Christmas, Solstice, and New Year's holiday wishes
We Quakers do not observe any liturgical calendar. (Nor do we have a liturgy.) But here in the US we are part of a culture that is very Christmas-oriented, and it anyway feels good here in the northern hemisphere to mark the turn of the solstice and the fact that the days will now, finally start to get longer again.
Let there be light!
Anyway, according to the traditional western-church calendar, we are now in Christmas Season-- on the Third Day of Christmas, indeed. So can I wish a Happy Christmas and/or a Cool Yule, or a Light-filled Solstice, or (belatedly) an Eid Mubarak or Happy Hannukah to all JWN readers.
Bill and I have been blessed to have a house full of family for the past few days: Nine people in all. Being able to hold regular family get-togethers is such a privilege, I know. Our family members came here to Charlottesville, Virginia from Los Angeles, Boston, New York, and Dorset (UK.) All that bad, high-emissions air travel.... sorry about that.
Anyway, I'll try to get back to more frequent blogging either later today, or tomorrow.
May 2008 be a great year for all readers, and especially may it bring about the radical de-esclation or resolution of the many conflicts now burdening humanity. (Sadly, not good news today from Pakistan, about Benazir B's assassination.)
Happy New Year Helena et al
This time last year we were all in shock at the repeated footage of Saddam's hanging (Nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it.
Macbeth Act 1, scene 4) ,and pointing out that invading Somalia was going to be a disaster.
And Lo...... It became a disaster!!
Read Sally Healy's report on the state of play.
Somalia One Year On: Broken City
Sally Healy, January 2008
The World Today, Volume 64, Number 1
Download article here
http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/current/
Mogadishu is a broken city on the verge of humanitarian catastrophe. The international community's set piece strategy - intervention, the establishment of a government, a peacekeeping force, and stabilisation - is failing to deliver peace and stability in Somalia. At the heart of any new approach should be an early exit for the Ethiopian forces and a Somali-led process of political reconciliation.
Happy New Year Helena et al
This time last year we were all in shock at the repeated footage of Saddam's hanging (Nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it.
Macbeth Act 1, scene 4) ,and pointing out that invading Somalia was going to be a disaster.
And Lo...... It became a disaster!!
Read Sally Healy's report on the state of play.
Somalia One Year On: Broken City
Sally Healy, January 2008
The World Today, Volume 64, Number 1
Download article here
http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/current/
Mogadishu is a broken city on the verge of humanitarian catastrophe. The international community's set piece strategy - intervention, the establishment of a government, a peacekeeping force, and stabilisation - is failing to deliver peace and stability in Somalia. At the heart of any new approach should be an early exit for the Ethiopian forces and a Somali-led process of political reconciliation.
And more sad news from Lebanon-
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=2&article_id=87721
H, I am very surprised you have not written a piece about this situation-you know Lebanese/Israeli/Syrian politics well-
Merry Christmas, Eid Mubarak, et al to you too. Looking forward to reading more of your blog this coming year.