Just sending out my well-wishes right quick, it being the 24th here.
But it does call to mind the utopian ideas tied in with Christmas–the idea that, on this one day, Peace reigns all over the Earth. As adults, of course, we realize that this is ridiculous. Most people around the world don’t even celebrate the holiday. But I do remember, as a kid, being told (and believing) that on Christmas Eve (starting at midnight, maybe?) and Christmas Day, the entire planet plunged into peace, like it had entered some kind of interstellar peace-inducing energy field or something. That’s kind of how I pictured it, anyway. I don’t remember anyone telling me that that was a beautiful dream, and not, you know, reality.
Now wouldn’t that be something if it were true? Generals would order their troops to fight harder as midnight approached on Xmas Eve, desperate to capture the objective before their soldiers all laid down their arms and started hugging each other. Videogame consoles would allow you to play only Wii Fit and Little Big Planet. And you’d think everyone in the world would convert to Christianity after witnessing a miracle like that every year, but I doubt it. It would certainly become the holiest day of the year for every religion, but they’d all be claiming that it was their god who did it. Even non-believers would claim that maybe it was some kind of interstellar peace-inducing energy field.
But like I always say, dreams are important. Without them, society would never change, and D&D sessions would be really boring.
Merry Christmas to all. Have a peacefully joyful holiday.