MERRY CHRISTMAS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM NOEL, LESLEY AND FAMILY.

Ah, yes it is Christmas. We think of that silent night so long ago in Bethlehem. 

But was it so silent?

There were three wise men, their camels and their entourages, several shepherds, cattle lowing in the fields, noisy animals around the mother and child, a host of heavenly angels loudly proclaiming, “Alleluia. Alleluia. Christ, the saviour, is born.”

To top it all off a very bright star was shining and making it very, very difficult to get to sleep.

In my mind’s eye I can see a harried Joseph stepping out of the barn and waving up to the Herald Angels and saying, “Thanks for your good wishes, everybody, but it has been a very hard day for me and the missus. We travelled from Nazareth on a slow moving donkey, there was no room at the inn and my wife felt quite wonkey. Now the baby’s been born and they are wanting some quite, but you guys up there are making a riot.”

Hopefully the angelic choirs took the hint. 

Then, as he turned to go back inside, one of the shepherds calls out, “Well, anyhow,Joseph,how are the wife and baby?” 

To which he doubtless replied, “They are both in a stable condition.” Boom! Boom!

Those Herald angels sang about “Peace on Earth”, but  2000 years  later what we have is PC on earth.

Yes, folks, we are in the age of Political Correctness and PC says that nothing, but nothing, can be written, sung or said about Christmas that could possibly be ever so slightly offensive to another person, religion, sect, tribe, ethnic group, race or football team, excluding Collingwood, of course.

I recently received a newsletter from the ABC wishing me, “A very merry...”

Was the ABC wishing  me a merry three dots? Obviously dear old Aunty ABC’s lips could scarcely frame the word “Christmas.”

I received cards from two members of parliament that wished me “The compliments of the season.”

But what season?  At first I thought it was the cricket season, but it can’t be because every night the commercial TV news programmes have extensive coverage of AFL footballers running, jumping, jogging or appearing in court.

A federal minister signed off  the December issue of his department's magazine by wishing  everyone a “Happy holiday season.” 

Obviously he is not talking to the thousands who will be back working flat out from Boxing Day onwards, flogging unsold Christmas goods in department store sales acros the country.

The PC brigade is even telling us that Christmas should be renamed as “A Designated, Non Compulsory, and Penalty Rate Free Public Holiday.”

These days, Christmas in schools can only be celebrated if equal time is also given to Hanukkah, Ramadan, Eid, The Druidic Mid Winter Solstice, Confucius’ Birthday, The Ides of March, Halloween, Hindu Nirvana, Buddha’s Enlightenment, and the Melbourne Cup.

As for Father Christmas, aka dear old St Nicholas and jolly old Santa Claus, he now needs to get a police clearance, refrain from placing children on his lap, stop ringing his bell loudly and shouting out “Ho, Ho, Ho!" in case parents, or litigious neighbours, bring in legal proceedings for child molestation or crimes under the Noise Abatement Act of 1993.

Do not despair, however. The Spirit of Christmas will not fade. The churches may be losing their influence over our celebration of Christmas, but never fear folks, Coles, Myer, David Jones and Woollies will never, ever let Christmas die out. 
Each year their cash registers ring out kerchingle bells, kerchingle bells, kerchingle all the way!

Christmas may be disappearing in our schools and in our personal greetings but it lives on stronger than ever in the market place.

Anyhow, Lesley and I and our family will be celebrating Christmas in the usual way and we hope that you and your family can do so to.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HEALTHY AND HAPPY NEW YEAR