Just a couple thoughts before our household members dash out to church this morning, ["dash", a term used loosely]
As we finish up the Thanksgiving weekend, we had a chance to visit family and our states’ Central Coast. We really do have a wonderful place, this California. The missions, the Hwy 1 and 101 corridor, the shoreline, the strings of pelicans flying over the surf, dipping just up and over each wave. It’s encouraging to go visit it, as messed up as our state politics is, seeing it all is a reminder of why we fight for it. Lets hope the Coastal Commission doesn’t completely bar us from using and enjoying it.
Up here in Tehama County a recent ban on Santa Claus has some folk stirred up. You see, Santa can be construed as a "specific religious figure" and this could cause the public, when entering county buildings "to feel pressured to conform to religious traditions" to receive services.
[Nothing like the pressure of conforming to what Father Government requires you to do receive the services of a permit to build a redwood deck on your home]
The ‘logic’ being that since Santa is loosely based on St. Nicholas which in turn is somehow "connected with the Christian tradition." I’ll ask my pastor this morning to remind me where Santa is found in the Bible. First, it’s the ban on the little baby Jesus, now a guy in a red suit. Feeling pretty good about yourself now Newdow? There is an "Adopt A Highway" sign in Sacramento County, sponsored by "atheists and other freethinkers". I reckon the "free thinking" ends about there for the rest of us, according to these folks and their attorneys.
Maybe it’s the PETA people upset over the reindeer being forced to work on a triple overtime day…I don’t know, for a tradition that most children kind of have figured by the time they are 7 or 8 years old there is a lot of hand wringing by adults over characters that people pay to have their kids’ picture with at the mall. We can give ‘thanks’ to the 9th District Circus Court for administrators strong-spined edicts like this.
With yet another outbreak of wildfires consuming homes in SoCal our hearts [and prayers..aghhh!] go to those suffering the loss of homes and precious memories contained therein.
Great thanks to those on the front line of our public safety that respond 24 hours a day to the needs of all of us. Our firefighters, sheriffs, local police and the Highway Patrol that mind the extra need of a crowded holiday time, as well as the greater load on ambulance responders and ER medical personnel. Thanks very much to all of you.
With the first of the insane 4AM-start shopping days behind us, turkey decorations [wonder if PETA willl get them banned because of pressure to conform?] giving way to Christmas trees, we can be thankful that the courage of the Founders allowed us to express our faith. If your boss says you can call your workspace decoration a holiday tree but not a Christmas tree, maybe just decorate it with a mini US Supreme Court building ornament which depicts Moses holding the Ten Commandments, and US coins and bills that read "In God We Trust"…and wish ’em all a very cheery Merry Christmas!