"I gave at the other kettle"

"Chelsea-by-the-Sea at Christmastime" was featured on last year's Christmas card, not to mention our first-ever blog post last December 12.*

"Merry Christmas," we challenged the blogosphere in our very first post -- "The tidings that dare not speak their name" -- just under a year ago on December 12, 2003, not only refusing to bow down before the false gods of political correctness but joyfully throwing down the gauntlet of contrariness that is our birthright.

"That sign represents a concession to the Freedom from Religion Foundation, which is very critical of the tree," writes Ann Althouse of a snippy little message allowed a place of honor at the Wisconsin State House this Christmas holiday season. "But the sign is extremely disrespectful to religious people and should be considered offensive not only by those who are religious but also by anyone who cares about treating other people with respect and about preserving a civil, pluralistic society."

Since then, p.c.ness has only gotten better/worse, to the point that some benighted public school systems are banning the singing of any Christmas songs that refer to the birth of Christ (Handel's "Messiah"? Forget it), and Ann Althouse's Madison, Wisconsin town fathers have been intimidated into allowing a pathetic anti-freedom-of-religion message (image above) from something called the Freedom from Religion Foundation to stand side by side with a magnificent State House Christmas tree that soars through two stories to the skylights. Fortunately, both physically and spiritually, the glorious tree towers over the scolding little FRF sign. As our sis says, "Cheerless, humorless, vitriolic writing seldom draws the crowds." John Kerry should have listened to her.

Then there's Target's obscenely short-sighted banning of Salvation Army folk outside their stores.  We don't even remember their rationalization -- something to do with not allowing any panhandlers that might upset their customers coming and going? -- but give us a break.  The Salvation Army is an American institution (I got the horse right here, The name is Paul Revere), and it warms our All-American heart to be able to stuff a few dollars into that kettle whenever we can.  Target's misfire has only served to raise the Army's profile and make us great unwashed open our pocketbooks the wider.  Our sis donates a few hours of her time every year ringing the bell outside the local Stop & Shop, and here's a bit of our i-mail exchange this afternoon just for fun:

She: Oh, it was wicked fun.  Lots of friendly donors,  The day was gorgeous.  I had layered on every piece of clothing I own, so was plenty warm.

We: Did they come to see you both going in and coming out?

She: Some did, yes, or said, very apologetically, "I gave at the other kettle."

Deborah of My Little Corner of the World delighted us with her thoughts about it all this morning:

This being a politically correct-free corner, I would like to be among the first, to wish you a very Merry Christmas and the very best of the season. If you are among the PC-minded, I will add this wish to my greeting: I wish that your heart, like that of the Grinch, grows at least two sizes and that you learn tolerance and how to enjoy the richness of all cultures and religions.

Finally, this felicitous phrase for the religion that dare not speak its name from our favorite big-time guy, Tony Snow: "The C word."

*The year before, just after Christmas 2002, we had set up the tripod across the street and -- using our funny old Olympus snail camera before we entered the Brave New World of digital Christmas 2003 -- taken a bunch of slide shots with the house all lit up.  The following November -- last year -- we scanned in the best image and went to work with Photoshop, where we discovered the cloning stamp can do wonders for missing lights.