Young: We need a little Christmas

“For we need a little Christmas right this very minute, candles in the window, carols at the spinet…” I have been singing those words and humming that tune by Jerry Herman for the past few weeks.

It is not only because I love Christmas songs. It is also because it is so true.

Turn on the television, radio, computer or smartphone and an avalanche of negativity can bury you in an instant if you let it. Ethics, for the most part, are ignored.

Compassion, respect, humility and all those other characteristics that you find in people in a civil society, are missing. Instead, words like stupid, fool, idiot and other much worse names are tossed about nonchalantly, as though name-calling is now the norm.

You can blame the news media, single out a political party, point fingers at one of the 18 major world religions, accuse the non-educated or the overly educated, denounce a cultural group, or blame those who reside within a certain geography. And you will not be wrong.

We are all partially to blame for the undignified manner that has become customary behavior for so many. Even if the only part we played was standing by and allowing this to happen.

Haul out the holly

Put up the tree before my spirit falls again

Fill up the stocking

I may be rushing things but deck the halls again now

I am tired of being sickened, frustrated, sad and concerned for the future of my country and my world. I am tired of being disgusted by the way we treat one another.

For I’ve grown a little leaner, grown a little colder

Grown a little sadder, grown a little older

And I need a little angel sitting on my shoulder

Need a little Christmas now

The people we have chosen to lead will make or dissolve those laws which the citizenry will observe. In a very broad and simplistic description, the morals of this nation will be influenced greatly by those we have elected.

Many of you will say to yourself as you read this that you would never in a million years say or do the things those elected have said or done, or been accused thereof.

But enough of the citizenry who went to the polls on Election Day cast ballots in favor of those candidates to get them elected. There must be some level of support for the socio-political issues the elected said he or she would support or work to dissolve once sworn into office.

I love my country. I celebrate its history. I trust the Constitution of these United States of America. I pray we can learn to respect, trust, support, and love our fellow Americans again very soon.

For we need a little music, need a little laughter

Need a little singing ringing through the rafter

And we need a little snappy, happy ever after

We need a little Christmas now

Merry Christmas!