First Things First

First off, let me wish everyone a Merry Christmas!  I couldn't wait to get my Christmas tree up.  I've had it up since November 15th.

This month's updates are highlighted by additions to every section of Vista Drive.  Don't miss the new poems added to the Composition section of American Bliss.  Also, coming December 21th there's a new issue of American Bliss Magazine.  Topping off the updates to American Bliss are new entries in Windmills.  If you missed it, the Winter Dreams Art Gallery opened in 17.  It's a small, but growing, collection of some of my favorite, and inspirational, pieces of art.  Enjoy the update.

Afterthoughts : Is there a Salesperson around?

Have you ever walked into a store, ready to buy something, and found that none of the salespeople get anywhere near you?  I've done it so many times.  The times I've gone to a store, money in pocket, ready to make a purchase, it seems that the salespeople think I'm a bum.  They don't get near me, nor do they even try to help me out.  Conversely, I've gone into some stores, without a penny in my pocket, and 10 salespeople will pounce on me from the second I enter the store.  I once went to one store that had a greeter at the door, and every salesperson in the store made sure that I was finding everything I wanted.  Course, I didn't want anything.

The time that stands out as a good example of this is the time I went to a local Saks 5th Ave. store.  One of my cousins wanted me to get her a really nice face cream, among other cosmetics, and the Saks was the only store in town that carried that line.  It was supposedly a really good line of cosmetics.  So off I went to the Saks in Beverly Hills, armed with my credit card, and a shopping list.  I headed straight to the cosmetic's counter, and tried to find the nearest saleswoman.  It seemed that the ones that were hanging around weren't jumping at the chance to help me.

Not finding one available I went about walking around the different counters, looking for the line my cousin wanted.  I was just about to give up, when I reminded myself that not getting them would mean another trip.  So, I walked up to one of the less busy saleswomen, and asked them to point me to the appropriate counter.  I made sure to show my shopping list.  That did it.  The woman walked me to a counter that I had passed when I walked into that department.  The lady there was the first one to see me walk into the cosmetic department, and didn't even acknowledge that I existed.  But, now that her fellow saleswoman told her, in her ear, that I had a nice big list of things I wanted to buy, she was totally focused on me.

I bought all the things my cousin wanted.  The total came out to over $200, and I only got about five things.  I was told that's a good deal for that price.  OK, whatever.  Still, it goes to show you that whenever I go into a store wanting to buy something that's a guarantee that no one will help me out.  Thanks for nothing.

Editorial : After the 2004 Election

Looking back at the election of 2004 I think that I will remember it for how horrible the results made me feel.  Throughout the campaign I became madder and madder at President Bush.  At the same time I became frustrated with John Kerry.  Frustrated because, I felt, he let so many opportunities to pound the President on his horrible record pass.  President Bush will go down as one of the laziest, most horrible, presidents ever.  He has pushed this country to the limit, in every way.  From spending more than we have, to taking on the world in a fight we can't win, to shredding the Constitution, and the ideals of democracy.

George Bush's re-election made me feel things I had never felt before.  I felt like 50% of the country betrayed me, and the ideals of this country.  More importantly, for the first time in my life, I hated this country.  I feel that the red states represent the old, the backwards thinking that allowed humans to be counted as 3/5ths of a person.  The backwards thinking that forced Prohibition.  The backwards thinking that today doesn't even recognize global warming as a real problem.  The backwards thinking that continues to believe in a book of lies, half-truths, and fairytales.

Part of me wants to fight on, because the fight is never really over.  The pendulum swings both ways, and often times the Progressives have to yield to the Conservative.  It's just the way things are.  There can be no light without dark, progress without repression.  The conservatives are the balance in the equation.  When they are in power rights are curbed, people are oppressed, and laws are manipulated to serve the greater good of the rich.

But then there is a part of me that can't fight on, because there are also times when one must pick one's battles.  This might be a battle that has no victory.  Evil, conservativism, fascism, oppression, all have one thing Progression does not... the will to see things to the end.  It is evil's great advantage that it is not bound by rules, or compassion, or by remorse.  Those are the things that keep good at bay.  Good has rules, and compassion, but it does not have staying power.  It can not be vigilant forever.  People want to be good, but it's hard for them to sustain, and curtail their darker nature.  Evil succeeds simply by existing.

This battle is not winnable.  And so the forces of evil, will prevail, because they exist in every one of us.  Their existence is a victory in and of itself.  If good is to ever win it will have to not exist altogether.  The absence of both good and evil might be the only way to assure that evil does not win.

And so I stop caring about what happens.  The George Bushes of this world will continue to usurp the embodiment of good, while carrying evil in their hearts.  That is a fight no one can win, least of all me.  So, I stop caring.  Part of me knows the pendulum will swing back, but I wonder if we will be a around when it does.

Read American Bliss

Etcetera : Merry Christmas

This year I made an effort not to go to the stores the day after Thanksgiving.  I made a point of not putting the materialistic aspects of the holiday ahead of the real meaning of this season.  It's a time to remember that we're all the same.  That hoping for peace is not being weak.  And that the latest video game, a sweater, or anything contained in a box could pass for the simple pleasure of loving someone, and having them love you back.  I'm glad I didn't fall into the pit of thinking that money equals love.  A bigger gift for those you love more isn't the what it's all about.  Christmas is about a man being born in a manger.  Whether you think that man is the messiah is up to you.  Everyone has their own belief system.  Nevertheless, many of his teachings are universal, and should be followed.  They are akin to how others hoped to better the world, Buddha, Mohammad, Jesus, they all searched for something better.  Whether you believe any of them found the right way is one thing.  But, one must remember that this time of year isn't about standing in line to buy the new Nintendo.  It's about the unity we all share, or should share.  We are blessed to be on this earth.  Every moment is a treasure that we often don't appreciate.  We should all take a moment to reflect on the year that has passed, and look forward to making the next year better.  Not just for ourselves, but for everyone.