HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1984-12-19, Page 4Page 4—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1984
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Celebrate --every day
"I wish Christmas was over.
"Christmas is too much work."
"I'm not readciy for Christmas yet."
Too often, people lose their perspective when it comes to Christmas. They .get
caught up in the superficial nature of the holiday, and bogged down with the bla-
tant commercialism that comes with the festive season.
• The trouble with Christmas these days is that we're faced with too much of a
good thing - too much buying, too many parties, too much hustle and bustle. The
glitter and the festivities are fun and an important part of the celebration, but
after a point it all begins to turn sour.
I feel sorry for the people who have forgotten what Christmas is all about. They
are missing the most important, and most wonderful aspect of the celebration..
First and foremost Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a
time for us to renew our commitments to peace, love, caring, forgiving and joy.
We do this through our Christmas celebrations, by exchanging gifts, through song
and festivities.
However, the commercialism surrounding Christmas has distorted many peo-
ple's views of what the celebration is meant to represent.
And too, many others misinterpret the real meaning of the season. They sing
the carols, go to church c,i C.,, :Amos Eve and admire the nativity scene - but the
sentimentality ends there, for another year at least.
•
The true spirit of Christmas is not meant to be a one day celebration. The birth
of the Christ Child was not an event to be honoured one day and forgotten the
next.
While the religious aspects of the Holy birth may have faded through time, the
essence of the historical occasion is one that's not forgotten.
And Christmas, like a rose in winter, reminds us all of hope and beauty and the
truth that shone on the first Christmas centuries ago.
Today the true realization of Christmas comes in the understanding that it is
not only a celebration on December 25.
It is possible to extend the spirit of Christina's throughout the year. The love
and hope, goodwill and generousity that we feel at Christmas is important each
and every day of our lives.
So often, many of us say we wish that Christmas would lost all year. As f think
of Christmas, I realize what a better place this world would be if we all had that
spirit year round.
I hope that the special magic of Christmas stays with me for the next 12 mon-
ths, and with•you as well. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
QVA
e-Fke_e_
The meaning of (hristttiis
. By Helen Owen
Stores are filled with gifts and toys,
S "-.ta talks to girls and.boys.
Houses sparkle, trees are bright
And letters that the children, write
Are sent to Toyland so that elves
Can fill the stockings from their shelves.
The Christmas bells and winter nights,
• The carols, parties and delights
Reflect the warrrith, the season's glow
Alas it was not always so
For the child that was born in a cattle stall
And destined to be the Lo, d of all.
For him no toys, no home, no bed '
Ina hay -filled manger laid instead.
Only his parents standing by
To hear his.tiny infant cry. •
Hut soon the shepherds fowl(' their way
Told by the angels where he lay. .
Awed bythe truth to thein revealed
Humbly, at the crib they kneeled
They understood, these simple then;
The miracle that had happened then
The message that they took away
Is with tis now on Christmas Day!
'1'he ('hrist child lives - Ilis Faith survives
The generates - and our lives.
This is the message we must convey.
The Saviour was born on Christmas Day!
Behind The Scenes
Kqleidoscope
Every year at this time, local newspaper
reporters go throCgh this big performance
about what a hassle it is to cover upteen
million Christmas events, parties, school
concerts....
We always complain about it.
After a suitable period of playing the hard
nosed, cynical role there is a point when
many of us break down.
The first Christmas concert does it to me.
After that, I'm a complete softy for a
children's Christmas pageant. There's no
greater joy than seeing those intent little
faces as they work hard to remember all the
words to their Christmas songs; watch them
as they wiggle and jiggle about in their un-
comfortable elf costumes; to see their
smiles of accomplishment and waves of af-
fection to mom and dad in the audience; and
the wide eyed sparkle when Santa finally ar-
rives.
No two Christmas concerts are alike.
There's the delightful bedlem of dozens of
little ones at Christmas concerts like the one
that was held last week at the Tuckersmith
Day Nursery. There's the weeklong
festivities that make Christmas at Huron
Centennial School an unusual and unique
celebration.
There are wonderful plays with costumes
and scenery, songs and acting. And there
are simple, beautiful celebrations like the
'impressive choir presentation and readings
given at the Clinton and District Christian
School every year.
I always arrive at Christmas concerts
about half-an-hniir late i ticnally because
By Keith Rouiston
Fix it 1)atih1y-
Christmas is supposed to be a time when
we're filled with,.a feeling of peace. and con-
tentment. It is not a nice time of the year to
feel obsolete.
Yet every time I watch the ads on .TV for
the "in" things to give for Christmas this
year I get the feeling 1 was born a century
tot late. I hadn't.quite caught up to the point
where you had to be an expert mechanic to
run all the gadgets at Christmas and now 1
realize you've also -got to have a degree in
electronic engineering.
One thing that was nice about the Cabbage
Patch Doll craze was that you might have to
memorize the name of the little darling but
you at least didn't have to assemble her. But
this year, the experts say, robots are even
bigger than those funny looking dolls. Well
they won't be coming into my house.
First of all; I pale at the price tag) -,orne of
them at about $300 I hear). Secondly, I have
the feeling that I'm going to be replaced by
one of these things someday soon anyway
and I have no intention of opening the front
door to them. Even if we .are supposed to be
friendly at Christmas. There are enough
humans in my house that outsmart me
without having a ma°bine do it.
And finally, I know that I will get that
machine out of the package, turn on the
switch and it will run around the room twice
and keel over dead.
And one of my dear.children will utter the
frightening words: "Fix it daddy." There is
nothing sadder than- watching a child's
respect for his father dram slowly away as
he dissolves in tears after two hours of try-
ing to understand the mysteries of modern
By Shelley McPhee
I've had other events to cover as well, name-
ly Christmas—concerts).
It's always cold, windy and rainy on
Christmas concert nights. I can't find a
place to park.
I drag myself and my camera equipment
out of the car and into the warmth of a dim-
ly.lit auditorium.
Like magic, my spirits are lifted. I take
my photographs of the children and watch
the delight and joy in the faces of the au-
dience.
I linger in the darkened corners of the
hall, watching, listening and singing along.
Often a lump comes to my throat, and tears
to my eyes.
Quietly I depart. Back to the windy, dark
parking lot. But this time it doesn't seem
quite so cold or wet. I no longer feel inconve-
nienced for being dragged out of my warm
little house to take pictures at another
Christmas concert.
I take the scenic tour home, by houses
with lots of lights, 1 Townshend Street is the
best) and loudly sing Christmas carols to
myself.
At home I gaily chatter to my husband
about' this wonderful concert, about the
adorable kids and how next year I'm going
to take him with me.
The Christmas concert reminds all of us of
our own childhood, of simple pleasures and
stage struck excitement.
Christmas concerts remind me of the im-
mortal words -Fear not: for behold, I briyng
you good tidings of great joy, which shall
hp fn yell is horn this day
in the City of David, a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto
you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
That was the year I was a beautiful angel
in our Sunday School play.
Concerts also remind me of red gingham
and the chocolate gunk that was plastered
on my face when I played Aunt Jemima
another year.
Childish memories, sentimental stuff -
yes, my thoughts are those - but that's what
Christmas is all about.
xxx
- Christmas through a child's eyes - surely
there is no better way to celebrate the
festive season. Physical age really has
nothing to do with it, for Christmas is a time
when we can freely let our imaginations go
and express .our affection, joy and love
without disguise.
xxx
We found a special treasure when we were
` rummaging through old newspapers this
ygar, a lovely old, colour drawing that we
felt would be a perfect front page for the
1984 News -Record Christmas edition.
The picture of the angelic little girl
featured on this year's front page is taken
from our 1925 Christmas issue.
Isn't she wonderful?
xxx
All of us at the News -Record wish you,
your family and friends all the splendours of
the season - wonder and, tradition, celebra-
tion and sparkle- and best of all, fantasy and
childish fun.
toynlaking.
• I hove always been reduced to blubbering
at th task of assembling ( insert screw X in-
to flange Y but make sure not to block slot
careful, you could
/.) but at least if you well'
Z.)
away to yourself by putting the toys
together when the kids were in bed. But with
robots, and ren Al: control cars and cons-
puters and lord knows what other devilishly
clever invention of modern science, a
mechanical and electronic: imcompetent
like nit, doesn't stand a chance.
i mean it used to be safe to givt' a watch.
'You took it out of the package, you wound it,
you buckled it on their wrist that much
mechanics I could manage) and it ran for
years. Now you've got to push buttons and
change batteries and you can end up fling-
ing the little inonster against the wall.
It's not safe in the kitchen anymore either.
You used to get the wife some gadget that, if
it broke down i and they were good for at
least a few years in those days) you could at
least have a chance at understanding. Now
you've got two choices: throw it out or mor-
tgat;e the house and get somebody to fix it.
i think it's a plot by the electronic
geniuses of the world, they are making
themselves essential to our future by
designing gadgets that only somebody 'with
an iQ of 180 and a bent for electronics can
fix. We'll all end up with an electronics
technician in the house the way people once
had maids, just to keep the labour saving
devices working.
Oh well, it will mak* me look with special
favour on the 12 pairs of socks i'll get again
this year
Christmas reflection
Sugar and Spice
by Anne l\arejko
1111Crk(,t (;hriSiniaS
°Wouldn't it be fun to have the power of
Santa ('laws just for a day and give everyone
the gifts they really," truly wanted,
regardless of cost, instead of the junk they
get.'
What would you do if you had such a
power thrust upon you suddenly- Would you
Ileal' your favorite people with Hunk coats,
('adillacs, automatic dishwashers, new
$90,000, homes? if you did; of, course, the
magic power wouldn't last, and on
('hristnias Horning, all the fabulous
presents would vanish, just after they'd
been unwrapped. And you'd be as popular as
a socialist in the Senate.
Because, you see, those arent't the things
that people really, truly want. And the Santa
Claus magic would work only for really, tru-
ly gifts, not just the things people want for
the sake of vanity or prestige or comfort.
1 know some of the presents I'd' hand out.
To childless couples who wanted children
terribly, I'd give, on Christmas morning,
not one. but four of the fattest, prettiest,
pinkest, wettest babies you ,ever saw. Two
boys and two girls. And to even things out,
I'd throw in a large bottle of tranquillizers
and a pair of strait jackets.
To all children, I'd grant a set of parents
who would answer all questions patiently,
read stories every night at bedtime. go
sliding on the hill with them; not make them
eat anything they didn't like, hug and kiss
them when they_ were hurt, and whale the
tar out of them when they needed it.
On Christmas morning, I'd present to all
old people a three months reprieve from all
their aches, pains 'and ailments. I'd give
there a good appetite and a rare fine set of
new choppers to go with it. I'd give them
love and kisses in large measure from I ,
veritable host of grandchildren. And I'd
throw in a round-trip ticket to Miami, paid -
in -advance reservations at a posh hotel
there, and a sizeable cheque to let them play
the races, get married again, or do
whatever else they wanted to do.
To all clergymen, whatever the color of
their cloth, I'd give a special present
By Bill Smiley
They'd get a church packed to the doors
with people who sang lustily, listened atten-
tively, prayed "humbly, gave bounteously,
and continued to do these unusual thing's
throughout thefotlowing year.
All mothers 'of large families would get
something they really, truly wanted for
('hristnias. I'd give t.hern families who ap-
preciated all the work they did, praised
their cooking, told them once in a while that
they looked pretty, wiped their feet when
they came in, did the dishes frequently. and
paid attention to them on occasions other.
than Mother's Day. And I'd throw inthe ser-
vices of a cracking good housekeeper, and
pay her salary for a year.
On Christmas Eve; I'd give all merchants
a cash register stuffed with money, and, at
the same time, an irresistible urge to go out
and spend the bundle on retarded children,
or unwed mothers, or somebody.
What would I leave under the Christmas
tree for the farmer? You guessed it. I'd
grant thein a whole year of exactly the kind
of weather they wanted, regardless of the
Comfort or convenience of the rest of us. Of
course, I'd have to find them something else
to bellyache about, but they could probably
fall back on the', complaint that those
tremendous crops were taking a lot out of
the land:
All amateur golfers would be donated one
season in which they sliced not, nor did they
hook, but banged every one down the centre.
Al anglers would be given one year in which
they were as srnart as the fish. All weekly
editors would be given one week in which
there were no mistakes in the paper. All.
teachers would be given a free 10 days in a
sanatorium at Christmas.
All wives would be given one year's
absence from the boring, insensitive,
callous, inattentive cretins they are married
to. And all husbands would receive a similar
parole from the nagging, complaining,
spendthrift, over -bearing harridans they
married. Serve them both right.
There, I don't think I've left anybody out.
But if I have, just drop me a line at the South
Pole. I'm sort of left-handed, or southpole
Santa Claus.
Give us a chance
Dear Editor:
i ani a cast ' member of the Drama
production "No Sex Please We're British"
and 1 am concerned and annoyed with the
attitude of C'II.S.S. students and some
teachers towards the cast members of the
play.
All I hear around the school is that the
Drama Club isn't going to be any good
without our past actors and actresses like
Randy Lobb, i,aureen Craig, Anne i,avis,
John L. Lawson, Marcel I,a Porte and Karen
Cook, but give us a chance!
i know these people put on exceptional
productions and gave their 100 per cent in
every play they did, but who says we can't
do the same. ('.Ii.S.S. students have very
high expectations and want the old cast
members' back, but life goes on and times
change. Who says our east members now.
can't give their 100 per cent and pull off a
great prodtTction.
I don't see any other students in the school
with enough guts to get up on the stage and
perform. How can any school say they have
"school spirit" when they don't back up
their school?
Clinton has been put down for years and
I'm sick and tired of it. It's time to change
people's attitude, and one way of doing this
is through the Drama Club.
Mr. Steve Oliver, director of the Drama
Club has put a lot of effort and time into the
Drama Club in the past three years to
rebuild its reputation and I would hate to see
it crumble just because we don't have
community support.
Eleanor Hunter