© Pierre Maré,
2004 - 2007
Offbeat 126
It’s that time of year again. The old man with the red suit and the beard is on his way again. The only balance to my cynicism is my daughter’s optimism. She knows what the trees and decorations mean… presents. And I must say that even I, embittered as I am about my inability to see magic in pieces of shiny plastic, still feel a small surge of greed when I see a piece of tinsel or a shred of garish wrapping paper.
That small ray of hope aside, let’s get down to battering the concept as it is practiced today.
As far as I remember, Christmas involved ‘peace on earth and mercy mild’, or the song I sung when I was a kid suggested that it should. Given that Christmas originated in the northern climes of Europe, the concept was probably reinforced by the fact that it was just too cold to go out and engage in a good argument with the neighbours, or a suitably bloody war with the neighbours across the border. But that has changed.
This point is illustrated by a recent news item concerning a woman in the States and her Christmas wreath in the shape of a peace sign, neatly attached to her home. Given the linkage between Christmas and the idea of ‘peace’, the association seems particularly apt. Yet apparently her neighbours, in the form of a tenants’ association, chose to disagree.
They viewed the wreath as a statement in opposition to the Iraq war. The homeowners’ association threatened the women with fines if she did not remove it.
The homeowners’ association has since backed down, yet their reaction was telling. It was not the concept of peace that was uppermost on their minds, so much as the sanctity of a war in Iraq. They backed down only after media attention was brought to bear upon them.
It is easy to draw an immediate political conclusion, that would probably be wrong if only for the huge generalization, but there are broader ramifications to the situation. For instance, how many people on earth would be willing to forgo a war in favour of ‘a time of peace and goodwill to all men’?
The spirit of Christmas must still be valid in some form or other, especially if it is enforced by that most unlikely group, the media. It must find validity in parents seeking to give their children a day of happiness and joy, albeit with the purchase of batteries for the kid and extra tipple for Dad. And it certainly seems to fill the hearts of retailers with joy, though not of the ‘giving’ kind.
Yet the spirit of Christmas is under threat. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be marred by death and injury. This year it will be in Iraq and other geographical locations of interest to the media, as well as on battlefields closer to home, for instance outside bars specializing in clients with points to prove. And as usual toy guns and toy swords will be given to bright-eyed kids, bristling with anticipation of the good times ahead.
As holidays go, Christmas needs some work to regain its essence. But as Tom Waits says in his song ‘Small Change’, “the dreams ain’t broken down here now… they’re walking with a limp”. So perhaps I should altruistically put my cynicism aside, avoid major news networks for the season, and try and be kind to everyone.
I’m not going to be so naïve as to send a letter to Santa asking for peace on earth. He’s probably got enough of those, and anyway sourcing gifts from Asia is probably far easier than reaching an agreement in the UN. Nor will I buy any toy that accepts the concept of violence for my child.
I have mixed feelings about the neighbourhood though. I’m going to continue with the literal line that peace is also synonymous with silence, especially after midnight when their noise may threaten to chase off Santa. But to avoid conflict, I will call the police who do an excellent job of turning down the volume.
So for now, it’s peace on earth, if only as a mindset applicable to myself. There are a good few weeks to get into the spirit of the season, and I hope it works.
Back to the archive • Previous • Next • Home
