Page A2 The Joan De Arc Crusader / Wednesday, December 24, 2003 Front Page A1 / Entertainment A3 / Christmas Nostalgia A4 / Crossword A5 EDITORIAL PAGE “Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd.” – Voltaire
Is Christmas still special? The glittering decorations and elaborate front lawn displays appear earlier and earlier with each passing annum. Stores now commonly initiate their holiday sales well in advance of Thanksgiving, some as early as the Labor Day weekend. The unique character of the Christmas season seems to keep getting spread ever thinner with no end in sight. What was once a few weeks of beautiful and joyous celebration has somehow evolved into months of unmitigated commercial excess and mindless exploitation. The true message of the season has become buried beneath a surfeit of profits and an overabundance of crass materialism. In view of this disturbing onslaught, we feel perfectly justified in pausing to ask a simple question. Is Christmas still special? This issue of course may only be resolved in the hearts of individual men and women, boys and girls. Yet it only stands to reason that the longer we extend and thus abuse the Christmas season, the less meaningful and truly special it will ultimately become. We at the Crusader wish to urge a return to a more sensible, somewhat less lengthy Yuletide season, with renewed emphasis upon the true reasons for the existence of this wonderful holiday in the first place. The real impetus for this grand celebration lies not in the accelerated sale of consumer goods or in the remarkable competitions for the finest array of colored lights layered upon our respective residences. No, it lies in the simple sentiment of “peace on earth and goodwill toward men.” Let us all remember that we are here in this world, above all else, to love and keep one another. This is why, in spite of everything, Christmas does and will continue to endure. So. What’d you get me? Predictions for ‘04 We observe today the time honored Crusader tradition of peering ahead into the shrouded mists of the upcoming new year and producing our uncanny predictions regarding what will be.
LETTERS I’m writing to express my concerns about the fancy and expensive new playground equipment that was recently installed at the east end of Westown Park. I firmly believe that today’s kids are already being overindulged to a disturbing degree, and spending our city’s dwindling resources to further spoil these children is unconscionable in my opinion.
When we played in that park back in the 60s, all we had was a multi-colored,
wrought iron merry-go-round surrounded by a rough patch of asphalt. When that
baby spun around you held on for dear life, lest you would fall onto the asphalt
or hard ground below and scrape the hell out of your arms and/or legs.
It was quite possible to break a
bone, or even fracture your skull. Now that was fun!
Warren Cox
We welcome your letters at jdacrusader@aol.com. ______________________________________________________________
Results of our poll
On the occasion last July of the Bueker family’s 40th anniversary in Arizona, the Crusader conducted a poll of Avenue residents asking the following question:
“How are you remembering the Buekers today, on their 40th anniversary in Arizona?”
Results:
“Who in the hell are the Buekers?” 63%
(No response/Door closed in face) 18%
“Who in the f*** are the Buekers?” 13%
“We liked them” 3%
Other 3% ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________JDA
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