Gift for Uncle Sam, Bronzed Obama, Holiday Happenings, The Second Day of Christmas

Maybe the spirit of stiff penalties giving at this time of year will compel 276,300 federal workers and retirees to dig out their checkbooks and send Uncle Sam a long-overdue gift: over $3 billion – yes, that’s THREE BILLION DOLLARS in unpaid income taxes for 2008. Notable agencies thus distinguished found here.

A growing group of Indonesians in Jakarta aren’t exactly thrilled about having a bronze statue of THE BOY, Barack, er Barry, as they knew him, occupying a place in one of their parks.

Last night, second graders in an elementary school in Indiana sang and danced in a holiday program for family and friends that featured celebrations of Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Las Posadas and Kwanzaa. “Allah is God” was originally part of the program script, while no other references to deities were mentioned. After the American Family Association complained in their electronic newsletter about the inconsistency, school officials omitted the phrase.

Feeling that this action wasn’t inclusive, Shariq Siddiqui ,the director of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana responded:

“It’s unfortunate if that was removed from the program just because of Islamophobic feelings.”

You’ll shake your head when you read this bizarre Christmas related story and this one, too. You wouldn’t expect to see this Christmas spectacle in your  neighborhood!

On the second day of Christmas, Mitt Romney Central gave to me…Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra crooning The Christmas Song:

“Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.” ~ Washington Irving (1783-1859), American short-story writer, essayist