On the Road Home, Keep Christmas, Lose the Self

I don't know if most of you have heard of John C. Wright, but I've been told he's rather famous. He's a writer on the Right, and is really the one who started the Last Crusade movement, I suppose. (My first post explains what that is, if you're wondering). I read his blog, or website, or whatever it's called. A few days ago, he posted part of an article he wrote for... I believe it's called Dangerous? He also included a link to the rest of the article. Click that link. It is well worth your while.

http://www.scifiwright.com/2017/12/keeping-christmas-losing-self/

I disagree with him on only one point: the three versions of A Christmas Carol that we watch every year are the 1970 musical, the 2009 Disney version, and either Mickey's Christmas Carol or Stingiest Man in Town (both animated). I have never yet seen the versions he mentions. But this is simply our tradition. It has little bearing on matters such as these.

You see, Mr. Wright has written something truly wonderful. Christmas is a time of pictures and images of elsewhere, a time of homesickness for that same elsewhere, a time of selflessness and redemption, a time of mercy and magic and love. All of this is made very clear in Mr. Wright's article. And this article has brought me joy this Christmas, and I wanted you all to know of it too.

"In the place where God was homeless, all men are at home." ~ G. K. Chesterton.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Mid-Week Music #8 - Make 'Em Laugh

Okay, today I'm going to give you some laughs. And if you're anything like me, you will be laughing. A lot. You see, recently, my family and I watched the classic musical comedy, Singin' in the Rain. It's about an actor (Don Lockwood/Gene Kelly) from the Silent Era of Film, who--with the help of an old friend and a new--must transition to Talkies, along with his shrill and shrewish costar (Lina Lamont/Jean Hagen). This song is one of my favorite numbers in the movie.

It is funny how I go from noble old anthems, to wonderful Christian songs, to incredible prog rock, to hilarious numbers by old comedians and jolly dwarves, and then back again. It's a whirlwind, a roller coaster, whatever you might call it. And quite random, too. But, in the words of a very wise person, "Jokes as well as justice come in with speech."

Take it away, Cosmo! Make 'em laugh!

Cosmo:
Don, the world is so full of a number of things
I'm sure we should all be as happy as...
But are we? No. (slam)
Definitely no. (slam)
Positively no! (slam!)
DECIDEDLY NO! (slam!!)
Uh-uh. (shakes head)
Short people have long faces
And long people have short faces
Big people have little humour
And little people have no humour at all

(Don laughs)

Cosmo:

And in the words of that immortal bard, Samuel J. Snodgrass,

(dramatically) As he was about to be led to the guillotine...

Make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh

Don'tcha know everyone wants to laugh? HA HA!

My dad said 'Be an actor, my son

'But be a comical one!'

They'll be standing in lines

For those old honky-tonk monkey-shines

Now, you could study Shakespeare and be quite elite

And you could charm the critics and have nothing to eat:

Just slip on a banana peel, the world's at your feet!

Make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh!

Make--

Make 'em laugh

Don'tcha know everyone wants to laugh?

My grandpa said 'Go out and tell 'em a joke

'But give it plenty of hoke!'

Make 'em roar, make 'em scream

Take a fall, butt a wall, split a seam

You start off by pretending you're a dancer with grace

You wiggle 'til they're giggling all over the place

And then you get a great big custard pie in the face

Make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh!

...

Make 'em laugh

Don'tcha... all the... what?

My dad...

(attempts to fix his face)

...

They'll be standing in lines

(getting quieter)

For those old honky-tonk monkey-shines...

***

Make 'em laugh--

Make 'em laugh--

Don'tcha know everyone--

Ah-ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha-ha, ha-ha-ha-ha!

Ah-ha-ha-HA-ha, HA-ha!

Ah-ha-ha-HA-ha, ha-ha-ha!

Make 'em laugh--ha-ha!

Make 'em laugh--HA-ha!

Make 'em laugh--HA-HA!

Make 'em laugh, make 'em laugh

Make 'em LAAAUUuugh...

(passes out on the floor)