COMMENTARY: It’s the Reason for the Season!

It’s the Reason for the Season!

by Gail Riecken

John Krull, Statehouse File, wrote today about respecting each other’s opinions. He said the best gift we can give each other is to let people make up their own minds. He is so right.

Krull’s comments reminded me of a recent incident in Evansville, the EVPL reading program where people dressed as the opposite sex read to children 11 and under.  Reactions to the program have been interesting.

A local elected official commented his extreme disappointment in the EVPL; a friend felt the cross-dressers in the program should dress more like us women, who we really are; another said any program to get the word out about appreciating the differences in people should be given a chance; and another responded “its no big deal”.

Issues like this just drive many of us up to our emotional scale. Maybe that in itself has value.

I can remember as an active member of the Junior League (years ago!) when some members were looking at ways to educate the membership about child abuse and neglect.

There was a presentation of photos of the worst in physical abuse. It was truly shocking-sickening. But, the program had value.  It got many of us committed to doing something.

 Maybe we can respect the EVPL experience as that, a value to those who want their children to respect the differences in people; a value to those who attend and change their way of thinking about the differences in all of us; and a value to all of us about appreciating the differences in opinions of others.

My pastor said it best in church yesterday. He was thanking the congregation for once again supporting his “other self” as Santa- and what a fine Santa he is.  Pastor Kevin said he would be making his last stop to the libraries today, Monday. As always, he said, he will be in his Santa costume, drag, you might say. And, no one seems to mind that.

 This is the Season of friendship, kindness, and generosity. It is the Season where even an event, his night of ghostly dreams, could change Scrooge’s way of thinking.

 Have a Blessed Christmas.

Gail Riecken