OPINION | WE SAY P N F A F W E A S C A N D A Real...
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Friday, 12.14.12 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net VIEWS PAGE: [email protected] 4A PRESS DAKOTAN views Have you never read, “Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise”? Matthew 21:16. Portals of Prayer, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis T HE P RESS D AKOTAN THE DAKOTAS’ OLDEST NEWSPAPER | FOUNDED 1861 Yankton Media, Inc., 319 Walnut St., Yankton, SD 57078 OPINION | WE SAY FROM THE BIBLE By The Associated Press Today is Friday, Dec. 14, the 349th day of 2012. There are 17 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Dec. 14, 1962, the U.S. space probe Mariner 2 passed Venus at a distance of just over 21,000 miles, transmitting information about the planet, such as its hot surface temperatures and predominantly carbon dioxide atmosphere. On this date: In 1799, the first presi- dent of the United States, George Wash- ington, died at his Mount Vernon, Va., home at age 67. In 1819, Alabama joined the Union as the 22nd state. In 1861, Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, died at Windsor Castle at age 42. In 1911, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and his team became the first men to reach the South Pole, beating out a British expedition led by Robert F. Scott. In 1918, “Il Trittico,” a trio of one-act op- eras by Giacomo Puccini, premiered at New York’s Metropolitan Opera House. (The third opera, “Gianni Schicchi,” fea- tured the aria “O Mio Babbino Caro,” which was an immediate hit.) In 1936, the comedy “You Can’t Take It With You” by George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart opened on Broadway. In 1946, the United Nations General Assembly voted to establish U.N. head- quarters in New York. In 1961, a school bus was hit by a pas- senger train at a crossing near Greeley, Colo., killing 20 students. In 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts Harrison Schmitt and Eugene Cernan concluded their third and final moonwalk and blasted off for their rendezvous with the command module. In 1975, six South Moluccan extremists surrendered after holding 23 hostages for 12 days on a train near the Dutch town of Beilen. In 1981, Israel annexed the Golan Heights, which it had seized from Syria in 1967. In 1986, the experimental aircraft Voy- ager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yea- ger, took off from Edwards Air Force Base in California on the first non-stop, non-re- fueled flight around the world. Ten years ago: The Associated Press reported that FBI Director Robert Mueller said in an interview that nearly 100 terrorist attacks had been thwarted since 9/11. Jor- danian police announced the arrest of two alleged al-Qaida members in the October killing of American diplomat Laurence Foley. (The two men were executed in 2006.) Five years ago: A man accused of being the Phoenix Baseline Killer was sen- tenced to 438 years in prison for the sexual assaults of two sisters. (Mark Goudeau was tried in 2011 for the slayings of eight women and a man in 2005-2006; he was convicted and sentenced to death.) One year ago: President Barack Obama, visiting Fort Bragg in North Car- olina, saluted troops returning from Iraq, asserting that the nearly nine-year conflict was ending honorably. The House voted 283-136 to approve a massive $662 billion defense bill (the Senate followed suit the next day). The NFL renewed its television deals with CBS, Fox and NBC for nine years through the 2022 season. Today’s Birthdays: Jazz musician Clark Terry is 92. Singer-actress Abbe Lane is 81. Actor Hal Williams is 74. Ac- tress-singer Jane Birkin is 66. Actress Patty Duke is 66. Pop singer Joyce Vin- cent-Wilson (Tony Orlando and Dawn) is 66. Entertainment executive Michael Ovitz is 66. Actress Dee Wallace is 64. Rhythm- and-blues singer Ronnie McNeir (The Four Tops) is 63. Rock musician Cliff Williams (AC/DC) is 63. Actor-comedian T.K. Carter is 56. Rock singer-musician Mike Scott (The Waterboys) is 54. Singer-musician Peter “Spider” Stacy (The Pogues) is 54. Actress Cynthia Gibb is 49. Actress Natascha McElhone is 43. Actress-come- dian Michaela Watkins is 41. Rhythm-and- blues singer Brian Dalyrimple (Soul For Real) is 37. Actress KaDee Strickland is 37. Actress Tammy Blanchard is 36. Ac- tress Sophie Monk is 33. Actress Vanessa Hudgens is 24. Thought for Today: “You can close your eyes to reality but not to memories.” — Stanislaw J. Lec, Polish author (1909- 1966). TODAY IN HISTORY MANAGERS Gary L. Wood Publisher Michele Schievelbein Advertising Director Tonya Schild Business Manager David Jeffcoat Circulation Director Tera Schmidt Classified Manager Kelly Hertz Editor James D. Cimburek Sports Editor Beth Rye New Media Manager Kathy Larson Composing Manager Bernard Metivier District Manager Published Daily Monday-Saturday Periodicals postage paid at Yankton, South Dakota, under the act of March 3, 1979. Weekly Dakotian established June 6, 1861. Yankton Daily Press and Dakotian established April 26, 1875. Postmaster: Send address changes to Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, 319 Wal- nut, Yankton, SD 57078. *** *** *** *** MEMBERSHIPS The Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan is a member of the Associ- ated Press, the Inland Daily Press Associa- tion and the South Dakota Newspaper Association. The Asso- ciated Press is entitled exclusively to use of all the local news printed in this newspaper. 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When I hear such ominous words at this time of year, they can only refer to the so-called “War on Christmas” that people like Bill O’Reilly try to prosecute each December. It’s an effort to tap into the re- actionary power that comes with feelings of victimization, compelling some of us to lash out at enemies that really aren’t there. If you look around now and notice all the festive Christmas decorations, the shoppers, the holiday music and the entire, infectious Yuletide spirit that reigns, and believe that all this is somehow being threatened — well, let’s just say you’re drawing a very interesting con- clusion. But if it’s a war, the assault on the holi- day that launched it all has been an abysmal failure on every possible count ... However, I wonder if O’Reilly is on to some- thing. Maybe there really is a war going on. Perhaps the true opponent of Christmas may be Christmas itself, or at least one of the two very different spirits of Christmas that we tend to wrap together in one big package. On one hand, there is the biblical “reason for the sea- son”: the birth of Christ and the promise of mankind’s sal- vation. There are debates over whether Jesus was actually born at this time of year or if instead the holiday celebrating His birth was conveniently placed at a time when other religions held festivals basically tied to the winter solstice. But the timing really doesn’t matter; it’s the arrival and the impact that count, and that is the im- petus for the day, the season and the spirit we dearly cherish as Christmas. But then there’s the other Christmas, the one with presents and merrymaking, with decorated trees and stockings hung with care. It’s an alternative-universe Christmas in which a jolly and magical soul named Santa Claus, not the serious and miraculous Jesus Christ (al- though he’s only a newborn in this scenario), is king. It’s a holiday where people spend and spend and spend, where copious amounts of goodies are consumed, and where nothing is worshiped more than great bargains, sugar cookies and a spectacle of lights on dark, wintry nights. If you dropped in from another planet to study all this, you’d probably conclude that there are two completely different holidays battling each other right now for cul- tural supremacy. Well, perhaps you wouldn’t reach that conclusion at all, having decided that the “Santa Claus Christmas” is pummeling the “Jesus Christ Christmas” in terms of popularity. If this were a war, Santa could name his terms right now. These two Christmases try to coexist, but it’s an awk- ward fit. How much peace and goodwill do you see at a Black Friday sale? How often do you see kids crawling up on the lap of Jesus at the mall to reveal to Him the details of their holiday wish lists? How many times does Santa pop up in a Nativity scene? Consequently, whose image is far more visible and marketable in stores, on television, in ads and on seasonal decorations that come with this holiday? Here’s a hint: He’s fat, has a white beard and his disciples include industri- ous elves and flying reindeer. There is very little overlap between these two Christmases, even though they occupy the same space at the same time. However, there have been scattered exceptions. For in- stance, in the classic television special “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” it’s Linus’s recita- tion from the Gospel of Luke describing Christ’s birth that brings poignant perspective to an over-commercialized Christmas. Another work, Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christ- mas,” also takes on noisy holiday commercial- ism, but offers a vague hint that Christmas is really about “a little bit more” than horns and feasts. And the jingly holiday tune “Here Comes Santa Claus” includes the lyric, “... let’s give thanks to the lord above that Santa Claus comes tonight.” A religious tie-in or a throwaway exclamation? So, Christmas, more than any other holiday, seems hopelessly at odds with itself. And if you see the image of Santa Claus as somehow trying to co-opt the true mean- ing of this holiday, you should be ready to take up arms. It’s tantamount to war ... But here’s the funny thing: Few of us seem to mind the holiday’s split personality. Christmas has so many tradi- tions, secular and non-secular, that are borrowed from dif- ferent cultures and time periods, it’s no wonder they don’t all fit together in a neat, cogent narrative. And yet, it all somehow works, at least in our hearts. We embrace it nostalgically and enthusiastically. We don’t wage war over it, but feel joy and peace because of it. This is due in no small part to the few commonalities they do share: An ex- traordinary spirit of giving and the appreciation of family and good tidings. Christmas really is a mighty fortress of a holiday, in spite of itself. If it can endure the myriad contradictions, legends, traditions and commercial temptations we have thrown into the stew of this season, it can certainly sur- vive someone saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “Merry Christmas.” And it can even withstand the designs of those who would try to turn us against each other over such differences. Christmas is stronger than that, and as a happy consequence, so are we. You can follow Kelly Hertz on Twitter at twitter.com/kelly_hertz ONLINE OPINION The results of the most recent Internet poll on the Press & Dakotanʼs Web site are as follows: LATEST RESULTS: Do you think Hillary Clinton will run for president in 2016? Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48% No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45% Not sure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7% TOTAL VOTES CAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .527 The Press & Dakotan Internet poll is not a scientific survey and reflects the opinions only of those who choose to participate. The results should not be construed as an accu- rate representation or scientific measurement of public opinion. ——— CURRENT QUESTION: If no compromise is found before the “fiscal cliff” deadline, which party de- serves the most blame? To vote in the Press & Dakotanʼs Internet poll, log on to our website at www.yankton.net. A Real Christmas War Kelly HERTZ BY MICHAEL REAGAN CagleCartoons.com All those union thugs who were rioting in Michigan Tues- day were angry about the wrong thing. They were demonstrating — which in union-speak means breaking things and punching people — against Michigan’s decision to become a right-to-work state. If you believe the union spin, or the main- stream liberal media’s spin, or the Obama spin, which all come from the same propaganda fac- tory, that means Michigan no longer cares about workers, the right to organize, living wages, etc., etc. But what Michigan’s new law really means is that the voters and a majority of the politicians in the state have miraculously decided that a citizen’s freedom of choice should extend to the freedom to be able to choose not to join a union. What a concept. It’s a great step forward for a troubled state that has seen its signature industry crippled to the point of near extinction by unions that had too much power over the lives of workers, American carmakers, politicians and the economy. If those union thugs and their allies in the Democrat Party really had a clue, they would have been demonstrat- ing — peacefully, if that’s possible — against what has hap- pened to the once-great, but now pathetic, city of Detroit. The statistics are staggering. Detroit — a union town if America ever made one — is a socialist hell on wheels. Its city government is broke and nearly $50 million in the red, in part because it pays $1.08 in benefits to municipal workers and retirees for every $1 it pays in salaries. Its population has fallen from 1.8 million in 1950 to about 700,000 as of 2011, and too many of the Detroiters who are left don’t pay taxes, don’t form traditional two-parent fami- lies, don’t have jobs and aren’t interested in having one. Of the roughly 224,000 residents who actually have a job, only 190,000 work in the private sector. A third of the populace is on food stamps. Oh, and 99,000 of Detroit’s 363,000 housing units are vacant. Welcome to Obamaville — and the future Obama Amer- ica. If Michigan’s union thugs want to demonstrate about something beyond their own economic interests as seen through the lens of union fundraising, they might try raising a fist to the sorry state of education in Detroit. Among students in city schools recently exiting eighth grade, only 7 percent are “proficient” in reading and only 4 percent are “proficient” in math. Maybe the unions are happy with those shameful num- bers, because they will be guaranteed a steady supply of un- educated kids who are only qualified to join a union. But what were all those parents doing, sup- porting the union thugs and excusing thousands of schoolteachers who took the day off in solidar- ity? Those parents, if they had a common-sense proficiency in double digits, would be protesting the lousy education their kids are getting. It’s interesting to see the left go wild in the streets to protest Michigan’s giant step for greater worker freedom. It seems the left only wants you to have free- dom of choice when you’re pregnant. After you give birth to the child, it’s those on the left — not the right — that want to deny your freedom to choose, whether it’s a school for your kid, the size of your soft drink, or to be in a union. Michigan is going the right way — the oppo- site of the Obama Way that has doubled Amer- ica’s homeless population to 636,000 and jacked up our food stamp population to 47 million. Detroit has been destroyed by its own bad governments and the kind of federal policies Obama wants to expand. It may be beyond saving, except for growing crops where neighborhoods once were. But Michigan has taken a dramatic step toward resur- recting its industrial economy. It’s no longer a union-made state. It’s a state where freedom of choice extends to people who will no longer be forced to join a union or pay dues to a bunch of thugs who’ll spend it to elect more presidents like the one we’re stuck with now. Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan, a political consultant, and the author of “The New Reagan Revolution” (St. Martin’s Press). He is the founder and chairman of The Reagan Group and president of The Rea- gan Legacy Foundation. Visit his websites at www.reagan.com and www.michaelereagan.com. Send com- ments to [email protected]. Follow @reaganworld on Twitter. Misdirected Anger In Michigan Michael REAGAN YOUR LETTERS Successful Open House Yankton County Historical Society, Mead Building Project Committee and the Dakota Territorial Museum Staff We would like to extend a very sincere thank you to Linda Stephenson for hosting an Open House on Sunday, Dec. 2. It was very generous of her to open her beautiful home to help raise more than $3,500 cash and window restoration donations for the Dakota Territorial Museum Mead Building Project. The turnout was great and everyone had a great time. Sailing On It’s like deja vu all over again. THUMBS DOWN to the surprising news Thursday afternoon that University of South Dakota athletic director David Sayler was leaving for the same job at Miami University (Ohio). It was never viewed that Sayler was a long-term fixture at USD, and yes, he accomplished quite a bit in his time, but he leaves after two years on the job. USD is within $10 mil- lion of reaching its goal for a new volleyball/basketball arena project, and the university cannot really afford to lose ground on the fund-raising trail. Great Donation THUMBS UP to the Avon elementary students who do- nated $729 to the Khor Wakow school in Sudan. The stu- dents raised the money through penny wars. They received a special thank you during a visit from David Jal of Sioux Falls, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan who is using the money to build a school in his African home- land. Jal and Laura Jacobs, wife of Avon native Ben Ja- cobs, co-authored the book “David’s Journey” about Jal’s life, with the proceeds going toward the Khor Wakow school. Last week’s visit provided a chance for cross-cultural understanding as well as the opportunity for the Avon students to learn firsthand about the Sudanese children who benefit from the project. Sounds Of Summer THUMBS UP to the Yankton Area Summer Band, which will again offers its annual Christmas concert at the YHS/Summit Activities Center theatre at 4 p.m. Sunday. You all know about the band’s unique volunteer con- cept, and if you’ve ever attended its weekly summer concerts at Riverside Park, you know how well these volunteer musicians can pull together — which speaks highly of the musicianship involved and the direction they are receiving. The band’s Christmas concert is always (at least when weather permits) a nice addition to Yankton’s festive holiday music sea- son, and this year, under the direction of Bon Homme band leader Kevin McLouth, it should be no different. If you get a chance, take in this free concert, which should serve up enough good sounds to tide you over until the band takes to Riverside Park again in six months. Big Time Rush And while still discussing music, THUMBS UP to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is finally set induct the Canadian supergroup Rush into its ranks. The 2013 in- ductees were announced this week, and Rush made the list along with the likes of Heart, Public Enemy, bluesman Albert King, singer/songwriter Randy Newman and disco diva Donna Summer. But Rush holds a special place in the hearts of many rock fans, especially in the Midwest, where the band has enjoyed some of its most intense American success. The Canadian trio has been at it for almost 40 years and has produced some defining rock anthems. The band’s previous lack of acceptance into the hall was a conspicuous snub, but it is has at long last been corrected.
Transcript of OPINION | WE SAY P N F A F W E A S C A N D A Real...
Friday, 12.14.12ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net
VIEWS PAGE: [email protected] PRESS DAKOTANviews
Have you never read, “Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babiesYou have prepared praise”? Matthew 21:16. Portals of Prayer, ConcordiaPublishing House, St. Louis
THE PRESS DAKOTANTHE DAKOTAS’ OLDEST NEWSPAPER | FOUNDED 1861
Yankton Media, Inc., 319 Walnut St., Yankton, SD 57078
OPINION | WE SAY
F RO M T H E B I B L E
By The Associated PressToday is Friday, Dec. 14, the 349th day
of 2012. There are 17 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On Dec.
14, 1962, the U.S. space probe Mariner 2passed Venus at a distance of just over21,000 miles, transmitting informationabout the planet, such as its hot surfacetemperatures and predominantly carbondioxide atmosphere.
On this date: In 1799, the first presi-dent of the United States, George Wash-ington, died at his Mount Vernon, Va.,home at age 67.
In 1819, Alabama joined the Union asthe 22nd state.
In 1861, Prince Albert, husband ofQueen Victoria, died at Windsor Castle atage 42.
In 1911, Norwegian explorer RoaldAmundsen and his team became the firstmen to reach the South Pole, beating outa British expedition led by Robert F. Scott.
In 1918, “Il Trittico,” a trio of one-act op-eras by Giacomo Puccini, premiered atNew York’s Metropolitan Opera House.(The third opera, “Gianni Schicchi,” fea-tured the aria “O Mio Babbino Caro,” whichwas an immediate hit.)
In 1936, the comedy “You Can’t Take ItWith You” by George S. Kaufman and MossHart opened on Broadway.
In 1946, the United Nations GeneralAssembly voted to establish U.N. head-quarters in New York.
In 1961, a school bus was hit by a pas-senger train at a crossing near Greeley,Colo., killing 20 students.
In 1972, Apollo 17 astronauts HarrisonSchmitt and Eugene Cernan concludedtheir third and final moonwalk and blastedoff for their rendezvous with the commandmodule.
In 1975, six South Moluccan extremistssurrendered after holding 23 hostages for12 days on a train near the Dutch town ofBeilen.
In 1981, Israel annexed the GolanHeights, which it had seized from Syria in1967.
In 1986, the experimental aircraft Voy-ager, piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yea-ger, took off from Edwards Air Force Basein California on the first non-stop, non-re-
fueled flight around the world. Ten years ago: The Associated Press
reported that FBI Director Robert Muellersaid in an interview that nearly 100 terroristattacks had been thwarted since 9/11. Jor-danian police announced the arrest of twoalleged al-Qaida members in the Octoberkilling of American diplomat LaurenceFoley. (The two men were executed in2006.)
Five years ago: A man accused ofbeing the Phoenix Baseline Killer was sen-tenced to 438 years in prison for the sexualassaults of two sisters. (Mark Goudeauwas tried in 2011 for the slayings of eightwomen and a man in 2005-2006; he wasconvicted and sentenced to death.)
One year ago: President BarackObama, visiting Fort Bragg in North Car-olina, saluted troops returning from Iraq,asserting that the nearly nine-year conflictwas ending honorably. The House voted283-136 to approve a massive $662 billiondefense bill (the Senate followed suit thenext day). The NFL renewed its televisiondeals with CBS, Fox and NBC for nineyears through the 2022 season.
Today’s Birthdays: Jazz musicianClark Terry is 92. Singer-actress AbbeLane is 81. Actor Hal Williams is 74. Ac-tress-singer Jane Birkin is 66. ActressPatty Duke is 66. Pop singer Joyce Vin-cent-Wilson (Tony Orlando and Dawn) is66. Entertainment executive Michael Ovitzis 66. Actress Dee Wallace is 64. Rhythm-and-blues singer Ronnie McNeir (The FourTops) is 63. Rock musician Cliff Williams(AC/DC) is 63. Actor-comedian T.K. Carteris 56. Rock singer-musician Mike Scott(The Waterboys) is 54. Singer-musicianPeter “Spider” Stacy (The Pogues) is 54.Actress Cynthia Gibb is 49. ActressNatascha McElhone is 43. Actress-come-dian Michaela Watkins is 41. Rhythm-and-blues singer Brian Dalyrimple (Soul ForReal) is 37. Actress KaDee Strickland is37. Actress Tammy Blanchard is 36. Ac-tress Sophie Monk is 33. Actress VanessaHudgens is 24.
Thought for Today: “You can closeyour eyes to reality but not to memories.”— Stanislaw J. Lec, Polish author (1909-1966).
TO DAY I N H I S TO RY
MANAGERS Gary L. Wood
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Kathy LarsonComposing Manager
Bernard MetivierDistrict Manager
Published Daily Monday-Saturday
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BY KELLY [email protected]
If it’s war you want, then war you shall have.When I hear such ominous words at this time of year,
they can only refer to the so-called “War on Christmas”that people like Bill O’Reilly try to prosecuteeach December. It’s an effort to tap into the re-actionary power that comes with feelings ofvictimization, compelling some of us to lashout at enemies that really aren’t there.
If you look around now and notice all thefestive Christmas decorations, the shoppers,the holiday music and the entire, infectiousYuletide spirit that reigns, and believe that allthis is somehow being threatened — well, let’sjust say you’re drawing a very interesting con-clusion. But if it’s a war, the assault on the holi-day that launched it all has been an abysmalfailure on every possible count ...
However, I wonder if O’Reilly is on to some-thing. Maybe there really is a war going on.
Perhaps the true opponent of Christmasmay be Christmas itself, or at least one of thetwo very different spirits of Christmas that wetend to wrap together in one big package.
On one hand, there is the biblical “reason for the sea-son”: the birth of Christ and the promise of mankind’s sal-vation. There are debates over whether Jesus wasactually born at this time of year or if instead the holidaycelebrating His birth was conveniently placed at a timewhen other religions held festivals basically tied to thewinter solstice. But the timing really doesn’t matter; it’sthe arrival and the impact that count, and that is the im-petus for the day, the season and the spirit we dearlycherish as Christmas.
But then there’s the other Christmas, the one withpresents and merrymaking, with decorated trees andstockings hung with care. It’s an alternative-universeChristmas in which a jolly and magical soul named SantaClaus, not the serious and miraculous Jesus Christ (al-though he’s only a newborn in this scenario), is king. It’s aholiday where people spend and spend and spend, wherecopious amounts of goodies are consumed, and wherenothing is worshiped more than great bargains, sugarcookies and a spectacle of lights on dark, wintry nights.
If you dropped in from another planet to study all this,you’d probably conclude that there are two completelydifferent holidays battling each other right now for cul-tural supremacy. Well, perhaps you wouldn’t reach thatconclusion at all, having decided that the “Santa ClausChristmas” is pummeling the “Jesus Christ Christmas” interms of popularity. If this were a war, Santa could namehis terms right now.
These two Christmases try to coexist, but it’s an awk-
ward fit. How much peace and goodwill do you see at aBlack Friday sale? How often do you see kids crawling upon the lap of Jesus at the mall to reveal to Him the detailsof their holiday wish lists? How many times does Santapop up in a Nativity scene? Consequently, whose image isfar more visible and marketable in stores, on television, in
ads and on seasonal decorations that comewith this holiday? Here’s a hint: He’s fat, has awhite beard and his disciples include industri-ous elves and flying reindeer.
There is very little overlap between thesetwo Christmases, even though they occupythe same space at the same time. However,there have been scattered exceptions. For in-stance, in the classic television special “ACharlie Brown Christmas,” it’s Linus’s recita-tion from the Gospel of Luke describingChrist’s birth that brings poignant perspectiveto an over-commercialized Christmas. Anotherwork, Dr. Seuss’s “How the Grinch Stole Christ-mas,” also takes on noisy holiday commercial-ism, but offers a vague hint that Christmas isreally about “a little bit more” than horns andfeasts. And the jingly holiday tune “HereComes Santa Claus” includes the lyric, “... let’s
give thanks to the lord above that Santa Claus comestonight.” A religious tie-in or a throwaway exclamation?
So, Christmas, more than any other holiday, seemshopelessly at odds with itself. And if you see the image ofSanta Claus as somehow trying to co-opt the true mean-ing of this holiday, you should be ready to take up arms.It’s tantamount to war ...
But here’s the funny thing: Few of us seem to mind theholiday’s split personality. Christmas has so many tradi-tions, secular and non-secular, that are borrowed from dif-ferent cultures and time periods, it’s no wonder theydon’t all fit together in a neat, cogent narrative. And yet, itall somehow works, at least in our hearts. We embrace itnostalgically and enthusiastically. We don’t wage war overit, but feel joy and peace because of it. This is due in nosmall part to the few commonalities they do share: An ex-traordinary spirit of giving and the appreciation of familyand good tidings.
Christmas really is a mighty fortress of a holiday, inspite of itself. If it can endure the myriad contradictions,legends, traditions and commercial temptations we havethrown into the stew of this season, it can certainly sur-vive someone saying “Happy Holidays” instead of “MerryChristmas.” And it can even withstand the designs ofthose who would try to turn us against each other oversuch differences. Christmas is stronger than that, and as ahappy consequence, so are we.
You can follow Kelly Hertz on Twitter attwitter.com/kelly_hertz
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as follows:LATEST RESULTS:
Do you think Hillary Clinton will run for president in 2016?Yes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48%No . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45%Not sure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7%TOTAL VOTES CAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .527
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———CURRENT QUESTION:
If no compromise is found before the “fiscal cliff” deadline, which party de-serves the most blame?
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A Real Christmas War
Kelly
HERTZ
BY MICHAEL REAGANCagleCartoons.com
All those union thugs who were rioting in Michigan Tues-day were angry about the wrong thing.
They were demonstrating — which in union-speakmeans breaking things and punching people — againstMichigan’s decision to become a right-to-workstate.
If you believe the union spin, or the main-stream liberal media’s spin, or the Obama spin,which all come from the same propaganda fac-tory, that means Michigan no longer caresabout workers, the right to organize, livingwages, etc., etc.
But what Michigan’s new law really means isthat the voters and a majority of the politiciansin the state have miraculously decided that acitizen’s freedom of choice should extend tothe freedom to be able to choose not to join aunion.
What a concept.It’s a great step forward for a troubled state
that has seen its signature industry crippled tothe point of near extinction by unions that hadtoo much power over the lives of workers,American carmakers, politicians and the economy.
If those union thugs and their allies in the DemocratParty really had a clue, they would have been demonstrat-ing — peacefully, if that’s possible — against what has hap-pened to the once-great, but now pathetic, city of Detroit.
The statistics are staggering. Detroit — a union town ifAmerica ever made one — is a socialist hell on wheels.
Its city government is broke and nearly $50 million in thered, in part because it pays $1.08 in benefits to municipalworkers and retirees for every $1 it pays in salaries.
Its population has fallen from 1.8 million in 1950 to about700,000 as of 2011, and too many of the Detroiters who areleft don’t pay taxes, don’t form traditional two-parent fami-lies, don’t have jobs and aren’t interested in having one.
Of the roughly 224,000 residents who actually have ajob, only 190,000 work in the private sector. A third of thepopulace is on food stamps. Oh, and 99,000 of Detroit’s363,000 housing units are vacant.
Welcome to Obamaville — and the future Obama Amer-ica.
If Michigan’s union thugs want to demonstrate aboutsomething beyond their own economic interests as seen
through the lens of union fundraising, they might try raisinga fist to the sorry state of education in Detroit.
Among students in city schools recently exiting eighthgrade, only 7 percent are “proficient” in reading and only 4percent are “proficient” in math.
Maybe the unions are happy with those shameful num-bers, because they will be guaranteed a steady supply of un-
educated kids who are only qualified to join aunion.
But what were all those parents doing, sup-porting the union thugs and excusing thousandsof schoolteachers who took the day off in solidar-ity? Those parents, if they had a common-senseproficiency in double digits, would be protestingthe lousy education their kids are getting.
It’s interesting to see the left go wild in thestreets to protest Michigan’s giant step forgreater worker freedom.
It seems the left only wants you to have free-dom of choice when you’re pregnant. After yougive birth to the child, it’s those on the left — notthe right — that want to deny your freedom tochoose, whether it’s a school for your kid, thesize of your soft drink, or to be in a union.
Michigan is going the right way — the oppo-site of the Obama Way that has doubled Amer-
ica’s homeless population to 636,000 and jacked up ourfood stamp population to 47 million.
Detroit has been destroyed by its own bad governmentsand the kind of federal policies Obama wants to expand. Itmay be beyond saving, except for growing crops whereneighborhoods once were.
But Michigan has taken a dramatic step toward resur-recting its industrial economy. It’s no longer a union-madestate.
It’s a state where freedom of choice extends to peoplewho will no longer be forced to join a union or pay dues to abunch of thugs who’ll spend it to elect more presidents likethe one we’re stuck with now.
Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan, apolitical consultant, and the author of “The New ReaganRevolution” (St. Martin’s Press). He is the founder andchairman of The Reagan Group and president of The Rea-gan Legacy Foundation. Visit his websites atwww.reagan.com and www.michaelereagan.com. Send com-ments to [email protected]. Follow @reaganworldon Twitter.
Misdirected Anger In Michigan
Michael
REAGAN
YO U R L E T T E R S
Successful Open HouseYankton County Historical Society, Mead Building ProjectCommittee and the Dakota Territorial Museum Staff
We would like to extend a very sincere thank youto Linda Stephenson for hosting an Open House on
Sunday, Dec. 2. It was very generous of her to openher beautiful home to help raise more than $3,500cash and window restoration donations for theDakota Territorial Museum Mead Building Project.The turnout was great and everyone had a great time.
Sailing OnIt’s like deja vu all over again. THUMBS DOWN to thesurprising news Thursday afternoon that University ofSouth Dakota athletic director David Sayler was leavingfor the same job at Miami University (Ohio). It was neverviewed that Sayler was a long-term fixture at USD, andyes, he accomplished quite a bit in his time, but heleaves after two years on the job. USD is within $10 mil-lion of reaching its goal for a new volleyball/basketball
arena project, and the university cannot really afford to lose ground on thefund-raising trail.
Great DonationTHUMBS UP to the Avon elementary students who do-nated $729 to the Khor Wakow school in Sudan. The stu-dents raised the money through penny wars. Theyreceived a special thank you during a visit from DavidJal of Sioux Falls, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan who isusing the money to build a school in his African home-land. Jal and Laura Jacobs, wife of Avon native Ben Ja-
cobs, co-authored the book “David’s Journey” about Jal’s life, with theproceeds going toward the Khor Wakow school. Last week’s visit provideda chance for cross-cultural understanding as well as the opportunity forthe Avon students to learn firsthand about the Sudanese children whobenefit from the project.
Sounds Of SummerTHUMBS UP to the Yankton Area Summer Band, whichwill again offers its annual Christmas concert at theYHS/Summit Activities Center theatre at 4 p.m. Sunday.You all know about the band’s unique volunteer con-cept, and if you’ve ever attended its weekly summerconcerts at Riverside Park, you know how well thesevolunteer musicians can pull together — which speakshighly of the musicianship involved and the direction
they are receiving. The band’s Christmas concert is always (at least whenweather permits) a nice addition to Yankton’s festive holiday music sea-son, and this year, under the direction of Bon Homme band leader KevinMcLouth, it should be no different. If you get a chance, take in this freeconcert, which should serve up enough good sounds to tide you over untilthe band takes to Riverside Park again in six months.
Big Time RushAnd while still discussing music, THUMBS UP to theRock and Roll Hall of Fame, which is finally set induct theCanadian supergroup Rush into its ranks. The 2013 in-ductees were announced this week, and Rush made thelist along with the likes of Heart, Public Enemy, bluesmanAlbert King, singer/songwriter Randy Newman and discodiva Donna Summer. But Rush holds a special place inthe hearts of many rock fans, especially in the Midwest,
where the band has enjoyed some of its most intense American success.The Canadian trio has been at it for almost 40 years and has producedsome defining rock anthems. The band’s previous lack of acceptance intothe hall was a conspicuous snub, but it is has at long last been corrected.
