Opposing Views

The little redhead in Dallas has issued a type of moratorium.

Now, in my day – meaning when I was younger – three-year olds had limited opinions and generally those were dealt with by “why not?” and “but Katy has one!” The Little One in Dallas is more defiant and has obviously watched the smileless Mitch enough to understand the power of the ultimatum.

Her “dander” has been piqued by the big round guy in the red suit. You know, the jolly one! The purveyor of “Ho, Ho, Ho!”

She has announced that Santa Claus cannot bring her gifts on Christmas Eve.

She has further insisted that he never be allowed into her house. Before you think that she is “looking a gift horse in the mouth,” we need a clarification. She wants gifts – every three-year old does – but they may only be delivered by Mrs. Claus. No strange man in the company of reindeer is welcome! She is not interested in discussing any compromise.

When she accompanied her mom to the grocery store, she insisted on a promise that the chocolate milk in the cart would not be for the bearded guy with the twinkle in his eye. Yes, it is alright for Mrs. Claus to have any amount she wants.

It sounds a bit like Washington, D. C., don’t you think?

Today’s news indicates that the Senate – despite Mr. Kyl – is close to ratifying the START treaty with Russia. I am amazed that it may happen. I am really amazed that DADT was approved. I am also amazed that Mitch has tear ducts, but that is another story for another day.

So, is there a new spirit around the district? Or is it the calm before the storm that is looming when the newly elected team arrives to bring “sanity” to our “liberal bent?”

I was stopped at an intersection on a major street in Skokie, a suburb north of Chicago, yesterday afternoon. I noticed there was a gentleman moving from car to car with what I thought to be a container to receive donations for some worthy cause. However, when he turned towards me, I realized that emblazoned across his front was a large, “IMPEACH OBAMA!”

Needless to say, I was taken aback.

So I began to watch the dynamic. He went up to several cars that had their windows lowered. I assumed they were friendly to his protest and that I had found myself in very unfriendly territory. But, to my relief, not one person accepted the printed material that the man offered. One driver shook his finger with obvious vehemence. (It was like sign language since I could not hear the exchange.)

I was waiting for the man to come my way. I wanted to engage in some form of reasoning. However, the turn light flashed a green arrow and I was forced to move along.

It got me to thinking about all the disgruntled people who have issues with an obviously well-educated, articulate, and compassionate leader. I got to thinking about the number of times the Grizzly Mama has derided him for being a “Community Organizer.” This coming from someone who didn’t even complete a commitment she made to her electorate once she discovered “Paree!” And there are the “Birthers” who cannot get beyond the legitimacy of his origins. There are Glenn and Rush who believe him to be the most ultra-liberal soul to ever walk the planet.

That line of thought, of course, leads to the extreme lack of cooperation between the political factions – old and new - of our country. Is there a way to find reason in such opposites?

I really think someone should organize a Flash Mob for the next big Tea Party rally. Maybe stage a dance routine using the “Rabbit Song” from “Alice in Wonderland.” You know:

“I’m late, I’m late for a very important date. No time to say, “hello; goodbye” I lose the time, I say. I run and then I hop, hop, hop! I wish that I could fly. There’s danger if I dare to stop and here’s the reason why: you see, I’m overdue, I’m in a rabbit stew…………

Now you must imagine 3,000 flash mobbers doing a slick routine – or maybe the Macarena, which isn’t. It would throw those angry “partiers” into riotous confusion. The flashmob of “Do, Re, Mi” in the Antwerp train station certainly got smiles out of the sedate onlookers.

Or maybe all the Democrats in Congress should stage a flashmob and just disappear for 24 hours. The conservatives would believe it was the “second coming” and they were left behind and not those “godless, socialist, blue-state liberals” they had expected would be.

Can you imagine the chaos and confusion at the Prayer House on C-Street?

While the Democrats are missing, we should get someone with a booming voice like a James Earl Jones and hide them somewhere on the mall with a bullhorn turned to max output.

“I AM NOT HAPPY!”

The fear of God has been known to wreak major changes! This would certainly be more environmentally friendly than a locust plague. Less messy than a flood.

A compassionate caring legislative branch would be such a great concept. Imagine a group of people who are not interested in being re-elected, but instead desire to make a positive change in the well-being of the citizens they have been honored to serve.

Yes, the old coot is a dreamer.

So here we are, headed into our most beautiful holiday of the year. There are twinkling lights everywhere and you hear a lot of warm wishes being expressed between people who rarely speak. Some of this warmth is, of course, aided by the fuzziness from a bottle of vermouth or brandy. Some is genuinely heartfelt.

But the former is ok. There is nothing wrong with civility for even a couple of hours. There is always the hope that when the buzz wears away, the civility can stay and become the genuine variety.

Since we are on the subject of Christmas “spirits,” the two little ones in Dallas have been in a rather heated exchange about holiday drinks.

The oldest insists that Santa Claus does not drink eggnog but drinks chocolate milk. The redhead – the younger one – insists he does not drink chocolate milk, even when relegated outside her home. He drinks eggnog!

Santa may wind up with water. Afterall, it is zero calories and non-allergenic.