I remember a conversation with my dad and I was telling him how I wanted to follow in his "footsteps". I remember a conversation like that with my son too. I told him what my dad had said to me. I said, " Sure son I want you to be like me in someways and follow in my footsteps..." my son, wide-eyed and in awe of the status that I had achieved at that time; "but..." as I began to utter the very words my dad had spoken to me, "...don't follow me too closely son, I might have stepped in some sh** along the way."
Bycha Buxton
It has its roots in tradition, history and religion (what a threesome); Christmas. Declared a federal holiday in 1870. The history of Christmas dates back over 4000
years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries
before the Christ child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright
fires, the yule log, the giving of gifts, carnivals(parades) with
floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, the holiday
feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back to the early
Mesopotamians.
Some legends claim that the Christian "Christmas" celebration was invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December. The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also the Persians whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. The Church eventually was successful in taking the merriment, lights, and gifts from the Saturanilia festival and bringing them to the celebration of Christmas.
But a "Jesus themed Christmas" in the 21st century should be more than the usual mundane christian songs and imagery. I'm talking about the gifts, meals and family gatherings. A ceremonial way (not too hoky) of giving, choosing and presenting Christmas (maybe this is not the most original idea, but bare with me for a few more paragraphs).
In the "spirit" of W.W.J.D.(What Would Jesus Do?) Would the Rabbi give a video game like "Grand Theft Auto" to an adolescent? Would he hold mistletoe over you and a stranger? Would he dress up like Santa Claus (no offense Santa) and let you take a picture on his lap while asking you if you've been naughty or nice?
I'm not condemning the traditions that have become as common and accepted in our 'brave new world' as cheese on fries and bacon on everything (Jesus didn't eat pork...but that's another subject). There just needs to be some reflection in everything we do that is associated with this "Christian" holiday. Even if you are not a Christian the man (Jesus) was extra-ordinary and recognizing his birth and contribution to this world should not be forgotten. Yes we all should assume a little "Jesus" in the way we think about others and project ourselves. Not taking the fun out of the holiday season but putting the "Christ" back in XMAS.
Bycha Buxton
The difference in Candidate # 5 and Client # 9 is as clear as Black and White. But the irony is what men are willing to pay for their egos to be stroke and stoked. The "Candidate" seeks power the "Client" sought the pleasure both men paid with a currency of trust.
# 5 exposed like a newborns bottom; naked, tender and helpless to the good doctors swift smack of an open palm.
These men are mere numbers in U.S. Federal Investigations, but moreover stains on the political landscape of the most exciting year in U.S. politics of a generation.
"The measure of a man's character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out." (Thomas Babington Macaulay)
But let not me be the one who has a plank in his eye, speak of the speck in the eyes of the Candidate and the Client for I have been both in retrospect. Seeking the power and the pleasure at times in the most unconventional ways. Violating my own "Constitution", under self-imposed moral reflection; as I measure ones own character. Although the Candidate (Jesse Jackson Jr.) has not been charged with any wrong doing only his ambition, guilty by association, led by hope and validated by the election of change. # 5 the weight of your legacy will crush you if don't choose to be plumb with integrity. # 9 (former Governor of New York) just pray that strumpet doesn't write a book about your bedroom manners.
This dysfunctional behavior breeds the disdain that the public has for politicians. The stench of corruption that good tax paying people would consider too egregious for reconciliation and too tendentious for consideration. Let this be a lesson for those seeking power or pleasure it can cost more than you can afford.
Bycha Buxton
There was once a man who, while walking
along a path, fell into a hole and
could not get out. The harder he tried
the deeper the hole got.
A doctor came along the path and the
man said, "Help me! I fell into this hole
and I can't get out." The doctor wrote out
a prescription with some advice and threw
it down into the hole and continued along
the path.
A priest came along and the man said,
"Please help me, I'm stuck in this hole."
The priest said some words and wrote out a
prayer and threw it down into the hole and
continued on.
Finally a friend came along the path and
the man said, "Please help me! I've fallen in
this hole and I can't get out no matter how
hard I try!"
The friend immediately jumped down
in the hole with him. The man said,
are you, crazy? Now we are both in this
hole together!" But the friend said, "Yes,
but I've been here before and I know the
way out."
Moral? It doesn't take experts to help you out of the hole you find yourself in. What it takes is someone who has been there before and knows the way out.
