I listen to the radio quite a bit…to be honest, I generally have something on in the background all the time.  For some strange reason, it helps me focus on whatever I am doing, but that’s besides the point.  Most of the talk on the radio airwaves revolves around two things – the so-called “fiscal cliff” and the badly conceived concept of a “War on Xmas”.

Let’s start with the “fiscal cliff” – or as I’ve heard some people call it, the “physical cliff”.  I get that its there.  I get what it means.  I get that both sides of the political spectrum are a) trying to work together to avoid it, and b) trying to place the other side into the position of taking the blame if no compromise/solution is reached.  I hear people say “The Republicans will own this” or “The President is going to own this” or “The Democrats are going to own this.”  The reality of it all is that we, the citizens of the United States will own this.  The Representatives of the House, the Senators of the Senate, and the President of the United States are ALL elected officials.  Not a single one of them would be in the positions that they are without receiving votes from the citizenry.  Thus, the true “owners” of all of this – is all of the citizens here in the United States.  So, when I hear people trying to assign the blame, I have to sit back and wonder how little of Civics and Government that those folks missed during High School….

As for the “war on Xmas” — sorry, I just don’t see it.  I do see some folks trying to bend their wishes to whether nativity scenes should or should not be displayed on public property – such as a county’s courthouse steps.  I don’t see what the entire fuss is about though.  If the stuff gets removed from a public location – put it on private property instead.  And then there’s the entire stink over the usage of “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Yule” or “Happy Holidays” as a greeting for total strangers – such as a store clerk stating one of these to people that come to the store.  Honestly, I don’t see what the fuss is about there either.  Fsck, I’ve had people tell me “God Bless you” when I stop to help someone with a flat tire or some kind of car trouble on the side of the road.  I’m not a Christian – but the statement doesn’t offend me whatsoever.  The folks are expressing a measure of gratitude towards me for helping them – and utilizing an expression that they feel conveys their thanks.

I guess both of these issues make me look at how easily we (the collective we) tend to get offended over the smallest things.  I’m not sure when it happened within the society as a whole, and frankly I’m not sure I really care about that either.  I just know that far too many people see little things like this as reasons to go off on other folks.  It does play into the thoughts I have on why people can’t seem to let other simply have their own beliefs and spend their time trying to attack faiths that are not their own.

The Christmas season is supposed to be a time of happiness, sharing and giving.  Or have we forgotten that?  Seemingly, we have – much like we’ve forgotten how our elected officials got to where they are – regardless of party….