Christmas greetings and some trimmings

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

That's my traditional celebratory greeting for this time of year.  I'm good with Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays, too.  But my favorite is to say "Merry Christmas" combined with an optimistic look ahead.

My greeting is all-inclusive and not religiously-discriminatory.  Those of other faiths and backgrounds are entitled to other greetings with roots in their own religions, but for the most part I am unaware of what they should be.  To my Jewish friends, I know to say "Happy Hanukkah!"  But I can never keep track of Ramadan, and since it lasts a full month it doesn't lend itself to a slice-in-time greeting.  And I am clueless about what to say to those who are Buddhist, Deist, Humanist, Hindu, Shinto, Wiccan, Sikh, Tao, Confucian, Jedi (yes, it's for real), Baha'i, Rastafari, Unitarian, or adherents to any of numerous other faiths or non-faiths.  (Atheists and agnostics, take note:  I'm trying to leave a place opening for you here.)

Iraq war ends -- remember history, let's not do something like that again

Government officials from the United States and Iraq have held ceremonies, the American military forces have departed Iraq, and the war that began with an American invasion early in 2003 has finally come to an end.

There are those who have claimed and will continue to claim that the war was a failed attempt by America at imperial conquest.  They are wrong.  It was a different failure.

Shameful ignorance -- FFA and "All-American Muslim"

The Florida Family Association has brought shame upon itself.  And so has the home improvement retailer Lowe's.  Both have accomplished this by their actions regarding the television show "All-American Muslim."

Here's what is going on:  The Learning Channel (TLC) has aired a few episodes of its new show "All-American Muslim" which is intended to profile the lives of five Muslim families living in Dearborn, Michigan.  The organization called Florida Family Association (FFA; you can see their web site at floridafamily.org) has published an article on its web site stating its unfavorable views on Islam and Muslims, and advocates that people contact those companies that have advertised on the TV show and demand that they cease that advertising.  A news article in this morning's Los Angeles Times indicates that Lowe's has stopped advertising on "All-American Muslim" because the show has become a "lightening rod"--according to a statement by a Lowe's representative--and possibly in response to communications it has received that seem to have been inspired by the FFA web site.

America 1789 -- radical progressives triumphant

The Constitution of the United States of America was adopted and enacted in 1789.  As a governing document it embraces concepts and ideals that were considered radical in the late 18th century, and remain liberal and progressive here and now in the 21st century.

(To my Republican and other "right-wing" friends and readers:  You might disagree with some of what you are about to read, but do not be alarmed by it because you know that, as always, I will be factual, thoughtful and gentle.)

Creation of the United States began in the mid-1760s with the emergence of radical ideas of self-determination.  These ideas originated with politically-liberal thinkers in the thirteen English colonies in North America.  The conclusion of the Seven Years' War set the stage for the development of these ideas.  That conflict has been called the French and Indian War in this country; in fact it was a global war pitting Great Britain and its colonial possessions and allies against France and its territories and allies.

Mr. Gingrich goes to Washington. . .to consult on history

Perhaps historians should deliver a big "thank you" to Newt Gingrich.

Mr. Gingrich--candidate for Republican nomination for President of the United States of America and Speaker of the House of Representatives during some politically-significant years of the 1990s--seems to have elevated the value of historians to the American business world far beyond anything that was previously imaginable.  He has done this by revealing that over a period of eight years he has earned $1.6 million from Freddie Mac--the Government Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) possessing a business charter to participate in the funding of residential home loans--in his capacity as "historian" and not as a lobbyist.

Mr. Gingrich holds a doctorate degree in history.  Being awarded a doctorate is a significant accomplishment, and without doubt Mr. G. worked hard to earn his degree.  He has taught college history courses.  He knows a lot about history, and he is not shy about sharing historical snippets with his audience.

Never before in the history of history have Americans thought so much about history!  I love it!