Segacs’s World I Know

Tonight’s French-language debate was intense, enlightening and captivating.

Just kidding. Actually, I didn’t watch. The Habs-Oilers game was much more exciting, despite our disappointing loss.

But if you’re truly interested in any of the rehashed canned statements of our illustrious leaders on separatism, the sponsorship scandal, gay marriage, or why the Liberals deserve to be “wiped off the Quebec electoral map”, then… get a hobby or something.

For those unfamiliar with Quebec politics, you may be wondering what all the fuss is about with those s-words, “sovereigntist” and “separatist”. Or why the use of one or the other can get people all up in arms.

Here’s Pauline’s take on the issue:

Sovereignty, after all, is a noble cause in our age especially in a democratic setting. Who would have the heart to deny a people their sovereignty?

Separation, on the other hand, can be messy.

Just ask any pair of conjoined twins.

So, it’s a case of spin, whitewashing, Disney-ficiation, the end justifies the means, etc. etc. Whatever.

To that I’ll just add that most separatists would prefer that we use neither word; both are in dreaded English.

So hard to take sides… I think I’ll just sit back and watch the idiots attack each other.

I need to rant. (It’s great having a blog for times like these…)

This whole debate about the Christmas/Holidays terminology has gotten way out of hand.

We in North America live in a place where the majority of people are some sort of denomination of Christian. But that’s not why Christmas is so predominant everywhere. We have retail chains and companies desperately seeking to drive in dollars to thank for that. None of which, of course, has anything to do with the “real” (read: religious) meaning of Christmas. I’ve only read the New Testament briefly, but I don’t remember anything in there about Jesus telling people to go get new digital cameras on sale at Best Buy.

So sure, Christmas isn’t our holiday… but I don’t mind if someone wishes me a “Merry Christmas”. I intend to do just that actually. This year, it coincides with Chanukah, and I plan to spend Christmas Day merrily eating potato latkes and lighting a menorah with a bunch of cousins.

Speaking of Chanukah, the holiday definitely has had its importance inflated by the same artificial commercialism that took over Christmas. There’s no doubt about that. An otherwise minor holiday that had little – if anything – to do with presents has suddenly become the second most listed holiday next to Christmas in the generic greeting “Happy Holidays”… which, for some reason, has people all up in arms. Now, having worked in the retail business, I can honestly say I’ve wished many people “Happy Holidays” because it seemed odd for me to be wishing other people (many of whom were probably Jewish, given the area) a “Merry Christmas”.

That said, what’s wrong with appreciating another culture’s holiday even if you don’t celebrate it? I don’t believe in Jesus, of course, but there’s no reason why I can’t think that decorative lights are pretty, or even participate in the parties and celebrations of Christian friends. After all, none of them have a problem with eating my mom’s latkes (and raving about them… and asking me to bring them more… but I digress).

Why are we so threatened by a majority culture when it’s perfectly acceptable or even encouraged to learn about and appreciate other minority cultures? Is it because of our fear of assimilation? If so, we really need to get over it: I’m secure enough with my Jewish identity that Christmas is no more threatening than, well, the Easter Bunny. And for people who aren’t, well, being wished a “Merry Christmas” is a far cry from being converted to Christianity.

Ask most non-Christians and they won’t have a problem with being wished “Merry Christmas”. Ask most Christians and they won’t have a problem with being wished “Happy Holidays”.

But here’s the crux of it: WHO CARES???

With problems like world poverty, Iran about to get nuclear weapons, people in death camps in North Korea, earthquakes in Pakistan, Tsunamis in Asia, hurricanes in the US, and Bono thinking he’s a politician… can’t we re-examine our priorities just a little and stop obsessing over what words people choose to wish each other well?

I mean, a little perspective please: people are actually trying to be nice and friendly to one another. Silly me, I thought that was a good thing.

So whether it’s Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s, a devil worshipping feast, the arrival of winter, the mere fact that many of us get a few precious days off from work, or simply being in a good mood, can’t we just call the whole thing off and return to spending inordinate amounts of money on stuff we don’t really need?

Done ranting now.

Update: Stephen Colbert is launching a campaign against the “Merry Christmas” crowd for trying to deny him his Happy Holy Day. Now that’s the spirit!

European Union to Iran: stop denying the Holocaust, or we’ll denounce you.

I’m sure that threat has Ahmadinejad shaking in his boots.

The real question is whether Ahmadinejad is calculating and shrewd, or if he’s merely off his rocker.

Most of the time, rhetoric and provocation like this is done on purpose by despots looking to pick a fight for political gain, deflect attention away from their oppressive policies, or quell dissent at home, to name a few reasons. It’s entirely possible that Ahmadinejad is doing this in order to provoke the West to the point where someone takes action, and all hell breaks loose. Strange as this may sound, this would actually be the preferable of the two options. If Ahmadinejad is crazy like a fox, as opposed to merely crazy, then he probably wouldn’t actually unleash nuclear weapons on Israel – he’d just talk about it in order to stir up hatred. As I’ve said repeatedly, the very last thing that most of the dictators of the Arab world want is for Israel to disappear off the map. Because without Israel as the single unifying factor, they would simply attack each other (well, more so than they already do).

However, from what I’ve seen so far, it’s entirely possible that Ahmadinejad is just as crazy as he seems. His fanatical hatred of Israel might not be calculated, but real. In which case, the world has real cause to worry, because he might not care if Iran is wiped off the map as long as he can take Israel down with him. This is where the prospect of a nuclear Iran becomes very, very scary.

So which is it? Column A? Column B? A little of both? I don’t really think we have the option of waiting around to find out. But then, who’s left in the world to actually do anything to stop Ahmadinejad, before it’s too late?

Say what you like about the mess in Iraq, but when turnout in Iraqi elections exceeds turnout in most North American elections, that’s saying something. After all, we don’t have to take our lives in our hands to go vote.

We can’t be naive and assume that the mere fact that today’s election took place means that democracy will take firm root in Iraq. But it’s a beginning. Baby steps.

Two floor seat tickets to see a restyled 80s hair band with cheesy lyrics but great music and a massively hot lead singer: $250

Disposable camera purchased after realization that camera was forgotten at home: $12

Dinner at a tourist trap where a local radio station was holding a pre-show and contest to win wristbands to go up on stage during the show: $30

Winning said wristbands and being close enough to actually strum on Jon Bon Jovi’s guitar: Priceless.

(Photos to follow… once they’re developed.)

Some random observations:

• New Yorkers complain about the cold even more than Montrealers do, or at least it seems that way.
• Fifth Avenue is pretty with all the lights.
• Stuck for a gift idea? No problem. There’s a street vendor at 73rd and Broadway selling Christmas sweaters for $2.
• Lots of tall buildings arranged perpendicularly in a grid create massive wind tunnels. Ugh.
• Most of the subway station platforms aren’t heated. The subway trains are, though.
• Winter, spring, summer or fall… it’s just as impossible to get a cab from downtown Manhattan to the airport at rush hour.

For your viewing pleasure, here’s a random snapshot of Rockefeller Center all decorated for the holidays:

Habs 5-2 over Coyotes.

It’s about friggin’ time.