Silent Night
On the steps in front of a church on Central Park West this evening I joined a group of carolers as we sang to passing pedestrians and motorists, and to the city, and to Jesus and the angels:
Silent night Holy night!
Wondrous star, lead thy light.
With the angels let us sing.
Allelujah to our King.
Christ the Savior is here.
Christ the Savior is here.
- end of initial entry -
MH, a female reader, writes:
Merry Christmas, Larry!
Although, as you write, unprecedentedly bad things are happening day after day, remember that unprecedentedly good things are also beginning to happen. Never before in American history have ordinary middle class citizens taken to the streets en masse, and the Tea Party movement now has more support than either establishment party. Never before have Americans been so enraged at the entire elite class, including politicians, the media, Wall Street, and even scientists and academics. Never before have we had the power of the Internet and talk radio, the people’s media, which is setting the agenda and making fools of the MSM on a daily basis.
So I am reminded of one Christmas carol which fits the moment:
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Have a restful, joyful Christmas. Remember, though we fight, the battle is the Lord’s.
Karl D. writes:
You have a singing voice? Color me impressed. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.
Kathlene M. writes:
Thanks to you and your female reader, MH, for those very uplifting words. This illustrates the importance of a conservative community like VFR. It’s a place where fellow conservatives can challenge and strengthen each other.
I was pondering the discussion about gnosticism. Brandon quoted the Wikipedia article that “the totalitarian impulse is derived from the alienation of the individuals from the rest of society. This leads to a desire to dominate (libido dominandi)…. ” The left seeks to crush men’s spirits and wills, so that they stop fighting and give up. So it’s imperative that conservatives continue to fight.
On those days when it seems that evil surrounds us, I remember that we cannot believe the left’s deception that there is thus no goodness and no God. Faith gives us the courage and energy to resist. Thanks again for reminding us of this.
Merry Christmas to you and all your readers!
LA replies:
Thank you. Exactly right. The Voegelinian analysis of gnosticism could not be more relevant to our current crisis. The left’s for total power depends on their making us believe that we’re no good, that our country is no good, that the world is no good, and therefore that only emegency measures amounting to totalitarian power can make the world livable.
Harry Horse writes:
On the steps in front of a church on Central Park West this evening I joined a group of carolers as we sang to passing pedestrians and motorists, and to the city, and to Jesus and the angels:
Silent night Holy night!
Wondrous star, lead thy light.
With the angels let us sing.
Allelujah to our King.
Christ the Savior is here.
Christ the Savior is here.
God bless you, Mr. Auster. Christmas truly is the Season of Hope.
Posted by Lawrence Auster at December 24, 2009 01:50 AM | Send