The fiscal cliff is fast approaching but what the heck is the fiscal cliff? Unless you are an economics major, it’s all Greek to you. Hmmm, that could be a hint. With the “occupy movement” participants  as our focus, there is no doubt that they not only do not understand what is happening, but, for the most part, they don’t care. It is somebody else’s job. Kind of like living with your parents who used to be ’empty nesters’, and not seeing or contributing to the expenses that have to be paid in order to stay in survival mode. There are, of course, exceptions; so forgive me if I generalize. One thing they proclaim is correct: it  IS  somebody else’s job; however, if that somebody else does not do their job, then it becomes everybody’s problem.

The audacity of government is their indifference to the people they govern. Are their decisions based on what is best for the people? NO!!! They are based on idealogical tugs of war. Finger pointing is their weapon of choice but I was taught that when you point a finger at someone else, there are three other fingers pointing back at you. Besides, blame solves nothing. If these high and mighty politicians gave a hoot about the American people, they would not enact laws that we must abide by while excluding themselves from the same laws. They would not give themselves a raise – on top of all of their perks – while Americans are out of work. Their faux concern is expressed by extending some government program which gifts the means to barely survive. To paraphrase: Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he can eat for a lifetime. When the government gives you a fish, you will never learn to fish for yourself. Furthermore, they do not want you to learn how to do anything for yourself. As long as they are your “sugar daddy” you will feel indebted to them. The bonus for them is that they get to tell the world how much they care about you. Puhleez!!! To keep you barely surviving is to keep you from learning how to stand on your own two feet. It destroys your self esteem, a subliminal effect,  by reducing you to a beggar. How is the government able to take care of you? By increasing the tax burden of hard working, successful and productive entities. In the early years of The United States there were no taxes. Today there are taxes on so many aspects of out lives that I think no one knows all of them. Is anyone out there learning the history of the United States? Our first assertion as a nation was to rebel against the unfair taxes imposed by Britain, particularly the tax on tea. Inform yourselves.

In some way or another we will all be affected  negatively by this fiscal cliff. The really sad part is that there is nothing we can do to change it. Our futures depend on politicians who are not doing what is best for the American people. In some cases, they are not even doing their job as required by law. And, as the battle ensues, they will stand and point their fingers at their opponents. Remember, you political parasites, you made the problem, now fix it; and fix it without making more problems for our future.

How many words are there to describe the horrific events that occurred at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown? If you used every word a hundred times, it still would not suffice. One cannot begin to imagine the overwhelming grief of the families of those who were senselessly slain. As more information becomes available, some of the initial reports must be corrected and the story re-told. It is devastating to have to hear it repeated one more time; your heart breaks over and over for the parents, grandparents, and relatives of the victims. And, yet, you know that in a few weeks or months it will be old news; but for these families it will never be over. Their lives are forever altered; their Christmas time will never be the same. The children were innocents, still babies in the eyes of the world. The adults were doing their best to protect the children. None of them were in a place where they should not have been. The shooter went out of his way to commit this heinous crime.

There are still bits and pieces of information being gleaned from various sources and the press is anxious to hear from relatives of the victims as well as relatives of the accused. So far both have requested privacy and that should be respected. Eventually, more will be told. The best thing we all can do is to pray. Pray for the families who need some kind of solace, however unlikely it may seem at this time. Pray for the children who have been imprinted with this horror and may not be able to face a classroom again. Pray for the first responders who came upon an unthinkable scene and felt helpless in its aftermath. Pray for the survivors who may feel a measure of guilt, they could not have changed a thing. This community appears to have a firm resolve and strong faith; they are praying for one another and reaching out to try to help. They are quietly grieving together. This is not a place where drive by shootings happen. This is a place where you would want to live before this tragedy visited. Pray for this community as if you were a part of it; because, the media has made all of us a part and we can not, in good conscience, turn our back on them. Be faithful in your prayers for we are helpless to do anything more than that.

Merry Christmas to everyone; and if your celebration is called by another name, then may it be filled with love, joy and peace. This is the message of Christmas: goodwill to all. I am one of those who celebrate Christmas, yet I understand that this time of year is celebrated in many different ways. I may not know each individual custom for the many differences we have, but that does not prevent me from wishing all of you peace and happiness. Furthermore, I will not try to erase your symbols of the season.

Christ may or may not have been born on December 25th but the importance of His coming is what is commemorated. I believe that He is the Son of God but you may think of Him as an important historical figure. There can be no doubt that He lived an extraordinary life, giving us examples to learn from and live by. It is in those examples that we learn love, kindness, tolerance, patience, and most of all forgiveness. True Christians are exalted; they can face criticism with faith, difficulty with hope, and hatred with love. Christmas is a reminder that He came to show us how to “Love one Another”.

There are those who would change “Merry Christmas” to something politically correct. I have never met a person who was offended by a “Merry Christmas” greeting. In fact, when I am greeted by “Happy Holidays”, I respond with a smile and say “Merry Christmas to you, too”. More often than not, they smile and apologetically imply that they are not permitted to say “Merry Christmas”. I just let them know that I understand; however, since I am not bound by their company’s rules, I can say, Merry Christmas”.  It seems to me that the changes the pc are trying to make are really a veiled attempt to eliminate “Christ” from Christmas. They are to be pitied because they do not know the power of love. Christianity has been persecuted from its inception and has survived for more that 2000 years in spite of the bias. What makes these pc police think they are more capable than lions or fire? My wish for them is that they find peace within themselves so that they can understand and accept that we are all different and, under the constitution of the United States, we are entitled to our own particular expression of faith. The first amendment grants us “freedom OF religion” not freedom FROM religion.

One last thing, please do not write “Merry Xmas”. The “X” crosses out Christ.  True Christians will wish a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.