luncheon or Dinner, perhaps even a back-yard or beach barbecue, with copious amounts of food and laughter with shouted solemn promises, of going on a diet as a New Years resolution...'yadah, yadah, yadah,'! All made with good grace and an abundance of sincerity and good humour.

And, I couldn't agree with you more ONE UNDER GOD, the crass commercialism, the boring adverts, people maxing (sic) out their credit cards just trying to make a family member happy by purchasing an XBox or similar. Come mid January the Bank statements start rolling in with promises of deferred payment...? Soon, in reality we'll still be paying off accounts and debts, originating from Christmas, two years ago, and so it goes on. All in the name of overzealous commercialism targeting those who can least afford it ?

Thank you ONE UNDER GOD for your thoughtful contribution.

Hello there PONDE...

Thank you for your contribution, and the superb parable you've sought to remind us of...Virginia and her lack of belief, of Santa Claus ? Was there not a Movie titled - 'Miracle on 34th Street' made in the 1950's ? A lovely show no matter how many times you see it ?

It's not whether or not you believe in Santa, or Christmas. More it's a time to celebrate everything that's symptomatic with Christmas. Good will to all men, women and children. Just, for a short moment in time, perhaps we can try to forget our troubles, debts and our protracted worries, and find a little love and companionship with our family, friends even our neighbours !

Your parable, through the illustration of 'Virginia' is excellent ! Thank you very much indeed, for your exceptional contribution PONDE, I do appreciate it.

belly..you..know i appriciate truth..when you.and our thread/host
were talking of police..i recalled talking about it..with oh song..but possably being a little agressive..because of my many awarness..of the grieving..caused by many of them...who/with all good intention..join/the rum/corpse..heck..EVEN i applied..but was rrejected/by english skils..[so joined the raeme]

in my protesting of the system..i have had many 'talks'..with the
boys in/blue[now more often seen..now...in/black[to intimidate].

. trained by.. the military..even/mossad..in revenue raising and presence/intimidation..sure they got a hard job..[onoccasion]..and the crooked are far..outnumberd by..good guys.

but..drug law..is mortal policing..yet..stealing the federal reserve..is a thing..no/cop is allowed*to look into[they got lawyers]

[im/not writing these points..to our good friend..but because these are..now being recalled...to mind.

i..seen..far too much..[for far too many//its an..8 too 4 job]
if today you gotta breath test..the morning after/working slob..only trying too get this job..[yet fast asleep/or drinking inthe bar at night whentaverns are cop free/or 2 hopurs away..or an/old homebound mad man..growing his own medication..isnt/no one business..especially a..council/snoop with a grudge.

see police need lawfull reason..to act..and any copmplaint..must include a proper compplaint..of contract violation..or criminal injury..

simply a complaint[sans injury]..isnt enough..

but you gotta keep.;.the boys busy..with the petty stuff[so you got the intimidatory force..if the peasents ever rebel..[certainly not investigating realfraud/theft..by the too big too fail..ursury money lenders..

or protecting/miners by arrsting and jailing men[like me]..simply walking ona legislayted horse trail..twice..and locking me upthree times/then dropping all/charges..after iturn-upinn a far away court

or involenytary arresting me 5 different times withoput charge

or locking me up..and then'loosing the tapes[or trying to ochoke me/then smothering me by covering mt nose/mouth with his forarm..or forcing a lawyer to..plead before a court for a plant..only/god canmake grow[that under real estate law..is a fixture..not a fungable..then..jailing me 'for mmaking..a plant grow..and/POSSESING a fixture

its funny..possesion=9/10the law
unless its a fixture made into a fungable..by a copper tignorant..of the law[not aimres at you o song]..i/know you/have no choice/but the one thing..ineed now..is//yet again confirmation.

i wasin army/SWORE toSERVE//hrh..and her airs and suckceasers
its the same in ALL/THE armed services..thats why hrh..was invited tothe party/despite being a primre cause BUT also solution..of the problem..she need only issue anorder inher xmass mmessage..like i said at the snow-den..threat

you must excuse..my writing..its 6..point or smaller type
ihave seen bigger pinheads..but suchis the cosyt..of trying tochange things[my computer has gone funny..nothing works properly..but its assumed they just want some time..to think

anyhow..im/back to going walkabout
just seeing..when..the dice roll..to snake eyes

Good evening CHRISGAFF1000 & INDIVIDUAL...

Thank you both for your perceptive and intuitive quotation with the celebration of Christmas being it's genesis. Most thought provoking to be sure ?

Hi there FOXY...

Your use of words and sentence structure (syntax) truly amazes me FOXY. You have this astonishing capacity and ability to capture a moment or an important event by using just a few well chosen words, all arranged carefully in a minimum of short sentences. Your years working in a major library is most evident, together with your extraordinary level of knowledge that comes with being associated with books.

Anyway what you say, the longevity of Christmas in Oz is absolutely correct. Whether Christian or non-Christian, it's of little consequence. Christmas is always celebrated on the 25 December, and shall continue to be so celebrated ! Christmas is an institution, here in Australia, one that will continue to be observed while our nation exists I suspect !

Hello BELLY old mate...

Paganism, who knows how and why Christmas actually started ? We've all heard the various theories, I don't think it matters really, as long as it brings families and friends together, thus further binding our 'OZ' way of life ? At the end of the day it's of little consequence or importance as to what was the real catalyst behind the day being observed in the first place. Don't you think BELLY ?

Once again, thank you very much for your continued support BELLY, I really do appreciate it, very much indeed.