Today, as you probably know, is called Boxing Day in the British Commonwealth and it’s also the “Feast of Stephen” as in the Christmas carol, “Good King Wenceslas”. I don’t happen to believe any of the explanations given by Snopes.com for the name “Boxing Day”. My own explanation is that after Christmas the seasonal decoration changed from holly, ivy, and misteltoe to box (as suggested in Herrick’s poem). That’s my explanation; I’m sticking to it; you won’t talk me out of it.
Here’s what’s caught my eye this morning:
- If you missed Ben Stein’s commentary on CBS Sunday Morning last week, be sure and read it here. Here’s the part I liked the best:
Next confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don’t feel threatened. I don’t feel discriminated against. That’s what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, “Merry Christmas” to me. I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn’t bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it’s just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
I’ve been Christmas carolling too many times with Jewish friends to believe the hooey that Jews are somehow offended or threatened by Christmas.
- 2005 was certainly a great year for weird and wonderful animals. Check out Cryptomundo’s Top Cryptozoology stories of 2005. Although that word should be taken out and shot on the grounds of having too many O’s. Hat tip: Boing Boing.
- Lawrence Solum of Legal Theory Blog has posted another entry in his series on the legal theory lexicon. This time his topic is originalism.
- Did I mention that I received a copy of the Supreme Court Law Review for 2005 for Christmas? Some dear friends have made a tradition of giving a copy every year. I haven’t started reading it yet but I’m sure to get quite a few good ideas when I do.
- Oh, and I got a pair of these for Christmas, too. The most incredibly comfortable shoes I’ll ever own.
- And, while on the subject of Christmas presents, my best present this year was the transcript my dear wife made of my dad’s journal of his trip to Europe in the late 1930’s. Between his illegible handwriting, the journal written in pencil on browning paper, and the passage of time, this was a real labor of love. I’m sure to be posting segments from time to time.
- Well, apparently my niece will be attending Illinois Wesleyan next year.
- Porphyrogenitus has started posting again.
- Jack Grant of Random Fate’s father has passed on. Condolences, Jack.
That’s the lot.
I’m Jewish, and I feel exactly the same way that Ben Stein does. It’s simple: if there were no Christians, there would be no trees with ornaments and lights. Calling them holiday trees is another example of political correctness gone mad.
Nobody on the street I live on put up outdoor Christmas lights this year. I don’t know why, but I do know I miss them.
Thank you. He was the best man I will ever know, and I wish the world would ring with his name and deeds, even though those deeds were all directed towards taking care of his family.