Dear Santa...

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is this. It may be too much to ask for, given the high emotions running so many people this year - high emotions that have been running people for a good four or more years. But still, I'm going to ask.

I want national peace - peace here in the United States of America. We are so polarized at the moment, polarized, angry with the outcome of the election. Those who voted "Red" absolutely convinced that we're going to self-destruct as a nation, due to the re-elected incumbent. Those who voted "Blue" becoming less gracious in the win as the "Red" side continues with their display of what can only be called poor sportsmanship. There are those who say that by re-electing #44, we're going to have to "reap what we've sown, and accept the responsibility and consequences of our choices." I wish they'd apply that to themselves and for their voiting choices as well. We are where we are as a nation, largely due to the decisions and choices made by the previous administration - the two unpaid for wars, for example, that contributed to our economic collapse.

The 43rd President took us into 2 unpaid for wars on what turns out to have been a very flimsy premise. Our embassies overseas were attacked and people died, and we soldiered on. Now, under the 44th President, there's been an attack on one of our embassies that resulted in the death of a US Ambassador and "the Other Side" is screaming like this is The Most Awful Thing EVER To Happen To The USA. Such divisiveness and hatred I've never seen in my lifetime, and it scares me, hurts my heart, makes me fear for our future.

I want the screaming to stop, the fingerpointing to stop, the accusations to stop. A great many of the population of this nation survived #43, the "Red Folks" will survive #44. If everyone who's in an uproar could just stop and take a deep breath, forget ideology and other preconceived notions to take a look at what's actually happened (the re-election of #44), perhaps they'd see that the sky isn't falling and that we aren't, as a nation, going to hell in a handbasket. Please, Santa, give everyone the gift of being able to be positive in outlook, rather than negative.

Finally, Santa, I know that most of these folks consider themselves to be Christians. Please remind them of such biblical verses as:

Matthew 7:1-5: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."

Luke 6:37: “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;..."

James 4:12: There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Romans 2:1-3: Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God?

Ephesians 4:29: Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

1 John 3:17: But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

1st Peter 4:8-9: Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.

Acts 20:35: In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Proverbs 11:24-25: One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.

Luke 21:1-4: Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

1 Timothy 6:17-19: As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
...so that they can be the Christians and/or good, moral people (for those of other religious traditions) they truly consider themselves to be, and to remember, as well as take to heart, that if you're going to talk the talk, there's a need to walk the walk.

And so Santa, I guess what I'm asking for in a nutshell is that we all remember we're Americans first and foremost, Republicans and Democrats second, and above even all that, that we are decent, loving, giving, kind, civilized people who are able to set aside our differences and pull together for the good of our nation, as we did during those awful days, weeks, months and years following 9-11. Please let us remember what we have in common, and dwell on that, rather than what we don't have in common that we use to tear us apart. And if you're so inclined, Santa, please share this letter with The Big Guy, because as I close this, I've realized this is a prayer, perhaps more so of a prayer than a letter to Santa outlining what I want for Christmas.

For those of all religions and traditions, whatever the celebrations that loom - this is my Wish for All - everyone equally, without reservation, and with all my heart.

My Wish For You, Wherever You Are, Whatever Religion/Tradition You Practice