What Ever Happened to Holiday Cheer?

Thanksgiving turned out to be a sensational experience for me this year: the weather was fantastic, the food menu was nontraditional (which was quite tasty and none was left over... to include beer), and the sports venue—as well as time spent with family and friends—was tremendously entertaining. These are the kind of moments I'm sure we all enjoy and cherish as we observe the holidays. But then I saw a Best Buy paper advertisement. I was suddenly reminded of how sensitive and litigious our society has become.

Some time ago, Best Buy announced that it would no longer print the words “Merry Christmas” in its flyers. Incidentally, I was reading through one of its ads last week to get a feel for the kinds of things offered for the famous Black Friday sales, when I happen to come across the company's way of spreading holiday cheer: Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstices, and Eid A-Adha (a Muslim holiday that contained bolder font and extra bordering)... no mention of happy Thanksgiving, which at the time of this ad was the befalling of the holiday.

Now, I understand why this ad was posted this way; I understand the reasoning behind why we fuss and fight over holidays nowadays. I'm all for healthy debates and the mulling over pros and cons; merits and demerits of certain viewpoints. However, while I feel that it is appropriate to be inclusive (in terms of other worldly causes and points of views), I feel that it is inappropriate to be exclusive when it comes to our own causes, traditions, and views. I somehow get the feeling that we placate the other side and other traditions more than we do our own. Is this because our overly litigious society makes it uncomfortable for some to rest at night from fear of legal backlash? Have judges morphed their own roles to resemble lawmakers rather than interpreters? Are we, on some level, afraid that we may be attacked again on grounds of "American dogma"?

I don't know about you, but I'm tired of all the bickering, fussing, and fighting at a time when we're suppose to be cheerful and festive. This happens every year! Have we not sorted this out yet?

-R

January 6 is my birthday. For many years—rain, hail, sleet, or snow—I've always been able to thrive and go about this day festively and in a most enjoyable fashion (not that the obligatory shot of tequila has anything to do with it).  Like other holidays—because let's be honest, birthdays are holidays unique to each individual—I've learned that the older I become, the less weight or emphasis I put upon all the celebratory rituals (like parties, for example).

Don't get me wrong—I enjoy taking pause to reflect upon the many years I've been able to enjoy life, but if there's going to be some big blowout having, party hat wearing, confetti everywhere, vomit-provoking party... just for me… well, somebody else would have to see that this happens. Not me. I enjoy recognizing this day, but as I've said before... it's usually low key. But has anyone ever stopped to think about from where did this tradition of celebrating birthdays come?

Many centuries ago in Europe (back when only kings were worthy of birthday celebrations), it was believed that evil spirits took interest in people the most when it was their birthday. To ward off this perceived danger and vulnerability, family and friends would surround a person, on the day of his or her birthday, with festivities, foods, gifts, arts, and crafts; thus, instigating and bringing about of good, warm, and happy thoughts—actively dissuading evil spirits from partaking their odious and devilish activities. Heinous superstition?

Anyway, there's my food for thought with regard to birthdays.

-R

Driving in OK

Driving in the state of Oklahoma can really infect one with road rage. I've been here for eight years and have traveled to numerous places, but not many places compare to Oklahoma when it comes to some of its drivers. I'm not really sure what contributes to this phenomenon; I tend to believe that it stems from highway design: on/off ramps often share the same space, yielding only 50 feet of asphalt for cars to exit and get out into the flow of traffic (both at the same time). It's funny how cars looking to exit are often met with resistance by those who are coming out (even though yielding is the rule).

But what I don't understand the most is how come people are so hell-bent on not allowing others to pass? Why is it that when one uses his or her turn signal, a device of which we all are suppose to use, people just speed up to stop you from advancing in front of them? Even if it appears as though you're contemplating on advancing in front of them (slightly by looking at your rear-view mirror)… they speed up!! What is the deal, people? Is this why no one uses turn signals?

The last thing I will harp on is rubbernecking. I'm not really sure what the deal is as far as accidents and how they affect drivers clean on the other side of the freeway (traveling in the opposite direction, no less). I really hate when I'm in a rush to go somewhere, only to find that traffic is backed up for 3 miles due to a fender-bender or because the state trooper has pulled someone over. Why? And why is it that people are always willing to let you go ahead first only when it's inconvenient or when they are the ones who has the right-of-way (like those annoying stop sign standoffs, for example)?

Is it just me?

-R