The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday, December 26, 2002 EDITORIAL Celebrate the humble, not the famous, this Christmas This is a tough era in which to celebrate Christmas. Think about it: we live in a time when celebrity, whether in sports, entertainment or public service, rules the society. Scientists, physicians, statesmen (what a quaint description of an hon- est politician) sit on the sidelines while people who can make a 3-point basket, hit a home run, sing obscene lyrics or oth- erwise call attention to themselves are rewarded with multi- million dollar contracts, and fawning public approval. What chance would a man riding a donkey into a major city have in such circumstances? Never mind the religious and spiritual implications of Jesus Christ, just judge him as a man, and he would be regarded with derision at best — and more likely scorn — in 21st century America. Come to think of it, that was pretty much how he was seen in the first days of A.D., too. What examples is modern society presenting to our chil- dren? How many of us have been won over — no matter how unwillingly — to the cult of personality that has engulfed America and the world 2000 years after the birth of that humble child in a manger. Sure, that characterization may have been no more accurate than the romanticized image of a gangland killer on the silver screen, but it has survived through the millennia, and will surely persevere for cen- turies to come. Jesus is the focus of dominant Western religions, but he also represents a philosophical and emotional purity that is hard to come by in our oh-so-cynical time. Many of our kids grow up thinking they've failed if they're not an NBA star or a featured performer on MTV. Most of us know better, but how are we to convince them that what is in their hearts and heads is infinitely more important than the size of their pay- check or the breadth of their notoriety? And yet, this humble son of a carpenter has had as great an influence on society as anyone in human history. Christmas means presents and days off to many of us, and that’s all fine; we should give our time and treasure to the people we love most. But we should also share the story of the humble baby, born among the beasts, who went on to teach the whole world how to care for all the other creatures who inhabit the earth. If he’s the basis of your religion, so much the better, but even if he’s not, Jesus sets an example all of us would be wise to emulate, and this holiday cele- brates the beginning of one man’s journey that helped point the human race in a direction from which it has wavered, but hasn’t diverged. And we're all better for it. Publisher’s Notebook Ron Bartizek Mother Nature threw a teaser at all the fol strap on a pair of boards and slide down snow-covered hills. Then, just as quickly as some fresh powder appeared, it was washed away by steady rains. Being a skier in the mid-At- lantic region is a little like being a handsome waiter in Holly- wood — you can see the potential clearly, but it’s awfully frustrating to wait for the reality to arrive. Our enjoyment is also diminished by the armies of neo- phytes who swarm the slopes, after trooping off buses from cities to the south, where a pile of trash on an empty lot is the closest approximation to a ski slope. Most of these folks . are earnest enough, and as long as they confine themselves to the bunny slope they don’t cause too much trouble, except { at meal time. Actually, many of them spend most of the day ~ in the lodge munching on overpriced hamburgers, which is all the better for everyone else. The fact is, though, that we need ski tourists — and any- one else who wants to bring their wallet to town — in order ~ to sustain the facilities. And we're pretty lucky to have de- © cent ski venues so close to home. That makes for a quicker * trip to the hospital after being rammed by an out-of-control ~ novice screaming down the slope. Letters, columns and editorials The Dallas Post attempts to publish opinions on a variety of top- ics in many forms. Editorials, which are the opinion of the management of The Post, appear on the editorial page and are written by the editor unless otherwise indicated. Any artwork represents the opinion of the car- toonist, and columns are the opinion of the author. Letters to the editor are welcome and will be published, subject to the following guidelines: * Letters should not exceed 500 words. * No writer may have more than one letter published during a 30- day period, except as a reply to another letter. * Letters must be signed and include the writer's home town and a telephone number for verification. * Names will be withheld only if there exists a clear threat to the writer. * The Post retains the right to accept or reject any letter, and to edit letters for grammar and spelling, as well as to eliminate any li- bel, slander or objectionable wording. In addition to letters, we welcome longer pieces that may run as columns. The author or subject's relevance to the Back Mountain will be the prime consideration when selecting material for publica- tion. The Dallas Post TIMESeLEADER munity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DALL. A 18612 * 570-675-5211 Ronald Bartizek GENERAL MANAGER Kari L. Wachtel ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. Erin Youngman REPORTER Claudia Blank AD PRODUCTION MANAGER Darlene E. Sorber Terry Quinn OFFICE MANAGER PAGE DESIGN Nativity scene at Dallas United Methodist Church. Photo by Ron Bartizek. ONLY MYESTERDAY 70 Years Ago - December 23 1932 DALLAS READY TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS DAY Preparations for the celebration of Christmas in Dallas were near- ing completion, churches, civic organizations and charitable in- stitutions announced plans for various observances of the day. Central Dallas took on a real Christmas atmosphere when ad- dition to the building decorations , a large cluster of evergreen trees was erected on main street. About fifty students of Noxen primary schools reported at their homcs suffering form measles. They were treated by Dr. George H. Rauch and dr. C.L. Boston. Some of the items you could get at the American Stores were: peas, 2 cans 29¢, mince meat, 2 Ib. 35¢; sugar corn, 3 cans 29¢; cranberry jelly, 2 cans 29¢; Asco coffee, 11b. 23¢. 50 Years Ago -December 26, 1952 DALLAS TOWNSHIP PLANS TWO ROADS Dallas Township supervisors prepared to enact an ordinance opening portions of Garbutt and gerald Avenues as public roads, according to a report submitted to the court in compliance with the Second Class Township Code. Story hour registration begins Jan. 6 Barbara Jane Melkemes of Shavertown, was granted a from National Art School Washington to make her ps Christmas * window - pictures. Some of the windows she will be doing are at Duke Isaacs, Gosart's store, Kingston Auto Parts, Guyette’s, Hall's Drug Store. Mrs. Ruth Turn, organist and choir leader at Dallas Methodist Church, was elected second vice- president of North East Region Pennsylvania Federation of Music Clubs, in charge of music for hos- pitals, especially veterans, of the region. 40 Years Ago - December 27, 1962 EDITOR OF THE DALLAS POST DIES SUDDENLY The death of Howard Risley struck the Back Mountain a crushing blow. He was the editor for over thirty years, ever since he acquired the Dallas Post in 1930. Everyone knew him as Howard, from school children to centenari- ans. Risley died of a heart attack. Army 2d Lt. Fred C. Ruggles, Dallas, completed the eight-week officer orientation course at The Infantry School, Fort Benning, Ga. The Smithfield Packing Compa- ny announced the re-election of Robert J. Parks as Secretary- Treasurer. Parks is a native of Dallas. 30 Years Ago - December 28, 1972 DALLAS BOROUGH TAXES HELD AT PRESENT LEVEL Dallas Borough Council pre- sented residents with a no tax increase for 1973’ Christmas pre- sent at the regular monthly coun- cil meeting.Finance chairman Harold Brobst read the projected temporary budget of $123. 000 to the group. Ed Buckley, postmaster’ at the Dallas Post Office will retire after 31 years of service. Following the death of Mr. Polacky, Ed Buckley was appointed postmaster in 1962, the first person to be ap- pointed postmaster following pro- motions through the ranks. The Mountaineers of Coach Bob Cicon will go into the sev- enth annual wilkes-Barre Basket- ball Invitational Tournament with three wins and two losses in their pre-season exhibition competi- tion. 20 Years Ago - December 29, 1982 WILLIAM CAMP LOOKS TO FAVORABLE YEAR Dr. William Camp, newly-elect- ed president of the Dallas School Board, stated recently that he be- lieves the overall goal of the board members for the coming year is to achieve the best quality educa- tion possible for the students of the school district. Dr. Camp be- lieves it is commendable that 72 percent of Dallas High school graduates continue their educa- tion. Thomas Bly, 16-year employee of the United States Postal Ser- vice, had been named to the posi- tion of Postmaster at the Dallas Office to fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Bernard Gawlas. Shavertown Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary presented their fire company with a Motorola Mitrek Radio and components to be installed in the new fire truck to be delivered after the first of the year Registration for the Winter/Spring story hours starts on Monday, January 6. The hours will start the week of February 3, with programs for Toddlers on Tuesdays from 11 to 11:30 a.m.and Thursdays from 6:30 to 7 p.m. For 3-5-year-olds, they will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. If you can assist by acting as a Story Hour Lady on Thursdays, please call Mrs. Rudolph at 675-1182. * The tatting class scheduled by Barbara Reggi for January 11 at the library has been canceled. Please contact her at 696-1262 to make other arrangements. "est beauty and joy. Yes, Virginia, | thereisa * Santa Claus The New York Sun was started in 1833 by Benjamin H. Day, then just 23. The pub- lication - which became one of the great newspapers in ; America -was the first New : York “penny paper.” Lt 2 4 The Sun ceased publication in 1950, but every Christmas its memory is revived by an editorial printed on Sept. 21, 1897. Virginia O’Hanlon, a New York City youngster, wrote this letter. Dear Editor: A I'm 8 years old. Some of my 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 115 W. 95th St. The letter wound up on the desk of Francis Pharacellus® b Church. an assistant editor of The Sun. A more hardened person might have thrown it away, but Church felt differ- ently. He wrote this reply. “Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been af- é ¢ fected by the skepticism of a® skeptical age. They do not be- lieve 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 lit- tle. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, | an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless &) 1 Pp world about him, as mea-~ sured by the intelligence ca- pable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge. “Yes, Virginia there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generos- ity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its high- 0 “Alas! how dreary would be y the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Vir- ginias. There would be no childlike faith, then no poet- ry, no romance to make toler- able this - existence. We should have no enjoyment ex- cept in sense and sight. The eternal = light with which | childhood fills the world, | 4 would be extinguished. “Not believe In Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christ- mas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? * § “Nobody sees Santa Claus. But that is not a sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are, those that neither chil- dren nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are anigecn | ¢ and unseeable in the world. “You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering in the unseen world which not the strongest man, not even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, [J 4 poetry love, romance, can po aside that curtain and view ot picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. “Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is noth- ing else real and abiding. “No Santa Claus! Thank God he lives and he lives for- ever. A thousand years from now Virginia, nay ten times ten thousand years, from [ § now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.” Q: Where do you find the most Back Mountain news each week? A: Only in The Dallas Post ’
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers