On this of all days, I'm sure many of us gain a deeper appreciation for Tolstoy's observation that "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." And for the few Bradys out there who don't: count your blessings, you nauseating bastards.
FURTHERMORE: Someone needs to say it: when it comes to A Christmas Carol, the George C. Scott version is far and away the best. It's not only an effective ghost story but offers a measured and believable transformation—you can feel every word Scott speaks in the cemetery at the end. I can understand the attachment people have to the Sim version and it does have its charms, but it just doesn't achieve anything similar, and I expect there'll never be a more convincing Scrooge than George C. Scott.
AND: On a related note (and closer to the usual blog fare), John Nichols admonishes us to remember that it's evil Republicans who're just like mean old Mr. Scrooge, no doubt hoping to prevent his readers from directing any of their ire toward the wrong party.
It was Graham Greene (the novelist, not the actor) who had one of his characters say that, based on his years as a priest receiving confession, he had observed that people were much more unhappy than they let on, and that there are no grownups.
May all potentially sentient beings be well, happy, and at peace.
Your advice at the end of your Christmas Message here harmonizes well with the personal prayer which Fred Rogers would sometimes teach people he encountered, and ask them to pray with him. He stayed away from overtly religion on his tv show, and yet it was his deep love of his fellow human beings, especially children, that motivated his long career. The Prayer of St. Fred Rogers goes as follow: "Thank you, God."
Posted by: mistah charley, ph.d. | Sunday, December 25, 2011 at 04:47 AM
If there is a God, I think he might benefit from being beated viciously.
Posted by: godoggo | Sunday, December 25, 2011 at 09:39 AM
I think the thing about Xmas that makes me want to vomit is really not so much the religious aspect - all religion is stupid and sickening, of course - as the WASPiness of it all. It's like you slather the landscape with mayonnaise at the end of the year.
Posted by: godoggo | Sunday, December 25, 2011 at 10:21 AM
godoggo - your screen name on the one hand, and your expressed sentiments about God and religion on the other hand - there might be a story there
John - I have requested a copy of the film you discussed from the library
The Prayer of St. Fred Rogers - see http://www.pittsburghinwords.org/tom_junod.html
Posted by: mistah charley, ph.d. | Sunday, December 25, 2011 at 10:52 AM
I may have missed it, but is there a link related to your Brady comment, or am I just out of the loop.
Yes, Nichols just praised Senator Sherrod Brown (the Dem and alleged Ohio liberal)for walking the walk this year, just days (hours?) after the bastard voted for the NDAA. Crap!
Happy Guy Fawkes day, John. I assume that's an acceptable anniversary for you.
Posted by: Catherine | Sunday, December 25, 2011 at 02:29 PM
John is most likely referring to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Very_Brady_Christmas - from 23 years ago
Posted by: mistah charley, ph.d. | Sunday, December 25, 2011 at 02:59 PM
Yes, and Mike, Carol and family more generally.
You're in for a treat, mistah charley (and I'm glad to hear you're also a fan of getting films from the library--though this is one I actually own, since I watch it about every other year).
Posted by: John Caruso | Sunday, December 25, 2011 at 06:53 PM
Anyways, I apologize for obnoxiousness. Unless you found it entertaining, in which case I don't apologize. Whichever you prefer.
Posted by: godoggo | Monday, December 26, 2011 at 01:21 AM
I have a warm spot for the Sim version, if for no other reason than that it's my dad's favourite, but I will confess that my favourite Christmas Carol version is the musical film version, Scrooge, with Albert Finney. I saw it as a kid and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come has always haunted me.
On the other hand, I have never seen the George C Scott version, and I'm a firm believer that anything with George C Scott in it can't be all bad, so I will add it to my list.
Posted by: NomadUK | Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 02:33 AM
I got the George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol from the library, and I can't say it's the best because I haven't seen all that many. The one weak point was the music, which was dreadful: overdone, bombastic, and seemingly dubbed over the story at random. But Scott did a wonderful job as Scrooge, and all in all the film was very well done and acted. Thanks for recommending it.
Posted by: Duncan | Tuesday, December 27, 2011 at 08:33 PM