BuzzMachine

The media pundit's pundit. Written by NYC insider Jeff Jarvis, BuzzMachine covers news, media, journalism, and politics.

Merry Christmas, friends

15 comments on Merry Christmas, friends

Merry Christmas, friends

: I have to tell you that there is no sweeter moment than sitting in the congregation for the church’s family service on Christmas Eve, listening to my son in the pulpit, reading the lessons, and watching my daughter as an angel, looking the part. Pride and joy and hope well up.

I read my Christmas posts over the last three years. The first, in 2001, was, of course, about recovering from September 11th. The next two were about war in Afghanistan and Iraq. This year, there is plenty of darkness we could concentrate on: continuing war in Iraq, continuing fear, continuing political animus.

But we also have hope for the beginnings of democracy in Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, even Palestine. We have hope for the small beginnings of new connections in the world as Joi Ito tells us. And I have my family, my wonderful children, the preacher and the angel. Watch your children and you cannot help but have hope.

So this Christmas for me is about small beginnings of hope and the hope children bring.

Merry Christmas, my friends. Have hope.

15 responses to “Merry Christmas, friends”

  1. jonny goldstein Avatar
    jonny goldstein

    Merry Christmas from this freedom loving atheist. I have been enjoying this blog since I found it, and look forward to more in the coming year. All the best to you and your loved ones.

  2. pianoman Avatar
    pianoman

    Jeff, your blog is one of the finest on my blogroll, though I find that I disagree with almost everything you write. You still make me think and question what I believe in on a weekly basis, and for that I am grateful.
    Merry Christmas to you and your family, and have a happy and prosperous 2005.

  3. Trudy W. Schuett Avatar
    Trudy W. Schuett

    We have a tiny living room church that will shortly go online as the first Church in the Blog. We’ve found we can do actual services online this way.
    Blessings and Peace!
    …and thanks for your insight over the year.

  4. Faramin Avatar
    Faramin

    I am sure your children are wonderful, as are all children including thousadnds of the wonderful Iraqi children who have been killed and are being killed by the war you so much supported.

  5. Jeff Jarvis Avatar
    Jeff Jarvis

    Faramin: There are no words for you.

  6. Jeff Jarvis Avatar
    Jeff Jarvis

    Pianoman: Thanks so much. What’s great about what you say it that it proves this is not an echo chamber. This is a cacaphony of conversation, people who can disagree with each other with civility and intelligence (with some exceptions, one being two comments below yours) and in the longrun, friendship. Merry Christmas.

  7. Faramin Avatar
    Faramin

    Jeff,
    You might not like what I’ve said, and I understand that, but there is nothing uncivil in my comment.

  8. Ric Locke Avatar
    Ric Locke

    Merry Christmas, Jeff, and let me echo Pianoman in almost every respect.
    Merry Christmas to everyone else, too, particularly Faramin. Perhaps Santa will bring the latter a clue as to why that comment is uncivil in this context.
    Regards,
    Ric Locke

  9. Faramin Avatar
    Faramin

    Thanks Ric for the lecture. But speaking of a clue as what is civil and what is uncivil, there is nothing more uncivil than ignoring the suffering of millions of people, and death of over 100,000 people most of them women and children, which has occured and is occuring due to the war some people so excitedly cheered for.
    Yes, it’s time of celebration as you are celebrating Christmas, and good for you, but this war has only brought daily suffering for millions of Iraqis; right at the time when you are in the celebration mood.

  10. Jeff Jarvis Avatar
    Jeff Jarvis

    Faramin:
    Take a day off.

  11. HA Avatar
    HA

    Merry Christmas, Jeff!

  12. Eileen Avatar
    Eileen

    A very Merry Christmas to JJ and All.
    Like Pianoman, I intentionally visit you in order to rattle the cages of my own belief systems, which typically don’t match your own. Sometimes it is hard…but I believe it’s healthy to consider numerous sides of an issue and (hopefully) at least gain some understanding and perspective in the process. You facilitate that, along with your many erudite commenters. Many thanks to you, Jeff, and All.
    Here’s to hope!, and the wish that many new bridges of understanding will be born.

  13. Jeff Jarvis Avatar
    Jeff Jarvis

    Thanks, Eileen. Yes, we often (but not always) disagree. But in this new medium, the wisdom comes from the conversation, eh?

  14. Eileen Avatar
    Eileen

    Eh!

  15. Lisa Williams Avatar
    Lisa Williams

    Merry Christmas, Jeff!