40 Years of Christmas Poems: Christmas 2017

In a year where unimaginable darkness arose and lives were lost as a result, I noted that an ancient form of activity has taken center stage in a modern form; scapegoating has returned with a social media vengeance. Pointed fingers and angry voices calling out the "others" as the most serious threat to our very way of living has taken hold across the country.

These others are simply people who are trying to improve their lot in life much the same as scores of immigrants have before. Coming from other lands, legally and illegally, they want what every person yearns for: freedom and a chance to build something for themselves and their families. Some have succeeded, many have been taken obscene advantage of. This is the unfortunate result of the use and misuse of power and it has been this way virtually forever. That will not be changing anytime soon.

Though now not a religious person, I was raised in a Catholic family and attended Catholic grammar and high school. I've been well educated in the Bible and the Western civilization and know the legends and stories well. It doesn't take an advanced education in divinity to know the Great Commandments that are common to virtually all of the world's great religions. Sadly, they seem to be quite out of vogue in today's modern world.

It makes me wonder what would happen if we were able to hit the "reset" button on Christianity and how the events of the original Christmas story would play out in 2017. I don't think it would be quite be the same. Consider this today when choosing whether or not to "cast the first stone", whatever form that stone may take.

 Christmas 2017

By Richard Perrotti

It is written “Do unto others

As you would have them do unto you.”

This serves as a constant for mankind

A Rule we can all live up to.

But one can also live down this rule,

Offering hatred, prejudice and shame;

Pointing fingers and cursing the “others”

In a cascade of vitriol and blame.

These “others” have always been with us,

Playing a critical role.

They afford us another opportunity

To align with (or away) from one’s soul.

“There will always be some in this land who are poor,”

Of this we cannot be naïve.

For how else would you then practice

“It is more blessed to give than to receive”?

“The godly care about the rights of the poor,

The wicked do not care at all.”

The “others” are there to remind us

Of what will result from this call.

Picture an impoverished young couple,

Worn down to the bone and skin.

Where would we have them turn to

When there’s no room for them in the inn?

Now imagine a poor unwed mother,

Pregnant by an impossible plan;

Eventually accepted by her husband-to-be

Was how the first Christmas story began.

In a feeding trough called a manger,

A newborn male child was laid.

Surrounded by shepherds, cattle and kings,

To the Light of the World they prayed.

How would we judge such a story today?

Would we open our hearts to these brothers?

Or denigrate them as heathens and strange

Casting them out as the “others”?

This is known as the season of giving,

Words we adorn on a shelf.

Here’s the true spirit of Christmas;

“Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”