The Christmas season is upon us and I am having difficulty getting into the spirit of Christmas.  I believe my difficulty comes from the turmoil that is going on in our world today.  If I watch the news I see nine incidents of violence before I see something positive.  So I decided that since I have been doing research on my father for the year 1942 (the date of his draft registration card) I would go on-line and see what was going on in the world that year that is similar to what we are experiencing now.  Well, duh, we were in the middle of WWII.   OK, so maybe there were some things going on that might prove to be more positive.  After all, there are some good things that happen in this world, right?  For instance:

Count Basie recorded “One O’Clock Jump”.

Bing Crosby recorded “White Christmas” the greatest selling record to date.

John H. Johnson published the first issue of the Negro Digest.

Walt Disney released “Bambi”.

Then I found this article about a race riot in Harlem.  A white police officer was arresting a black woman and a black off-duty soldier stepped in because he thought the officer was being too rough and in the scuffle that soldier was shot.  Somehow, a false rumor was spread that the woman was the soldier’s and that he had been killed right in front of her.  This was not true, but a riot was sparked.  Violence.  And the weird part is that the Mayor lifted the dim out that was in place because of the war, so the police could keep a watch out for looters.

I understand that good and bad will always exist, but I am hopeful that we will someday figure out a better way to exist with our fellow human beings.  Then that way when people view the news, however that may be done in the future, they will view nine good incidents first before they have to see the bad.

One other thing, remember these?  My childhood was not always the happiest, but, my little golden books always made me feel good, even seeing one today gives me a warm feeling.  I encourage you to think about some of the things that give you pleasure this holiday season.  Share your good feelings with another person, spread the love.  How do you plan to be merry for the holidays?