Happy Hannukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Dhu al Hijjah!  TIS THE SEASON.

     It seems that no matter what you celebrate during this time of year, it all has something to do with LIGHT, HUMILITY, LIGHT VICTORIOUS OVER DARKNESS, NEW LIFE, GIFTS, GIVING, SACRIFICE, AND LIFE!

     There is an ancient tradition that the earth was created by one of the lesser gods!  And when you see us squawk to monopolize the season or to be politically correct, you got to wonder!

     I think Rodney King said it best, "Can't we just get along?"

     When we look at a little infant, we are filled, almost instinctually, with warm, tender emotions.  How do those emotions fly out the chimney when it comes to adults seeing other adults?  How do we see evil monsters in our brothers and sisters?

     I don't know if the story is truth or legend, but there is the story from World War II, of the Germans and Americans crossing their battle line on Christmas Eve and celebrating together.  Then the following day, they returned to being enemies and tried to kill each other!  How quickly our fear of others overtakes our more sensible deep human need for connection and relationship.

     There is no difference between people that is worth robbing that person of their dignity and life.  I know that is difficult to swallow, but something that we at least have to attempt to grasp.  There is no advantage to war, to killing, to character assasination, nor to racism.  And the manner in which we "act out" our desire to spread democracy looks pretty strange, very undemocratic.  And likewise, the manner in which we judge others who do not adhere to our religious convictions is blasphemous.

     The media's on-going reference to Holy Wars and Sectarian violence leaves us wondering how a person's religion can lead one so far astray.  Perhaps it is NOT religious wars or sectarian violence, but perhaps more accurately specific leaders wanting power and more power.  Sects have leaders.  Religions have leaders.  Nations have leaders.  It is easy for leaders to disguise their individual and collective desire to be the most powerful of all as a holy cause.  And it is neither a cause or holy and it is certainly not worth fighting for nor worth sacrificing our children to gods for.

     Maybe we can at least go as far as the Germans and the American soldiers did about sixty some years ago.  Maybe we can come together during these weeks of the EVE of the New Year and celebrate our common humanity, our common preciousness.

     It's worth a SHOT!  Maybe more accurately a shot in the dark.