Print this story | E-mail story | This story has 39 comments Add your own | iPod friendly
Christmas wish list starts early
Published Saturday, October 13, 2007
The first of October once meant the beginning of cooler weather and the start of the Halloween season.
The cooler weather arrived.
But something else arrived recently almost simultaneously with the Halloween décor — and almost all of it was colored red and green.
That’s right, October — normally awash in black and orange — now seems to mean the beginning Christmas season, too.
When did that change happen?
Apparently some retail marketing bean counter must have realized that Halloween didn’t bring in much business beyond the dollars of the sweet-toothed.
So it only made sense to start pushing the “Happy Holidays” sales season. Wait. Scratch that, the “Merry Christ-mas” season.
Let’s hope this year America ends the ridiculous efforts of some retailers to be politically correct by removing the “Christ” from Christmas by saying “holiday” instead.
Let’s all remember the reason for the season, even if the season begins earlier and earlier each year.
But yours truly is not one to be discouraged by the fact that Christmas seems to be just around the corner again.
In fact, let’s embrace the concept and begin thinking of items to add to our community’s wish list.
4 Let’s hope Santa gets the potholes and buckled pavement on Martin Luther King Jr. Street in Natchez fixed.
While resurfacing the entire street would be great, that may not be economically feasible.
But fixing the obstacle course of buckled asphalt is long overdue. The street is one our community’s most traveled arteries, but the bumpy ride seems more like a back road in Fallujah, Iraq, than Natchez.
4 Santa, please bring us a stocking filled with some togetherness. Too often minor differences divide our community. If we focused our energy on finding common ground, nothing could stop our area.
4 Wouldn’t it be nice if the St. Nick could work some sign magic? In addition to getting the City of Natchez back on track with its sign ordinance — which seems to a good law, but one that isn’t enforced — what the man in red could bring is a sign for the Natchez Convention Center?
It seems silly that the public — whose tax dollars fund the facility — have to drive by and wonder what’s going on inside. The convention center is a great facility, but it lacks two key features — a sign and adequate parking.
4 Santa normally doesn’t delve into politics, but maybe he’ll make an exception this year and at least lobby to get two issues to the forefront of the upcoming City of Natchez elections.
First, the city needs to get serious about recreation. If it went to a vote, the majority of the citizens would probably say that hiring a $100,000 consultant isn’t necessary. We just need to poll support for funding a recreation facility and make it a reality.
Second, the man with the jelly belly needs to help lobby support for the sometimes boring, but important infrastructure changes needed in Natchez-Adams County.
The work needs to start in downtown, but should expand outward from there.
From smooth streets and navigable sidewalks to aesthetic things like removing overheard wiring and beautifying the streetscapes, all are important steps necessary to send visitors home with a great first impression of our community.
Even if we just got one or two of these things accomplished, wouldn’t this Christmas season be a happy one?
It would almost be worth having to skip over the Halloween candy and put up with the three months of Christmas decorations.
Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3539 or kevin.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.
Comments
Posted by stateofnatchez (anonymous) on October 14, 2007 at 12:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All I want for Christmas is the two front teeth of the guy that stole our front end loader!!!
Posted by Omega (anonymous) on October 14, 2007 at 6:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Here is a comment (late but here so some will see it) to "it will take money to reduce crime". How many of you know that an alderman makes about $2000.00/year less than a starting patrolman? The alderman’s job is part time and every time the state says it's ok to give themselves a raise they vote for one. Most officers have had only about a 1-% pay raise in the past 10 years. The aldermen want to call the step pay system (every 5 years) a raise. It's not and never was. The step was put in place to allow offices with more training and experience to make more than officers of the same rank that have less training and experience. When other department heads get cheaper Ford cars why did the mayor get a $32,000.00 vehicle? The fire department helps keep insurance rates down here and if it were not for the police (past, present, and future) there would be no Natchez. Does anyone else in Natchez have a PART TIME JOB that pays $22,000.00/year?
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on October 14, 2007 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Omega, You have stated your opinion at the right place, Only you should have done it sooner and more often. This forum, it appears, is being read by someone who speaks louder than we do, and carries our voice to where it belongs. We may be the 'little people' but with help from the Natchez Democrat our voice gets louder each day on issues that we are fed up with. They hear us and will speak for us. Thank God we have them on our side to help defend us in this mockery of justice we have had to endure. This forum will continue to support us as long as they hear our side, so don't sit back without speaking up. They need your ideas as well as ours in order to help us. If we shout enough, somehow they will come up with the money to pay for the desperately needed protection that we now face in our beloved community. I, for one, would hate to know I have to leave the area because of the crime wave. It's time for our community leaders to realize our tax dollars are not to stuff their pockets. STATEOFNATCHEZ, I love your wish!!!!!
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on October 14, 2007 at 8:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You know, simply stated, WE as citizens of Natchez need to make our voices heard and the only way to do that with any impact is to do it in force. We need to use these means of communication and rally as many people as possible to attend the meetings and voice our concerns. Only problem is that we (collectively) would have be put on the agenda which may be the biggest problem. We talk amongst ourselves but do little to enforce these "wishes." I include myself in that because I am not an activist, I am a sideliner. But, the more we read and expound on the city fathers, I need to take a interested part in changing the things we dislike. We are all brothers and sisters in the eyes of our Creator, but we act like separate individuals afraid to show our true selves to one another! Let's band together and work for the changes, not only the ones mentioned above but others too. Kevin, make us a Wish List that we can add to your list and then we could present them all to the aldermen/supervisors and get them prioritized and included into future budgets!
Posted by JunkyardDawg (anonymous) on October 14, 2007 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I truly believe we should hurry up and give our policemen (and firemen) a salary increase before they all decide to run for aldermen! When we end up with no law enforcement officers and crime becomes "more" rampant in Natchez, and there's no one to fight the fires, because they all quit to find better paying jobs, it will be too late then to cry over spilt milk. Remember you can't place sour milk into the refridgerator and expect it to freshen up.
Posted by JunkyardDawg (anonymous) on October 14, 2007 at 9:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh and Kevin, Merry Christmas early.
Posted by kpage (anonymous) on October 14, 2007 at 11:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kevin, you write the most interesting articles. Thanks.
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on October 14, 2007 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, we need a sign at the Convention Center that announces the present and future events. I always wonder what is going on at the center when I see all those people (plus the 10 parking spaces full-lol), wondering what I'm missing.
Happy Halloween and Merry CHRISTmas, Kevin.
May the 11% who do not believe in Christ find their own Bluff to fish off of.
GO, JESUS...GO, JESUS...GO, JESUS!!!!!!
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One more item to add to the list - Please repaint the stripping on the streets. MLK is one of these, its a cluster coming down franklin St @ MLK, if you aren't from here, which alot of people aren't, you don't know what the heck to do. Please Santa, just touch up the roads a little.
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It sickens me that business are making their employees NOT say CHRISTmas. Only happy holidays. Last year, everytime somebody at Walmart said happy holidays (which I was suprised they even said ANYTHING, I usually have to MAKE them speak to me) I always said "And a big ole MERRY CHRISTmas to you too..." Some would say, "we aren't allowed to say that this year". I said, "I would be finding another job, I mean, come on... it's Walmart..."
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Guess I am the only one this sickens.... sigh..
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
nope your not the only one sicken by that and from what i heard on news not to long ago was WALMART was going back to the right way of celebrating!! they are going back to saying MERRY CHRISTMAS..
or did i hear the news wrong?? i thought for sure that's what they said...
gemmcul???? HELP!!! please! i need the knowledge that you oh so bare... I'll be waiting anxiously!!!
:)
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
lol... waiting too.... Said I was boycotting this year. if they did the happy holiday thang
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 2:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
who even shops in walmart??
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who doesn't?
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't get me wrong. I detest Walmart. And stay clear as much as possible.... But they have put so many small businesses out of business. So you don't really have much choice.... Unless you know something that I don't.
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He cometh, he ignoreth.
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
yea, i would say i hate wal mart too but i would be lying for some reason i'm in there everyday for something... i'm all about the home town stores but honestly running all over town for them home town stores just takes so much outta me.. haha, so i am always in either a wal mart or a dollar store... if there is one of them in a town then that's where you will find me...
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 2:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a dollar general queen..... I go in Walmart once every 2 or 3 months and get my deodarant etc... stuff they don't sell at DG. (not my kind anyway) I always stock up on everything when I go.... Hey buttercup. What's the difference in running all over town and running all over walmart?? especially when you forget something clear on the other side of the store.... lol Ok... you win... gas is too high.... lol
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Who likes the new Carrie Underwood song "So Small"? It is so true to me.... I love it....Okay... I know this article isn't about Carrie Underwood...
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
that song is good. but JESUS take the wheel and before he cheats i think will always be my favorite for carrie underwood!! haha! how about the snotty stuck faith hill showing her butt when carrie underwood won female of the year??? what you think about that?? haha..
yea, gas is too high and i won't go from side to side of walmart more then twice... that way when i go to my check ups and a doctor thinks he fixing bash me for not excerising i can gladly correct him!!! haha
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah... I noticed that... She really was JEALOUS!!! I was floored...They haven't really talked about it that much though... Wonder why...
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
haha on the exercise.... I get plenty of that though... Run Run Run.... For as long as I am able.... My butt hurts today though.... lol... Been walking around rubbing it... OOPS thats another didn't ask for ailment.... my bad..
Posted by rahnia (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Jesus isn't actually the reason for the season, and I hate it when people say that. Christmas was just one of the many tactics used when converting the pagans to Christianity...Jesus was not born in December (most scholars point to April), and Christmas is just a glorified winter solstice celebration. Actually, there is a fascinating book called "The Battle for Christmas" by Stephen Nissenbaum that tells a great social history of the holiday in our country. It is arguably more religious now than ever before...in fact, Massachusetts and the Puritans OUTLAWED Christmas for many years.
While I have no problem with celebrating the birth of Jesus, I think there needs to be some reason in the season as well. There are other religions and other holidays in this time, and I for one find it easier to find non-Christmas exclusive wrapping paper, cards, etc. as I have many non-Christian oriented friends. America is about the interests of the minority as well as the majority.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 5:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Last I understood was America was founded as a Christian nation, with a majority rule - better known as a republic. While I certainly have no problem with anyone celebrating other religions or holidays, and even though I know that Christmas took the place of the Roman Saturnilla (sp?) most of us want to celebrate the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ at the appointed times. After all, the celebration of Christmas in Dec. has been around for a long time. And yes the Puritans were VERY strict - ever read The Scarlet Letter? - so I don't think of them for guidance in my Christian walk. So if you don't want to call it CHRISTmas, call it whatever you want, but don't expect me to answer you.
Posted by NtzMom55 (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 7:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This nation was built with Christ at heart..."One Nation Under God". That is the fundamental foundation of these United States of America. So, CHRISTmas it shall be with the tradition being on December 25th. That is where it should remain. That's my story and I'm stickin to it.
Posted by c_8512 (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 7:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is important for Christians to commemorate the birth of our Savior, Jesus, however, the exact date of His birth is not vital to being a Christian. The ultimate holiday for Christians is Easter. This is the time that our Savior defeated death, and rose from the grave, thus paving our way to Heaven. I know that I cannot try to convince anyone to become a Christian in this forum; I am merely pointing out the fact that Easter is our most Holy celebration time. Sadly enough, pagan rituals throughout the ages, and commercialism more recently, have tried to diminish the true meaning of Jesus Christ.
This country was originally established to allow many different religious beliefs to coexist and to cooperate with each other without threat of persecution from the government or other religions. But these days, it seems that if someone tries to express their Christian beliefs in public, someone of another religion, or no religion at all, cries that they are being dicriminated against by Christians. Therefore, Christians have to be denied many outward expressions of their faith. But, let a group from another belief have a celebration, and if a Christian group wishes to decline to participate, then the Christian group is causing trouble.
I feel that if you want to celebrate and worship in your religion without me complaining, then you should be willing to do the same. I'll be praying for you all!!
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
i will note that about Massachusetts (never thought much about that state anyway) I don't see how CHRISTmas could be outlawed?? what if a family decides to celebrate CHRISTmas and the law is to find out about it then they get a ticket? go to jail? what? I FOR ONE WILL ALWAYS CELEBRATE CHRISTmas just as i will ALWAYS SAY 'ONE NATION UNDER GOD' call me what you will...
MERRY EARLY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE WHO STANDS IN THE NATION UNDER GOD!! MAY EVERYONE ONE HAVE THE BEST, MOST BLESSED CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY EVER!!
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 10:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
c_8512 I agree with you except - America was NOT founded to offer "many different religious beliefs to coexist and cooperate with each other". It was founded by the Puritians as a CHRISTIAN area. They did not even envision a nation at that time and were trying to escape persecution by the Church of England. Other religions were allowed to worship in America many many years after it became a nation. Unfortunately too many people have taken that phrase "freedom of religion" to mean that they can do anything they like under the guise of their religion. People can declare anything they want to be god and worship it however they wish. And now the Christians, who would like nothing better than tell everyone about Christ, find our hands tied because we are "denying" others their rights. Freedom of religion originally meant freedom from persecution for the Christian Puritians and Seperatists, not that anyone of any religion could come here and worship how they pleased. And I am sure someone will take this wrong and think I am all for persecuting anyone who is Not a Christian, but I believe you can worship however you want as long as you respect others rights to worship how they wish.
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on October 15, 2007 at 10:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
buttercup, that was back in the early 1600's, and a family which disobeyed was sent to the stocks or even to jail. This was common punishment for any - even minor - infraction of the rules of the Puritian churich elders. The stocks were a punishment where a person stood and was locked between two pieces of wood with holes cut out for their hands and feet. Other people often threw rocks and things at them. Watch the movie "A Knight's Tale" and you will get a better idea of what stocks looked like.
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 16, 2007 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow I missed alot by going home. LOL On a much more serious note, I truly have nothing for atheist. I gladly do not run into them often, and if I do I guess they aren't so vocal in being NON Christian. That saddens me... I realize that those must be the people that OWN AND RUN Walmart and other businesses that do not allow their employees to utter the words Merry CHRISTmas. So there must be more of them than I thought. To risk losing the almighty dollar by impressing that rule on their employees. SCARY
Posted by buttercup26 (anonymous) on October 16, 2007 at 9:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
see i try to respect people and their beliefs that's why i don't 'dip' into other religions i get my blood boiling enough with all the other issuses.. haha.. i have read a couple books and i have read the BIBLE and so far THE BIBLE is the only one that has made any since to me....
Posted by mwhittington (anonymous) on October 16, 2007 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
oh, I respect it. But it's just like peoples sexual orientation, I don't wanta hear or see it....
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on October 16, 2007 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This country was not founded as a christian nation. It was settled by people trying to escape religious persecution in Europe. There was no mandate to observe any religion here. There is no reference to religion in the US Constitution. (The Declaration of Independence is not a founding document--it merely declares independence from England.)
The fact of the matter is, a person of no religion is as American as any other American.
Why do people worry so over what other people believe? To me religion is a personal thing. Not something to be aired in public.
Posted by rahnia (anonymous) on October 16, 2007 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I wasn't trying to attack anyone's beliefs, and I find it funny that so many assumed I MUST NOT believe in God or be a Christian because I was saying those things. AMERICA as a nation, not the colonies, but our UNITED STATES was indeed founded on the concept of religious freedom, that anybody may practice any religion they want. I have no problem with Christmas, I myself celebrate Christmas. I have no problem with Wal-Mart employees saying 'Merry Christmas', I just think that we are supposed to be mindful of those different from us. A nation of inclusion, not a nation of exclusion.
We were founded on Judeo-Christian principles and morals, and I don't have the problem many do with "one nation under god" or "in god we trust"... but those things never said who's god, and weren't intended to. If you ask me, I'd say Jews, Christians and Muslims all worship the same God...but that's a different debate altogether.
I see no problem with saying "Happy Holidays" if you want and "Merry Christmas" if you want. But businesses are allowed to make whatever policies they want--if they don't want to be a Christian business, they don't need to say Merry Christmas.
Posted by rahnia (anonymous) on October 16, 2007 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
By the way, Christmas was outlawed because it was being celebrated in such a way that went against the Puritans' ideas of Christianity, such as the practice of wassailing.
Also, freedom42, a "republic" is a representative democracy, not a god-founded country based on majority rule. While it's true that democracies are based on majority rules, one must always be mindful of the "Tyranny of the majority..." hence our federalist system and laws to protect the interests of the individual. We are, in fact, an individualist nation as well.
Posted by roberth33 (anonymous) on October 16, 2007 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is significant question with regrd toward the "founded under judeo christian values". It is a nice sounding statement, but in fact we were founded under the values of enslavement and annihilation.
All over this land East/West/North/South we annihilated the Native American and enslaved Africans. Killing Native Americans gave us the territory and enslavement made us a wealthy nation. Those two don't fall under judeo-christian values.
Also, the Constitution protects the minority from the majority--hence the KKK can march down any Main Street, even though they are miniscule in voice--thankfully.
Maybe it was Thomas Paine who said, Though I despise everything you say, I will defend to my death your right to say it.
Posted by guy2co (anonymous) on October 16, 2007 at 6:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
omega and Destiny, please continue to speak up for the npd and nfd. they cannot do anything about their pay. People leave these departments left and right. They very seldom see a raise, if they do their insurance goes up usually even more. Our alderman and mayor need to wake up. Before you know it there will be no one left to do these jobs. Did you know that the npd has a step raise, but the nfd does not?I wish for a raise for all of our firemen and policemen for Christmas, and if not I'll settle for next years elections to come soon!!!!
Posted by rahnia (anonymous) on October 16, 2007 at 6:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It was Voltaire who said that, actually. And yes, it is the KKK's right to peacefully demonstrate if they so choose. In the Supreme Court case Nazis vs. Skokie, the Court ruled that it was the right of the Nazis to demonstrate in this predominantly Jewish town. That is the law of our land.
I agree with what you're saying about the reality of this country's values. We have not lived up to many of the values we praise on a daily basis. It is pulling a blind over one's eyes to claim we are a fully virtuous country. But Christianity can always be twisted to serve our purposes, like manifest destiny. However, our basic laws and rights were based on those values.
Post a comment (Terms of Use Policy)
(Requires free registration.)