friday evening

Friday evening a time to collect thoughts from the previous week. Friday evening and as I light the Shabbat candles thanking God for the week, I also must clear some demons from my head and wonder to God, what the hell is happening in this nation?

Once again we are urged to call our Senators, plead with their consciences, tell them how to do the American thing and repeal DADT. Once again something as simple as an American right, the right to free speech, the right to be equal, not separate but equal, the right to share all that America can offer is down to the wire.

Ahh, bless those talking heads who talk in circles about how now is not the time, how we are not ready, how this will impact those in the military who are biased and bigoted. How they pontificate that hate has to take priority over justice over fair. How those talking heads love finding out why not instead of why...

The Senators are all miffed and pissed that they might have to work through their holiday season. The grumpy old men and women have stalled and stalled signalling no potential to pass anything that might signal Obama as boss. They played politics and party lines and now want the public to become true Christians and help get those boys and girls home for a white Christmas celebration. For some reason keeping the crooks and hoodlums in their DC offices is like waging a war on Christmas. It is as if the Grinch has come to Washington and doused their stockings with polluting goo from the BP spill.

The American public is to ring their fingers, pull their hair because the bullies are now being asked to be accountable for their behavior.

Hey bullies how about the lumps of coal you have presented the thinking American public over this last year. How about the war on the poor, the middle class, the unemployed, the teachers, the unions, the Gays, the youth, the citizens who wanted fairness and truth? A war on Christmas, my ass, you guys were naughty and never nice. Your only actions were those that benefited your career, your wallet, and your prejudices...

Sparkling lights are up, carols are cascading on the boulevards, avenues and malls. Stores have transformed their lobbies into the North Pole, elves quarters, humongous trees with even more humongous boxes of toys tucked beneath, and Santas abound on every street corner. And on every street corner the Salvation Army greets you with a kettle and a solitary hand held bell.(Next time you donate a dollar to the kettle people ask them about their thoughts on Gays, they may actually tell you to take back your dollar).

Dinners are being served for the homeless and poor and on every local television channel we are told by overly wrought, furrow browed weather men and anchors that statistics tell us the numbers homeless and poor has risen. Merchants have their drop a toy for a tot boxes, and the very high priced stores have ornate trees under which you can leave that unwrapped gift.

We try so hard at CHRISTMAS time to do the right thing. Be you Jewish or Christian, Muslim or Agnostic, Catholic or Atheist, we are told that now is the time to take action.

Then Christmas is over, the after Christmas Sales are dropping on the television stations like the Blitzkrieg and suddenly doing the right thing is no longer cool. And like the wrappings the tinsel, the Yuletide carols it is placed in some dark dank attic hiding until Halloween is over to reappear.

The poor have to wait, the homeless had their goodnight Christmas bed, poverty still stinks, and the world goes on and on and on. The missions, the food pantry's do their best to accommodate the crowds, and the news anchors are all about the best Valentines love story or Easter egg hunt coming up.

Think of all the money Macy's spends on decorating their stores. Think about the millions of dollars Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy spend on their commercials. Think about the fact that no matter... Christmas happens every December 25. And with or without ALL of the expenses paid to promote it, WE all would still do our Christmas shopping, sing our carols, and light our trees. Think about how much money could go to the poor, the homeless, those who need medical care if everyone asked 'what would Jesus do' and spend even 10% less on the frills and decorations AND throughout the year give to those whose only connection to Christmas spirit is watching others.

We are told in a song "...Its the most wonderful time of the year... and maybe it is for some, but what about the rest of the year? Nothing wonderful about one meal a day, a cardboard box, no medications, being invisible.

My Sabbath candles are lit, I am now as a Jew, to think and relax, enjoy my moments with God. But recently there seems to be more to worry about then to be thankful for. Life is wonderful, but for many just one miserable existence. I want to know why if we sing about Peace on Earth Good Will toward men/women, the lyrics just don't seem to resonate as loud as they should.

As we say in our home Shabbat Shalom.