Topic category: Other/General
Maybe Santa Can Help ...
During a recent vacation I had an opportunity to pay more attention to the news and other assorted idiocy that poses as discourse on American television. Understand that about 20 years ago, for lack of anything interesting or meaningful, we discarded our television. Nevertheless, we never lost touch with the world about us. Actually, we began to realize that the real world was nothing like the one commonly portrayed by the news networks and other assorted drivel displayed by major networks for the public.
When on vacation I watch TV a bit to see if anything has changed in 20 years. In short, little has changed! The biggest change has been the emergence of the alternative media, i.e. talk radio, “The Internet,” and a single news network offering fairly intelligent (but by no means unbiased) political news, information and opinion.
Consequently, I spend quite a bit of time reading, listening and then digesting what is said and written about events that impact my world and my worldview.
The problem with keeping up with local, state, and world events is that there are few to whom I can go to voice my agreement, disagreement or just plain confusion about events happening both in the United States and abroad. I can’t write to either of my Senators (Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer) with any reasonable expectation of an intelligent response. It has been scientifically proven that they are both brain dead. I can attest to this personally in the case of Feinstein, as we once prepared dinner for her at the request of a close friend who, God forbid, supported her. It was a very small group of seven people and I sat directly across the table from Ms. Feinstein for about two hours. The overwhelming sense I was left with is that she is one of the dumbest people I have ever met!
Letters to the President or Vice President are electronically answered with a limp message about how wonderful it is that I wrote, but how busy the White House is, blah, blah, blah… Ditto for Chairpersons of committees, Speakers of the House, Senate majority leaders, etc. So here I was, in Arizona, frustrated as hell that the same nonsense, in living color, was unfolding around the world and no one was doing much about it except talk. Most important (to me at least) was the clarity with which I saw potential solutions to these matters. If only I could find one person to whom I could voice my frustration. If only one person would at least listen to what seemed like specific and reasonable courses of action targeted to the world trouble spots.
As I flipped through channels in our room while waiting to leave for dinner, Christmas commercials were everywhere. Suddenly it occurred to me that maybe there was someone who would listen, someone who could bring me what I was looking for – clarity, action and solutions. At first blush it seemed too much to ask – He was particularly busy at this time of year and had an awful lot to do before Christmas, and worst of all, he just might be a Democrat! Nevertheless, I decided that writing or calling Washington, Sacramento, and my local politicians was futile, so why not try someone who always seemed to find time to read his mail at this time of year.
It was then that I penned my (now famous) letter to Santa. Rather than ask for many different things, I would target only one area of concern, and hoped that Santa had the wherewithal to deliver. I had nothing to lose since no one else had done much to date in the area that troubles me most.
I have been a good person this year and know that millions of others around the world have been good too. No one should suffer from Imams who hate, from Sharia law that eventually kills not only people but freedom, or from terrorists here, in Iraq, in Iran or anywhere else.
I am not sure if you can help, Santa, but as I wrote above, no one in Washington seems to be either able or willing to make this “wish list” a reality. I guess you are my last resort.
That’s it for this letter. I know it’s a tall order on such short notice, but please do your best.
Thank you and God speed.
Jerry
PS: Drive safely.
PPS: I have another list for North Korea and China, but that's for next year.
Jerry De Angelis
http://midica.blogspot.com/ (Author)
Biography - Jerry De Angelis
EDUCATION
B.S. Degree: Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, Connecticut - MAGNA CUM LAUDA
Ph.D. Degree: Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa,National Institute of Health Fellow: Major,
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Winemaker & Co-Owner - De Angelis Wines.
Responsible for winemaking, marketing, and organization along with my partner - my wife.
Winemaker and General Manager
The Crush @ Paso Robles, Paso Robles, CA. Responsible for overall design of winery, winemaking budgets, planning and overall organization.
Senior Winemaker Salisbury Vineyards
I was responsible for all winemaking activities. This included developing the winery sites, identifying and purchasing all supplies and equipment, as well as assistance in all financial and budgetary aspects of the winery.
Viticulturist and Winemaker - La Fattoria De Angelis
Planted the vineyard in 1999 and have maintained it ever since. The first wine from the vineyard was produced in 2002.
Health Care Delivery Services, Inc. (HCDS) San Luis Obispo, California
President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board
As chief executive, I was responsible for all corporate activities, policies and procedures relative to total administration of this health care corporation.
Other positions held in my career include:
University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), Westwood, California
Project Director - UCLA Drug Treatment Project - Faculty Member
Department of Psychiatry - Neuropsychiatric Institute
The White House: Executive Office of the President,Washington, D.C.
The White Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention (SAODAP)
Associate Director, Technical Assistance then Director of Manpower Development