Hello, my lovelies, you already know how I’d soon ditch any hot summer day for the
gorgeousness of a slow fall day and beyond. Well, I would. I’d drop everything and
teleport if I could… so when I heard about a celebration here on WordPress through
Robbie’s blog–something about Christmas in July, I bee-lined to the source to investigate. Perhaps you’d do the same?
Link–you can join in here:
First, let me include a Christmas decoration to get us all in the right frame of mind.
It’s Hello Kitty. One year I sent the decoration to a few of my pen pals by snail mail.
And now, a copy of an email I sent out to my pen pals the year Russia declared war
on Ukraine. To update it, I’d need to mention the war in Gaza, but that would be too
depressing. So let me post the letter that mentions only Ukraine. I believe its
message of hope will suffice with all precocious minds|it covers Gaza in spirit…
Virginia, I would never lie to you, but there exists
an even greater threat…
I contemplated long and hard: I don’t want to add to the fear we all feel for
our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.
At the end of this email, I want you to feel a modicum of optimism, more
compassion for our shared existence, however distant we might be from one
another. So, in that light, I settled on drafting a shortish email into which
I employed a little bit of Christmas, which, as you already know, is one of my
many favorite things. (Christmas in Spring? I hope you’re smiling).
Christmas in July. Oh yes, please!
Two links: One, from 8-year-old Virginia of 115, W. 95th St., who wrote to inquire
about the existence of Santa Claus; the other, an editorial response from The
Sun Newspaper.
***
Is There a Santa Claus (Virginia O’Hanlon)
“DEAR EDITOR: I am 8 years old.
Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus.
Papa says, ‘If you see it in THE SUN, it’s so.’
Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
VIRGINIA O’HANLON.”
See the original letter at Wikisource. (Public domain)
***
From New York, Tuesday, September 21st, 1897 — Copyright 1897 by The Sun
Printing and Publishing Association.
To 8y.o VIRGINIA O’HANLON
“VIRGINIA, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They
do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds.
All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere
insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence
capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
“Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you
know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if
there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no VIRGINIAS. There would be no childlike faith
then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and
sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well …
PLEASE CONTINUE READING HERE at Newseum IF YOU’RE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE
REST OF THIS WONDERFUL REPLY.
I know you’re familiar with this symbolic title of that extraordinary letter we
see circulate at Christmas time. And I want to bet you know the response The Sun
printed to that little girl in 1897.
Together, these squeeze my heart and remind me of the power of believing in
something far greater than our fears. I share it to remind us all of the purity
that still exists in this world.
Skip the above links if you like, but the way I’m repurposing that letter is
by imagining a child asking a similar question —but— about nuclear threats
in Putin’s war today. Perhaps you’d lend me your attention and scroll
down to read how I would appease Virginia’s relatable fear?
Today, a modern day Virginia would be asking if there existed something more
threatening than nuclear weapons.
***
To stop wondering, we need to empower everyone.
That is the light I wish to shine in this exercise.
The Existential Threat of Our Time
Oh yes, Virginia. There exists a greater threat than nuclear weapons: Hate!
Hate is a far greater threat as that’s what makes the use of nuclear weapons
possible.
Especially a hatred as blind as that which exists in the darkest heart beating
inside a man’s chest as desensitized, unjust, and pitiful as the one belonging
to the totalitarian, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.
-He epitomizes the existential threat of our time.
-No Government can eradicate hate.
-Can not.
-Only we can do that.
Hate is borne of prejudice and can be quenched only from within. Best to
eradicate it before it consumes our life force and we become Putins.
Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding as
love to eradicate hate. Remember, Virginia!
Let's make it our purpose to love more and to schedule more joy, imagination,
and relaxation into our lives.
A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from
now, love will continue to make glad the heart of all humans, including those
hearts, hardened at childhood.
***
I, grown-up as I am, still believe in Santa Claus and what’s more, the Santa
I grew up knowing about has the face of Mr. Putin when he smiles. And I love
that Santa.
I hope this email achieved its purpose: to add a light of optimism, love,
and compassion in the world we live in today.
Thanks for being here and reading to the end. I always wish you miracles, and
today, March 7th, 2022, I DECLARE WORLD PEACE. Selma.
Friends, old and new, I hope you’re empowered.
If it’s still okay, I’ll post again and share
links to my debut poetry collection next time
(and how you can join my pen pal list if you want)
I bless you and wish you miracles.
- Ha’Sonnet: Delight Of Flight–October - October 4, 2024
- #TankaTuesday: Tanka Puente, Best and Worst Moments 10/01/2024 - October 3, 2024
- Bid Me “Sail On!” Ye Stately Lighthouse - October 2, 2024
Nice you sharing Christmas In July Celebration. Lovely words written in.
Thanks, Raj. Glad you enjoyed this.
Welcome Selma!
wonderful share
Happy you think it so, dear Beth. I like the alternative to thinking about the heat. Does my heart good. Stay cool.
This is a beautiful heartwarmlng share Selma 🙏
Thank you.
Thanks, Maggie for finding it heartwarming. I appreciate your readership. Blessings.
My pleasure dear Selma 🤗
Many blessings to you my friend.
Hi Selma, this is a wonderful post. I do know the story about Virginia, it is very inspiring. I enjoyed your message of Christmas love and hope.
Thanks for reading, dear Robbie. If it hadn’t been for you I wouldn’t have known about this celebration. Stellar. Thanks. And glad you enjoyed the message in the post. Blessings.
What a lovely post, so inspiring and full of hope. Selma, you are the best. ❤️
Aww, Punam dear. You are the sweetest. Lovely words you spared me. Love them. Thanks. You are beautiful.
My pleasure. Sweetness deserves more sweetness. 🥰
And thank you!❤️
Hi, Selma. Thanks for enthusiastically joining the Christmas in July blog hop. I loved the Hello Kitty ornament. LOL, Daphne & Velma approve. =^-^= Hugs.
Aww what joy that Daphne, Velma and you approve of that little Japanese Kitty. I was hoping they would. Thanks for hosting this lovely celebration. Stay cool.
I like your Hello Kitty ornament. Where there is love there is life, that will always be true. (K)
Hey, K. xoxo, Thanks, so happy you like Kitty too. Stay cool and in the shade… xo
Beautiful, Selma 🙂 We all need a Christmas in july!
Yes. It would surely be nice right around now. Christmas in July 👏🏽
Thanks for the comment, dear friend. Hugs
This was a much needed post! Loved the cheer and who doesn’t like Christmas in July!
Right? That what I thought. 😉 blessings sweeet one. Stay in the shade.
You too!