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From the notebook
In this holiday season, can we put the lie to the myth about the supposed ban on saying “Merry Christmas”? In this time where everyone wants to be considered a victim, one of the silliest complaints is that folks must greet each other with religiously neutral “Happy Holidays.” None of the complainers ever indicate just who is stopping them from greeting everyone any way they wish. Is there some new law that was passed without my knowing about it? No. Worse, if you do greet some of these folks with “Happy Holiday,” they become offended.
Here’s the thing. We live in a diverse country. Not all my friends happen to be Christians, hence greeting them with “Merry Christmas” makes as much sense as your greeting a Jew or Muslim with “Merry Christmas.” Your religious freedom is not under assault if a department store hangs a “Happy Holiday” greeting in its store. That store is trying to be inclusive. Get over it. …
I know we are a divided country, but must we take our politics into choosing whether to admire the talents of performers? I loved Frank Sinatra’s singing when he was a Kennedy Democrat. I loved Frank Sinatra’s singing when he later became a Reagan Republican. Why am I mentioning this at this time? Curt Schilling. Schilling has some nutso views that make Attila the Hun look like a bleeding heart liberal. He also happened to be a great clutch pitcher — one of the best of all-time. At least one writer says that he will not vote for Schilling to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame because of a recent detestable tweet. That’s wrong. Whether or not Schilling deserves to get into Cooperstown should be based on his merits as a baseball player, not his politics. Mixing politics with art is what the Fascists and Communist countries did. …
As a result of Donald Trump’s tweet that flag burning should be punished by a one-year jail sentence or loss of citizenship, more flag burning has occurred. President-Elect Trump professes to admire the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. He should go back and listen to Scalia explain why flag burning should be and is protected by our constitution as freedom of speech — in this case — a form of speech. Yeah, I’ll add, as most of us do, we wouldn’t do it. We hate flag burning, but we love the First Amendment. …
According to some reports, Scientologists believe Tom Cruise is some kind of messiah. I like Cruise as an actor; he’s made some great films. But I for one would have trouble praying to Cruise. And I don’t think Handel had Cruise in mind when he wrote “The Messiah.” …
I don’t know about you, but I have a tough time with the notion that a candidate elected as populist is dining on a $200 plus dinner at Jean Georges in New York…
Why are fortune tellers popular? Isn’t the most upsetting thing in the world knowing your future? Does life really have a happy ending? On that score, apparently they have come up with a blood test that can tell you if you’ll be around in five years. Supposedly, there is a marker in your blood that is predictive of an early demise. You can’t alter the outcome, so do you really want to know? Oh, I’m going to be dead soon so I’ll stop buying a transpass?…
I don’t know about you, but I’m so confused about all these Star War films I can’t figure out whether the latest edition is a prequel or a sequel. And did we really have to know that Carrie Fisher had a secret affair with Harrison Ford during the filming of the original movie? So apparently Han wasn’t going solo?…
I’m all for President-Elect Trump saving American jobs. His announcement that he has struck a deal with Carrier to keep 1,000 jobs from going to Mexico is welcome news on the surface. However, don’t we have to know the specifics of the deal? Originally, Carrier was going to ship 2,000 jobs to Mexico, so the deal saves half the jobs, but at what cost? And as every capitalist knows, there is a cost. …
The latest edition of People Magazine has Dwayne Johnson on the cover as the Sexiest Man Alive. The magazine uses most of the rest of this month’s edition naming various men as the sexiest in specific categories. People loves the word “sexiest.” Let me clarify that People was the only magazine available in my doctor’s office (what — you expected The Economist?). I am not a subscriber. Oh, maybe I’m just miffed that I didn’t get named sexiest senior columnist. …
The new Trump Administration will face the same problem that every new administration faces. How to fulfill campaign promises without raising taxes. The essential conundrum for all politicians is that voters are neither conservative nor liberal. They want all the services they currently get and more, but don’t want to pay for it. …
With all the controversy and confusion over Philadelphia being a “Sanctuary” or as the mayor calls it, “Fourth Amendment” city, I think it would be helpful if Mayor Jim Kenney gave a speech clarifying what it means and doesn’t mean in this city. …
I’m against the recount. Sets a bad precedent. Especially when there is no evidence of wrongdoing. Accept the result. Get over it.
You can see Tom Cardella with Paul Jolovitz and an Eagles guest on Monday Night Kickoff at 6 PM. Video streaming on WBCB-TV.
