I’d like to wish all of you a very merry Christmas. We all have our own way of celebrating this holiday season. While our “reason for the season” might not be rooted in a common religion or heritage, our humanity and desire to be surrounded by friends and family remains constant. It’s in that spirit I hope you find a way to find joy tomorrow. For all our differences, it is our kindness, our imperfections, and in our hopes that we find peace.
While I don’t speak for every political blogger who writes here, it’s very easy to compile a naughty and nice list this time of year. Handing out lumps of coal tends to garner more attention, it’s easier, it gets laughs, and of course page views– but shining a light on our public figures who do make a positive difference ought to be our primary focus. The disparity in our opinions and view of the future isn’t bridged by pointing and laughing; it’s done through hard work, enabled by a willingness to embrace dissent, and nurtured by a shared stake in our future. None of this happens without dialogue.
While I think a “mosh pit” is a term that ought to have died with the nineties, we participate in a marketplace of ideas here at OrangeJuice. Often our exchanges are abrasive, but with that abrasion we polish our ideas. I value our abrasion and those who contribute in a meaningful way through their own expression and courage.
We’ve had plenty of contentious issues this year that moved beyond civility and I’ve participated in a number of them. I’m sure I’ve offended more than my fair share of readers; I know I’ve offended more than my fair share of friends and neighbors. While ultimately my reputation is mine to suffer and mine alone, I’d like to thank those of you who continue to engage with me in spite of my faults. It is through your small acts of kindness that I continue to become more rounded. As I polish my ideas and my ethos, I’d like to think that my family and my children benefit from your tolerance, which is about as good a Christmas gift that I could receive.
From my privileged position, it is very easy to ask that we each put our communities before ourselves. My wife and I were able to participate in a few different opportunities to share our good fortune with others. It was humbling and I’m a better person for it.
I’m not perfect and I’ve earned scorn and isolation more than once in my life. Despite that, I continue to be blessed with opportunities to give back to my neighbors and community. I hope to offend less and enrich others more next year. Here’s to wishing that you continue to offer me the opportunity to do so through my next set of failures.
Merry Christmas.
Ryan, if you keep being the grown up in the room it is going to flatten your reputation as resident smart aleck. But I admire the Hell out of it, and will endeavor to join you on higher ground. How does one find the balance of calling attention to the outrageous, and potentially illegal, behavior of those who betray the trust that was granted them when they took office, while still somehow embodying “kindness”..? I do not have the answers for that, I only know that we have seen up close and personal what happens to a human being when they find it too easy to promote their views on the backs of other peoples’ pain, and I know it has given all of us a sharp jolt to wonder how close to that edge we all wander at times. May God help us, given the work that needs to be done in 2014, may we show each other more courtesy and human decency, without ever becoming doormats or looking the other way. May God give us balance to accompany the wisdom and strength I know we are all actively praying for right now.
Thank you Ryan, for speaking up, and trying to help us see the better part of ourselves that is here in an effort to make our communities better places. Wishing all of God’s blessings on you and your beautiful family.
CW and RW (and maggie the wonder dog)
“…but shining a light on our public figures who do make a positive difference ought to be our primary focus”
Um, not mine, Ryan. Those “public figures” already use ample public resources extorted from us to glorify their good deeds. And most of it is bullshit. The county supervisors hire staff for nothing other than PR. The Anaheim Kleptocracy hired Cunningham to extol their alleged virtues.
These people need humility, not adulation. In some cases – jail time.
Now maybe I missed your meaning and you really meant private citizens whose work has gained the attention of the public. Then I say: go for it.
I will say this: while I won’t claim that we have the best stories of all Orange County online political publications, I am convinced that we do have the best comments section. It can be contentious and sometimes rude, but it is also spirited, incisive, and funny — far ahead of the Register’s and the Weekly’s in ambiance and ahead of the Voice of OC’s in terms of quantity. I don’t know quite how we’ve achieved it, but it seems to have something to do with lots of disparate people having resolved to abide one another’s presence, and for that I give great thanks.
Diamond,
With Christmas over, the Dry Cleaners are open if you want to get your handprints off the back off your shirt cleaned off.
Wait … Diamond has risibly patted himself on the back by noting that we have a lot of good commenters here? Are you worried he’s excluding you from that august company? Maybe you should check your own shirt-back for evidence of Greg’s handprints.
We have a good comments section. Not one without some flaws, of course.
I might have patted nameless on the back, at least for some of his work, but I don’t know who he is….
Since i am up, wishing you all a Merry Christmas. May God’s blessings shine down upon each of our family here at Orange Juice, bloggers and readers alike.
I will continue to contribute periodically in 2014 with a goal of expanding our intellect just a little bit beyond politics by prodding some thinking about more meaningful aspects of life.
Great to hear, compadre.
Happy New Year Guys!
Frankly, if Greg was behind me, I would be looking for his snarky, MKIA comments, whispered to others rather than a pat on the back!
I am amused by the self congratulatory commentary that accompanies his posts. That’s all. HUMILITY BABY, HUMILITY.
No worries; I would know if you were behind me. But yes, you do sound amused. The effort you put in really shows!