Dearest Mama,
How are you celebrating Christmas? Are you doing anything interesting? I want to know what you will be doing during this holiday season. For us in the U.S.A, several programs are already taking place at the community and national level in celebration of Christmas. Some of the festivities include religious programs, musical carnivals, outdoor and indoor games, family reunions, among others.
Do you know what's happening in other parts of Monrovia? Are "interest" groups sending government officials costly gifts again? Whenever, the holiday season is around, exorbitant gifts are scurried from one corner of the city to the next. The question we should ask ourselves is whether gifts such as posh car, deed to plots of land, large building, and envelopes containing stash of cash, precious stones, and other exclusive and expensive gifts are given without any strings attached? I guess our public officials need to be weary of such gifts, because the price for taking such gifts usually means compromising one or more principles, which can adversely affect a person’s integrity; and or have an effect on government’s policies, and the nation. Let our people look at it this way: anything coming from "interest" groups has strings attached. Interest groups are everywhere – they can be public and private institutions, and individuals, who will take advantage of every situation – good or bad to push their agenda. Let us beware that "interest" groups come wearing different cloaks. Christmas being the time of sharing gifts, our desperate interest groups will most definitely be at the forefront of dishing out gifts, and not just ordinary gifts, but ones that are elaborate. The presenting of large and expensive gifts is aimed at capturing the attention of the receiver.
The tradition of giving large gifts to government officials and those in powerful positions has existed in many countries, but continues to prevail in Liberia because of the country's fragile democractic system and deplorable economic situations. When a nation is faced with economic situations, while at the same time struggling to establish democratic virtues, those who have benefited from the chaos will always try to undermine the development process. These forces are what policy anlaysts refer to as 'interest groups." Interest groups usually benefit in a divided situation. They take advantage of the division: economic, political and other divisions to sell their interests to parties.
Mama, let me move away from Liberia's wild tales and look at the wild stories of Christmas.
Talking about people taking advantage of situation, I just read that some thieves in Australia took advantage of the absence of owner of a warehouse and stole several tons of Christmas food. Instead of just stealing and leaving the scene, the thieves left a note for the owner of the warehouse. They wrote "Thanks. Merry Christmas", on the wall. Now, that is just more like it: stealing from someone, and then leaving them a complimentary greeting. What an Ironic!
That is not all the news I want to share with you Mama. In this part of our world, we have Santa Claus; you call him Father Christmas in your parts of the world. Mama, Santa has come under attacks here.
One of the most recent attack on Santa came from a medical doctor. The doctor said that Santa Claus, that is Father Christmas has to slim down. The doctor said that Santa's size (big size, large stomach) doesn't make him a good role model for children. According to the the Boston Herald, acting U.S Surgeon General,Rear Adm. Steven K. Galson said, ""It is really important that the people who kids look up to as role models are in good shape, eating well and getting exercise. It is absolutely critical," the acting U.S. Surgeon General said in an interview after a presentation on obesity at the Boston Children's Musueum.
.
Now, lets ask ourselves: Who is Santa? How did this story of Santa begin? Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, or simply "Santa" is a legendary and mythical figure who, in this part of the world, is described as bringing gifts on Christmas Eves or Christmas day to children. Mama, the present new outlook of Santa Claus as a fat, jolly man or elf wearing a red coat and trouser with white cuffs and collar, and boots, became popular in the this part of our world during the 19th century.
Mama, the attack on Santa for his size is not only in America. In Australia, Santa has been banned from saying, " ho, ho, ho." Though "ho, ho, ho", was considered the laugher sound of Santa, the term "ho" is refer to whore or prostitute. So, now Santa can not say "ho, ho, ho."
For some time, Santa has not been carrying pipe. That is because, Santa was stopped from carrying a pipe in his mouth. I guess the banning of the pipe, (even though Santa did not use it for smoking) was to discourage smoking. This time around, Santa might have to join the diet regiment. Who knows the next thing that will be stripped from Santa.
Mama, the information I just provided are not all the attacks Santa has experienced for Christmas 2007. If you thought what I just told you about Santa was wild; I will then beg you to sit tight. For what I have to tell you is wacky. In Brazil, drug traffickers shot at Santa Claus. Given all the pressure for Santa to lose weight, drug traffickers in Brazil shot at Santa Claus. Santa Claus was in a helicopter, on his way to a children's party when the drug traffickers thought that it was a police helicopter, and started shooting. Had Santa been riding in his sledge, the possibility of him escaping unharmed would have been very slim.
There are more wild stories about Christmas to share, Mama, but I want to hear from you. So until I can hear from you, I wish you a Christmas and a New Year that is filled with happiness. During this holiday season, lets' remember, that though this is a season when we exchange gifts and extend best wishes to others, we must remember that each day is a gift. Therefore, our season of celebration doesn't have to stop at the end of the holidays.
Always,
musue
Copyright © Musue N. Haddad
