Well folks, its 23 December 2008 and another Christmas is almost upon us. Anyone got any objections if I send a "Mi deziras al vi ĉiuj Gajan/Feliĉan Kristnaskon kaj Prosperan Novan Jaron" your way? Sure hope not. What this ol' world needs is more friendship and good will and less political correctness. Ĉu ne?

jawq81:Well folks, its 23 December 2008 and another Christmas is almost upon us. Anyone got any objections if I send a "Mi deziras al vi ĉiuj Gajan/Feliĉan Kristnaskon kaj Prosperan Novan Jaron" your way? Sure hope not. What this ol' world needs is more friendship and good will and less political correctness. Ĉu ne?

Mi samopinias.

In that case, to jawq and everyone on this forum, I wish you a joyous Chanukah, and a Kwanzaa full of family togetherness. And it's late now, but I hope everyone had a peaceful Eid al-Adha.

erinja:In that case, to jawq and everyone on this forum, I wish you a joyous Chanukah, and a Kwanzaa full of family togetherness. And it's late now, but I hope everyone had a peaceful Eid al-Adha.

Thanks, Erin. And Merry Christmas to you, as well.

Ah! I got your message, erinja. Multiculturalism. But the United States became a great nation because it consists of 50 united states, each of which is the size of many individual countries around the world. United we stand, divided we fall. If we don't stop bickering and start pulling together, we're all going to lose.

No, I didn't wish anyone a joyous Chanukah because I'm not a Jew. I don't know their language or their customs and I've never visited their country. The Jews have had a rough time throughout history and I don't know how Jews accept Gentiles sticking their noses where they may not belong. Wishing someone a joyous Chanukah when you don't really know what it means is a superflous gesture anyway, isn't it? I greatly admire Israel. In fact, along with Switzerland, I think Israel is the most admirable country in the world outside of my own. They may be cantankerous but they have reason to be. I greatly enjoy reading the history of Israel before and after it became a state. I think it is disgraceful of the world's powers that they don't support Israel and I also think that if the rest of the world would get off Israel's back, they would take care of their own problems, which might be advantageous to the rest of us. So, Shalom, Israel!

Another reason that I support Israel is Biblical. The God of the Bible tells us that he will enrich those who support His people and destroy those who don't. You don't believe that? Try reading history.

As for Kwanzaa, do you really know anything about it? Here's a website that will open your eyes if you take the time to read it: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Perspectives/Default.asp....

You probably won't accept this website but that doesn't mean that it isn't true. I'll bet that there are many good people around who practice Kwanzaa without really understanding it. But they have a responsibility to understand it. We live in a dangerous world. Many idealists just cannot accept that there are bad people in the world. I really, really, really cannot understand such blindness. You have only to open your eyes and minds and look around you. Evil isn't hidden.

I just finished rereading a novel by Robert A. Heinlein called "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress." He uses an expression throughout the book that must horrify liberals. It is TANSTAAFL and it means "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch." Interesting.

As for the last, Eid al-Adha, I'll just bet that that is Arabic. Salaam, all of you.

jawq81:
No, I didn't wish anyone a joyous Chanukah because I'm not a Jew. I don't know their language or their customs and I've never visited their country. The Jews have had a rough time throughout history and I don't know how Jews accept Gentiles sticking their noses where they may not belong.

Nah... I wouldn't read so much into it. My neighbors are Jewish and we're Christian. We wish them Happy Chanukah and they wish us Merry Christmas. Hard to take offense when none is meant, right?

Also, my other neighbors are Serbian and Orthodox. We have no problem saying "Merry Christmas" to them in the middle of January and they say the same to us at the end of December. Again, it's a happy time of year. It is hard to take offense when none is meant, right?

I think most people appreciate it when you take the time to learn a little bit about them. What's more, most ethnic minorities realize that not everyone celebrates things the way they do and have polite ways of letting the rest of us know when we accidentally step on their toes. If we really want unity, the best way to get it is to continue to act like human beings while respecting each others' differences.

andogigi:Hard to take offense when none is meant, right?

Mmmm... I've met some people who seem to have a pretty easy time of it.

Enjoy the roast, folks. I'll be eating lamb tomorrow myself, turkey tastes a bit too dry for my family's liking. Maybe there's a secret to making it taste as moist as chicken?

Later, maybe an episode of the 70s detective series Cannon. The good guys win, and Happy New Year!

BTW do Aussies eat kangaroo meat at Xmas? Just wondering.

Baste baste baste. It is just that simple.

BTW, when I was in Perth, I had kangaroo meat at a Chinese restaurant. How's that for multiculturalism?

(And yes, I did like it even though it was covered in sweet and sour sauce and that was all I could taste)

@ Andogigi: yes quite oddly, Chinese restaurants are popular vendors of roo meat. My preferred dish at me and my mate's favourite Chinese restaurant is Curry Roo

@ Miland: No, come to think of it I don't know what we eat... Just a fancy lunch and tea (dinner) I guess. There are some US traditions with the whole turkey thing which some use, but it's really not that popular.

@ Erinja: Happy Chanukah!

And to all you Americans - Bonan Kristnaskmatenon! - right now in Los Angeles I think it's about 4:30AM on the 25th, but in Australia it's about 11:00PM on the same day.