WE’VE never said our thoughts for the Yuletide season so well, we believe, than in this editorial we did for last year, 2006. And so, allow us, indulge us, our reprinted reminiscence:

“ A hand extended in succor, a tear shed for the unfortunate, a prayer uttered for the lonely and helpless, a wish for peace and prosperity for others.

“These are the gestures that matter most on Christmas – and throughout the new year.

“It is never the glistening and gay buntings on a tree, the
expensively-wrapped gifts bought at a superstore or a high-end mall with the pricey tag, the gourmet, mouth-watering viands adorning the table or the crisp cash handed out in envelopes to relatives who, as so happens, are in the same league of decadence as the perfumed givers. No these are not what Jesus Christ taught the world to do to find peace and serenity within ourselves.

“As we have often said, it is the height of insensitivity for rich men to be exchanging blessings with their fellow rich amid a world of sufferings and poverty gifts, much more to be seen flaunting their doing so in full view of the public.

“A television program hosted by a popular showbiz tandem and shown on Christmas eve highlighting the ways the rich and famous celebrate their families’ yuletide is particularly assailing to the senses. There on the screen was this couple, but most particularly the female, blabbering away and gushing how they would hie off to some vacation resort abroad with their children during the holidays. The footage comes complete with still photo flashes of their holidaying in the snow and other landmarks. Another footage has the camera panning to the array of sparkling decorations of their houses starting from the door and around the dining table and still another shot shows a woman subject fluttering her heavy eyelashes while enumerating the many joys she savors at Christmas.

“Many of the society subjects apparently enjoyed the television feature and probably gloated at the thought of having friends and enemies alike watching with envy how they have – to be caustic about it – “arrived” in life.

“Have they? Have they indeed – when all they managed to parade onscreen is their adherence to mindless spending and pagan rituals? Cheap shot!

“Merry Christmas to everyone – despite the presence of ugly creatures in our midst! “