What is your wish for 2009?

It's that time again, and I'm thinking ahead to my wish for the new year.   I wish that people would begin to put children first -- ahead of business plans and restructuring and face time and genomes and bail outs. I wish that no child would have to live without the essentials of food, water and medical care and especially a loving heart to care about them. I wish that schools would exist for children and not children for schools. And though I know that these things can't happen at once, I wish that the smallest of mind shifts would begin and that it would effect a change that started things moving in this direction.  That's not too much to wish for, is it?

What is your wish?  It doesn't have to be such a big wish; in fact, it can be for something very small.

Don't Burn Down the Little House

Recently someone in my book group expressed a strong opinion that the Little House on the Prairie Books were pretty much useless in terms of literary significance because of Ma's racist references to the Native Americans. She felt these references impugned the value of the entire book. It was an interesting idea to consider, because of course no one would be supportive of anything that even suggests racism. But somehow, her stance felt wrong to me and I had to let it sit for a while to consider it, and eventually (as always) my thoughts settled and I understood how I felt.

There are many books with racist overtones that are highly valued in literature because they present the complete picture of life at a particular point in time. We don't stop reading them because of a racist remark. If we did, we would lose some of our greatest literary treasures. Would we change Gone With the Wind, for example?    That's tantamount to censorship and really, what is the next step? Shall we start book burning? Or maybe just red-lining the parts that offend us?

I think this woman is assuming that one would read Little House and think it is somehow correct to make these racist references. But for heaven's sake -- this was written hundreds of years ago. No intelligent person would make that leap today and, in fact, it makes perfect fodder for thinking about how much life has changed. (Along with thinking about how we no longer blow up pig bladders to toss around as balloons.)

Please God, let us never in our world start to edit our book choices based on some individual's decision about what they decide seems inappropriate to them. It has happened too many times in history and is happening right now in this world. If anything, as readers we should fight against this kind of controlling behavior because what are we as a society if we are not, at the very bottom of it, able to be free thinkers? While often well intentioned, it never, ever ends well.

Taking a Leap and Reviewing a Movie

Every now and then a movie or book creeps up on me and jumps up out of nowhere to shout, "Surprise!"  Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" was like that -- completely off my radar until I saw it with Lou, and then I loved it.  Actually, the movie I wanted to see that day was an Indie movie at the Film Forum called "Wendy and Lucy."  I knew it was something about a girl and her dog, but after looking into it more closely I realized it might be a little darker than I could handle on that particular day, so I decided to go with Lou's movie choice instead.  

"Gran Torino" is the opposite of a chick movie, so what do we call that:  a dude movie?  The thing is, I think most girls would love it, too.  I was captivated by it, initially because the character Eastwood plays -- a throw-back Korean War era veteran - was so much like my dad (WWII), but later because of the story line itself.  It wasn't formulaic like so many movies I've seen recently, and it really delivers an emotional punch.  I also can't recall a director/actor who can find a way to have a character say the kinds of politically incorrect things Eastwood's character says and still have everyone in the theater love the guy.   It amazed me.

If you are looking for a movie to see over your holiday break, take a chance on this one and let me know what you think.

Santacon

"A Santa hat is not enough. Get a Santa suit. Buy a Santa suit. Make a Santa suit. Steal a Santa suit. Get creative: be a Secret Santa, a Santasaurus, Candy-cane, a Reindeer, a Chanukah Chicken, a GD latke, Stewardess Santa, Knight Rider Santa, Crusty Peace Punk Santa, the occasional Legless Reindeer, Chanukah Squirrel, Emo-Elf, or the Santichrist.
Just don't wear your++++ing jeans."

These are some of the Santa Rules that are part of the instructions on the SantaCon NYC website, part of the larger SantaCon.com site.  If you haven't been to it ---------well folks, you are missing out on quite a site.  And hey, there are many places around the U.S. where it is not too late for you, too, to take part in this annual debacle of debatable debauchery. Personally I grimace when I see them coming, but I'm a fairly good sport and they do have rules (expletives deleted as there are some minors who read my blog):  

"Santa acts like Santa. Be jolly. Belly-laugh. Let people sit on your lap. Give out gifts.
Santa doesn't seek media attention. "Ho-ho-ho" is good. "Publicity ho" is lame.
Santa doesn't get arrested. Please remember the FOUR F's:
Don't fool with kids.
Don't fool with cops.
Don't fool with security.
Don't fool with Santa."

(Note that nowhere in the original four F's did the word "fool" actually appear.)

Basically you can think of the SantaCons as a swarthy group of pirates, mostly male but some female, dressed as jolly old St. Nicholas, who roam the streets of specific cities together on designated days in search of buried treasure and other booty, all in the interest of holly jolly fun.  I think that's pretty accurate.  They're interesting to watch, sort of in the way you watch, say, a really bad singer completely botch the National Anthem -- covering your ears but somehow not quite running away in horror.

This last line from the SantaCon site may sum up exactly what they are all about perfectly: 

"Santa does not make children cry (unless they whine, snivel, or otherwise deserve it).
Really - If you see kids, give them nice toys, candy, or something pleasant. Feel free to urinate on the parents. Tourists fall somewhere in between the two -- adjust depending on their attitude."

Holiday Mail for Heroes

To give pleasure to a single heart by a single kind act is better than a thousand head-bowings in prayer -- Saadi.

The days have grown colder and much shorter here in the northeast.  Like Jan Brett's retelling of the Ukrainian folktale The Mitten, the streets of New York City have once again begun filling with visitors from around the world, faces full of wonder and delight at the sights and sounds, colors and smells of the city we love.  

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa,  or the winter solstice this month, if you are looking for a way to make a difference in our world today, nothing is more powerful than the single act of the individual.  One easy and so very important way to do this is to send a card to one of our many American service members.  Some of them, veterans in hospitals around the world or people who have just returned from theaters in Afghanistan and Iraq, will receive NO other personal correspondence.  I know this seems impossible (or at least, it did to me),  but the American Red Cross assures us this is true.  

If you click on this link Red Cross you will find an address to send a card, and even a link with a printable card to send.  It's so very easy to do this -- all you need is a stamp for the envelope --really.  Cards must be postmarked by December 10 and will be returned if sent after this time.  Please take a moment now to click and send.  Be the change you want to see and you will make a difference.  I promise that you will feel just a little better for it.