It’s Not About A Salary; It’s All About Reality.

"It was getting harder and harder to stay psyched."

I’m already hearing the grumbles and mumbles from my fellow workers about having to go to work tomorrow, especially those of us who were fortunate enough to have a long break throughout the 12 days of Christmas. Personally I had a good time playing Santa Claus, writing, programming, and sleeping longer than the 6 or so hours I usually get. It was really nice. Plus, I discovered that I’m balding a bit in the front, so the more relaxation I could get, the better (sorry to those that didn’t have that extended break).

Nonetheless, here are the 5 things I’m going to hate about going in tomorrow.

1. The trip: I’m going to travel an hour or so by train to get back to work. Jumping on that iron horse again after this long time off is going to hurt my soul.

2. Waking up at 530am: Can I wake up like normal people, at around 630 or 7 so I can get to work?

3. Talking to people: Honest to goodness, even with my popularity, there are times when I could use a little isolation. Now, it’s back to interacting with people. Not just sitting behind a cubicle, but actually having to present an idea in front of little people and hoping their attention lasts a good 5-10 minutes before they lose it. Nice.

4. Working my own schedule: I loved dictating my own schedule. Oh, I’m going to get on Twitter now? OK, let me get on Twitter now. Oh, I’m going to eat breakfast at 12 noon? Sure, no problem. Now, it’s, “if you don’t eat lunch at 5th period, you’re gonna starve until you leave.” Or, “Um, yeah, I’m going to need you to come by at this time, ’cause we have a meeting, and um, yeah, that’s where I need you to be, ok?”

5. Having to come back from work: The ride coming back is worse because a) I’ve taken to napping on the A train, and it often leaves me more exhausted and b) that A train back is far too crowded.

Now, knowing all of that, why would I love going back?

1. A second chance: everyday I go back and think about how I can get better at my job, and find myself in these people

2. Interacting with people: there’s a good and a bad with all, right?

3. Helping others grow: in my profession, I’m blessed with the opportunity to help others see better for themselves.

4. The wait: After a while I start anticipating what my next move’s going to be when I get in that classroom. I start getting anxious until I just scream “Enough already! Let’s get in there!”

5. What else am I going to write about? My blog is mainly about education: what else am I going to do with myself if I don’t have that? Politics? Poetry? The weather? Blogging about blogging? No thanks. These kids give me stories for days.

Anything I’m missing? I’m pretty sure I got ‘em all for me.

Jose, who needs to get his butt into bed …

Tagged as: education, vacation

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Facebook

A few notes:

• Ever felt annoyed when you went onto a blog and you had to enter in a ton of information that’s already on one of your social media sites? Well, no mas! If you look to the right, you’ll notice that now you can use your Facebook account to comment directly onto my blog! It’s one of many features I’m proud to announce as part of my interaction initiative for this blog.
• Also, if you’re one of my peoples on Facebook, feel free to become my personal fan. I have my own page where I get to send personal updates on my writing and life in general (rather than leaving it up on my status).
• Also, if you’re on FB, and you suddenly come up with an idea for the blog, have any inclinations to guest-write, or just want to discuss an idea I recently wrote about, the fan page is there for that, too.
• In the coming year, these three things are sure to happen
  • Portfolio for the web work I’ve been doing
  • Vlogging
  • Audio recordings of my poetry
• From here on out, I’m going to write 2 separate posts for these Sunday ruminations: 1 with bullet points of the major and minor news, and one where I just write to my heart’s content.

Here’s where you come in. Any questions, comments or concerns? Constructive criticism is welcome, too.

Jose, who honestly needs to write 3000 words in the next 2 weeks. Whoa.

Tagged as: blogging, facebook, fan page, short notes

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Cutting Room

Thanks for the plentiful comments, everyone. I definitely replied to each one. After writing an admittedly great personal year-in-review last year, I actually thought I’d have a harder time writing this second one. Nonetheless, they were both fun. As usual, there are a few things I leave off the post, mostly because some of it didn’t flow with the rest, but other times, it’s because, frankly, it was inappropriate for the feeling I was trying to convey.

I have no such inhibitions now.

Top 10 Omissions

10. Revolution: Rewatching V for Vendetta and Malcolm X in separate instances, and sobbing over my rice and beans.

9. Blogging: I know I brushed through this really quickly, but it’s worth noting. I have a friend who I’ve known since my Syracuse days who I had a chance to hang out with in a bar. She’d known me well throughout SU, but some of what she felt she knew about me changed, especially what happens here in my blog and my other writing. Some people, including her, presumed that that my writing here in my blog was inconsequential, despite my accomplishments through it. This all came to a head at the bar, where, as we’re discussing this very topic, a young lady who I knew on Facebook came up to me and said,

“Excuse me, are you Jose Vilson?”

“… Err, yes …”

“Oh my God! I read your blog!”

Of course, I laughed, and tried to be gracious, but ended up with one more hater! Hilarity ensues. It was cool, and it wasn’t a big deal as far as our friendship was concerned, but if I could have taken a snap shot of that particular moment, I would have, and posted it right here. Since then, she’s alleged that “it’s like she barely even knows me.” Maybe so, but for now, just pass me my beer, please.

William Mark Felt a.k.a. Deep Throat

8. Politics: The death of William Mark Felt also known as “Deep Throat.” I really didn’t know much about the Watergate scandal, and the elaborate descent of Richard Nixon to really understand the depth of his resignation, until W. Mark Felt’s death. His revelation as “Deep Throat” has become a beacon of courage for whistle-blowers who boldly seek justice for the under-served. From the whistle-blowers of Enron to the continuous whistle-blowers that we call bloggers, we all owe at least a bit of gratitude to “Deep Throat”. With the current administration, it’ll become more imperative to write right the wrongs of these corrupt government officials.

7. Censorship: Here’s an example of why self-hosting is the only way to go for serious bloggers. Hasta Los Gatos Quieren Zapatos (”Even The Cats Want Shoes” in Spanish) has rather incendiary material, but nothing more than I or The Field Negro may have. To wit, I have them linked in my sidebar for a reason. Even still, someone took them to task and hit that little “Flag Blog” button at the top of the blog, ensuring that, whenever anyone went into their blog, they’d be met with a warning label. Fuck that shit. If I want to curse and rant, I will, and no one can stop me. I know it costs a little more (anything is more than free, I suppose), but the price for independence is well worth it.

6. Songs: “Pussy” by Brazilian Girls and “Don’t Touch Me (remix)” by Busta Rhymes feat. Spliff Starr, Reek da Villian, The Game, Lil’ Wayne, Nas, and Big Daddy Kane were two of my favorite songs this year. Yet, I don’t think “pussy, pussy, pussy, marijuana,” or “don’t touch me, nigga!” would set a good tone for an inspirational post … right? At least not for this educator. Oh and while I’m at it, “Microphone Fiend” by Eric B and Rakim also blared through my speakers.

5. Commentary: I wrote a post entitled “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” where I write about one of my alum who had recently revealed he was bisexual. From that, this is probably one of my favorite comments of the year. It reminds of me of the scene in Milk in which a disabled child talked to Harvey Milk on the phone anonymously. I’ll probably never forget it. Ever.

4. Quotations: My favorite quote of the year comes from Barack Obama and not what you expect:

“If I had to name my greatest strength, I guess it would be my humility. Greatest weakness? It’s possible that I’m a little too awesome.”

- Barack Obama at the Alfred E. Smith Dinner

I put that up on my FaceBook page, and I thought people were ready to fling their heels at me. Speaking of which …

MAD Magazine: George W. Bush, We Stand By Our President

3. People: I don’t know how many times I’ve gotta say it, but in the words of Keith Olbermann:

“George W. Bush is my year’s WORST. PERSONNN IN THE WORRRLLLLDDDDDDDD!!!”

And he’ll probably continue to get nominations until every troop is out of Iraq and Afghanistan.

2. R.I.P. - The deaths of Isaac Hayes and Bernie Mac. Isaac Hayes was a musical inspiration, and despite his dealings with Scientology (geezus krist!), I still respected and loved the man’s musical talents. As for Bernie Mac, his gumption and panache on stage and on his TV show inspired me to break my personal barriers of censorship in the name of speaking those truths. Oftentimes, the social interactions we have with one another limit the reality we feel. Bernie Mac, at least on stage, felt no said inhibitions. Rest in peace, brothas.

1. Online vs. Offline: The difference between me online and me offline is approaching zero. At least that’s what I’m aiming for. Yet, I also want to make it clear that, when it comes to my job, I try to maintain a sense of professionalism. Earlier last year, I had to handle an incident I’d rather not go into too much detail about. Rather, I’ll just expound of this: blogging has apparently become so hazardous, even those who have no interest in it follow up on what I’m doing based on what I write, hoping to catch something I’ve written about them. It’s nonsense. Then, it gets uglier when personal friends get involved, and then I’m asked to be the mature one amongst people who I’d consider my “elders.” Not that age is directly related to maturity, but for me to have been in that mess in the first place almost discouraged me from writing in public as a whole. No pseudonyms or secret identities. Just go phantom.

Then I said, “Fuck that. No thanks. I think I’ll go back to writing.”

And I have you, the reader, to thank. Even if I know you in person, please note that that feedback propels and inspires me to speak as loudly as possible. This educator thanks you.

Jose Vilson: Looking Over the Pier

Jose, who wishes you all a safe and happy new year …

p.s. - my image of the year:

Kareem Rashad, Soldier

Tagged as: errors and omissions, year in review

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Jose Vilson: Looking Out (c) 2008 Tafari K. Stevenson-Howard

I started off this year the same way I started off last year: reflective, and humbled. My first entry for 2008 was an errors and omissions post, just to let people know that, yes, even I make mistakes (::flicks imaginary hair from his face like a pseudostar::). More importantly, though, my recap stands as a testament to my self-discovery. Enjoy the ride.

By The Seasons: A Recap of Some Events from 2008

Eli Manning at Champions Parade

In the early winter, I loved Charlie Wilson’s War and The Great Debaters, entered “civil disobedience” into my vocabulary, completely hated Cloverfield, celebrated my life’s span passing a little more than a quarter-century, rewrote my whole blogging history and my own manifesto for the world to see, rediscovered my love for Freecell, saw my almost-brother Andy go to Korea to teach, watched puppets fornicating on stage via Avenue Q, watched big blue monstrosities gentrify my neighborhood, ran excitedly around my TV as the other Big Blue Monsters a.k.a. the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots, met Dwayne Wade, Cee-Lo, and Sway, still had Graduation by Kanye West on full rotation, watched Bear Stearns collapse like a sign of the economic apocalypse, and went to Miami to visit my now much-healthier father (thanks still to everyone for their prayers and well wishes).

Jose Vilson and Malcolm Gladwell, NCTM

In the spring, I read my poetry aloud to the 6th graders in my class, actually liked Discipline by Janet, heard “Us Placers” by CRS (Kanye West, Lupe Fiasco, and Pharrell Williams) featuring Thom Yorke and wondered what was possible for music in general, started writing my book, impersonated Biggie Smalls, met and heard Malcolm Gladwell speak in Salt Lake City, UT, where I augmented my teaching at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference, nodded at Isiah Thomas’ firing from the New York Knicks, felt Sean Bell’s fury sweep the city, went to Washington, DC, where President Bush made jokes at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner while my girlfriend and I slept upstairs, loved Lupe Fiasco’s “Superstar” as a theme song for my homeroom kids’ intramural basketball championship team, caught Kanye, Lupe Fiasco, NERD, and Rihanna at the Glow in the Dark Tour with some not-so-funny brownies, blasted Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” after watching Robert Downey Jr. rock my imagination, and braced myself for my own journey through time …

Yankee Stadium Gang

In the summer, I took my students to the newly opened Sports Museum of America, and on a tour of Yankee Stadium (for some, their first time ever, and now, their last), opened up about my fandom of Kobe Bryant, read Blink by Malcolm Gladwell and Why Are All The Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria? by Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, joined that little phenomenon Twitter, invested time in getting my whole blogosphere to howl (and that you all did), dropped my jaw at the death of George Carlin, had a good time in Dominican Republic, saw Juan Luis Guerra y la 440 in Madison Square Garden and Chuck Mangione at the Blue Note, thus knocking off 2 things from my bucket list, counted along with Feist in “1, 2, 3, 4,” and whooooooa, The Dark Knight instantly shot up my favorite movies list (especially after the 3rd time), dropped my jaw watching Michael Phelps and the rest of Team USA kill it in Beijing, China, while slowly fuming that protesters were getting silenced in the most life-threatening ways, saw the Statue of Liberty up close for the first time in my life, and let go of some of that said liberty when I got ready for the next 180 days of teaching.

Watchmen Cover

In the fall, things fell into an awkward place as my mentor / friend left to another school, read The Watchmen after seeing that first fantastic preview, dug The Smashing Pumpkins, The White Stripes, The Ramones, Garbage, and Ghostface Killah all over again, redid my website in that book’s theme, became hypnotized with Salvador Dali again, reunited with my Syracuse University alum once more at Syracuse, NY, started off the school year with the appropriately named “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay, rebuilt the Latino Alumni Network of Syracuse University group with that new vigor, missed my godson Josiah’s first birthday, but witnessed my good friend Indira (who was part of last year’s recap) give birth to Amethyst Fé (a girl - *** side note: this is one of the few predictions in which I was right and she was wrong, otherwise she tends to be right about everything, but just in case, told you so, nah nah nah nah nah ***), realized that the Yankees would definitely not see the playoffs as Yankee Stadium patiently awaits its eminent destruction, jammed to John Legend’s “Maxine” and Asher Roth’s Green House Effect Mixtape, stood close to the front row for Janet Jackson (and knocking off another item off my bucket list), updated the look around here again using Thesis (and others soon followed), and became one of the millions (AND MILLIONS!) of Barack’s fans …

In the last month, I was enthralled by Sean Penn’s portrayal of Harvey Milk in Milk, became fascinated with “Massage Situation” by Flying Lotus, reunited with my Nativity (middle school) alum (and won tickets to In The Heights), saw Just Blaze around my way after playing a mean game of pool last night, and was once more overwhelmed with the joy of Christmas.

The 5 Themes of 2008

5. Politics: “Swagger Like Us” by T.I. featuring Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Lil’ Wayne

Barack Obama Brushes the Dirt off Shoulder

I couldn’t avoid politics anywhere I went. This was by far the most exciting and invigorating season for politics I’ve ever been a part of (tells you how old I am). Eliot Spitzer, David Paterson, Jesse Jackson, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, and Barack Obama. Those names will forever be sealed in this man’s mind forever. Oh right, and Dennis Kucinich (just off the fact that I finally found a politician whose closely aligned with my own politics). Whenever we thought the political news was over, something else came up. Whether it was a plumber who wasn’t really a plumber or an impersonator getting more coverage than an actual vice presidential candidate, or even a certain mayor overstepping and ignoring a twice-mandated policy for only two terms and thus acting as Lord of New York, I know I probably won’t ever see another year like this. It also inspired the activist in me once again. After Al Gore lost in 2000 (and subsequently won the Nobel Peace Prize), I thought every vote I put up would count for nothing. Barack, despite his follies, made me believe again, and for that, I have a profound respect.

4. Death: “The Beginning is the End is the Beginning” by The Smashing Pumpkins

This was also an unprecedented year in the amount of life and death situations I’ve been involved in. The year started well enough with my father recuperating well from last year’s scare. Then, it went downhill from there. I’ve had my little cousin Ana Patricia (who was infamously incinerated by her father in February, and yes, it was hard holding back about that), my other cousin’s mom, my own cousin Rich, and one of the great teachers of my building, Mr. N, die as well, all very differently, but all as harrowing. I’ve been to the hospitals more times than I can count: for myself, my mom, and my girlfriend’s family. It felt like I could have shacked up in a hospital and I’d sleep just as well, or unwell. The scary part is that I never became numb to it; to the contrary, I might have become even more sensitive to it all.

3. Love: “Tu Amor Me Hace Bien (Your Love Is Good For Me)” by Marc Anthony

She’s been my most thorough supporter and critic. She’s the Michelle to my Barack. She’s been my best friend, lover, confidante, and all that jazz. When I lost confidence in my abilities, she kicked me swiftly and squarely in the pants (hurt like a motha, but I’m back on the horse, right?). Even with our issues, we’ve managed to make it through, and I plan to build on that. Sometimes I wonder how I got this lucky, but it’s something I work hard at. Her love is good for me, and maybe I’ll have more to tell you all in 2009. My Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

2. Teaching: “Fly Like an Eagle” by Seal

Jose Vilson in Columbus Circle

While in the classroom, I made some strides as far as academic prowess and classroom management, I made the most progress in teacher leadership, putting to use the tools I have as a communicator and social intermediary to good use. I’ve been doing that since I was a newbie, but this year, I felt like I took that role by the neck. After all that battling, it actually feels like my opinion matters, and that’s so important in any environment that’s looking to improve. I’ve become an example of what teachers can do when they’ve been given a voice in the happenings at the school. Granted, I’m far from the only one who has input, but I consider myself a prominent voice.

1. Success: “All These Things That I’ve Done” by The Killers

Yes, I latched onto this song when the Nike Olympic commercial came on. And it’s fitting because most of this year’s successes came through people seeking me out and the blessings I’ve received rather than me seeking it out. I became part of the Teacher Leaders Network (and went to Raleigh-Durham, NC) thanks in large part to John Holland. I was featured in Time Out New York because someone was searching for “Time Out New York 40″ on Google’s Blogsearch and found my mock interview. I had the privilege of restarting the Latino Alumni Network of Syracuse University in large part because of Francisco Nuñez ‘03, who simply asked, “What are you guys doing now?” I was extra motivated because of Debbie Mercado ‘83, whose “not just participants but investors” line propelled our whole team into a movement bigger than us.

My first real guest post came courtesy of Nezua a.k.a. The Unapologetic Mexican, (my blogger of the year) who I ran into courtesy of Twitter really. My aforementioned “Howl” post came courtesy of Taylor the Teacher, who was inspired by my taglines at the end of my posts and threw it my way. My most popular post, “All I Ever Had …” came as a result of a situation with Bygbaby (the latest photographer to bless me with his skills) in which he was called an anti-Semite for no apparent reason. The 1400 or so friends on Facebook, 476 followers on Twitter, 164 readers here, 2000+ friends on MySpace, the random e-mails from burgeoning young teachers, bloggers, and teacher-bloggers, the people who stopped me on the street, in the bars, or online to say they loved my work, the people who dropped by NYC and brought your flavor to this side of town, the props from the most random of folk like Jeff Pearlman, Karrine Steffans, Liza Sabater, Guy Kawasaki, and Danyel Smith amongst a host of others make me realize just how important you, yes you, are. Thank you all, really. There isn’t enough space to thank you all, really.

The Killers' Brandon Flowers

… Over and out, last call for sin
While everyone’s lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I’ve done
All these things that I’ve done
If you can hold on
If you can hold on …

Song: The Killers, “All These Things That I’ve Done”

Jose, who loves it when 4,036,081 people can take the square root of their population and celebrate radically with me …

p.s. Guess how many words there are in this post?

Tagged as: year in review

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Misconceptions about the News

There’s a famous quote that journalists learn every so often when it comes to the news:

” The job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”
- Finley Peter Dunne

It seems to be the general theme that I come across when I talk to newsies and other affiliates about the profession of news delivering. On the one end, journalists are entrusted by millions across the nation to deliver the day’s news. Even those of us who blog largely get our news from the big kids like the New York Times, Washington Post, the AP, and Reuters. Of course, that’s why it’s imperative for the news to be as balanced as possible, not just in ideology, but also in content.

But that’s where most networks fall flat on their faces. Even when they do a reasonable job of just reporting the facts, they still get caught up in that Murdochian mentality of keeping as much negativity in the news as possible for ratings. All we hear about is the terrible economy, the war, the murders, fires and firings, but never have a balance of what real people do, the rescues, the charity work, community service, the fun and exciting.

I’m asking for a lot, especially because the news is often criticized for not being everything for all people. The more well-informed of us want to hear more positive stories but at the same time want journalists to be more poignant with their coverage of things. They’d like more independent voices rather than the cronyism and tepid coverage we’ve gotten as a result of the media manipulation by corporations and ideologues. Jay Rosen has recently been twittering about “safety”

You know why there are bloggers, @Newshour? Because there is “safety first” reasoning in news. People get sick of it and take up their pens.

And that’s the crux of our existence. It isn’t so much that we want to take your jobs (as Pandagon so eloquently posits here), it’s that we want you to do your jobs as well as you can. Make things interesting. Report the good and the bad. Don’t limit the amount of good news to a 30 second segment because you know that 10 minute segment on the rough times will get you better ratings than the other network. Those of us who want to be informed want the news unfiltered and raw, and the closer you get to the “truth,” the better.  That’s why cable shows, as far as this informal eye can see, do better amongst my readers than the network news does.

Again, I’ve never taken a journalism class in my life nor do I profess to know what the editors and producers of the hundreds of news channels know, but as a consumer, I do have an understanding of what others are and have been saying about the news. Of course, if that’s news to you, then I guess we’re not watching the same thing.

Jose, who doesn’t believe no news is good news for the news you don’t know can kill you …

Tagged as: news

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Background

The 2008 JLV Blogger of the Year Award came about as a result of my desire to acknowledge the best and brightest bloggers around my side of the blogosphere. There are plenty of spaces that acknowledge the same bloggers, most of whom deserve the praise. Blogs like TechCrunch, Deadspin, and Huffington Post will always get props because they’ve set the trends and have a whole staff that can crank out hundreds of posts a week. Others get praise simply because they have connections here and there, so they get accolades (for some, I can’t tell why they’re so lauded). Where does that leave the other bloggers, those who work for a living, those who don’t have corporate sponsorship or those whose life work comes from serving their constituents, and writing from their souls rather than just re-upping what the next man said. With that said …

The Process

I went through the 100 or so blogs I have in my Google Reader, picked out 5, and then thought about which of those made the greatest impact on others’ writing, their own writing, and more importantly, my thought process. There’s no real way to judge subjectivity.

The Nominees

Props to all the nominees.

Clay Burell

NYC Educator

A Slant Truth

The Unapologetic Mexican

GothamSchools

The Winner: The Unapologetic Mexican

Believe it or not, this was a really rough decision. Clay Burell’s writing ranks right up there with almost any contemporary author I’ve read. NYC Educator, as most of you know, is like the education Godfather (without the kissing of the ring, and all that nonsense). A Slant Truth tends to fill in the gaps in the news or any current event when he writes. The ladies at GothamSchools do great work at their blog, focusing on NYC education, and trying to be as objective as possible (plus, I love their blog’s design).

Yet, when it came down to it, I know in my heart of hearts, he was my blogger of the year. As far as I’m concerned, he’s been the premier Latino blogger on the Internet. Nevermind Perez Hilton and anyone else who may be secretly Latino; The Unapologetic Mexican represents his constituency so hard and with little contrition (hence the name). The writing itself makes you have to sit down and take time, and after reading it, you’re all the better for it. He speaks to the indignation of millions in this country, and picks apart arguments cogently, and so eloquently, you get the whole picture right then and there. Whether it’s his much needed work on immigration issues or his essays on life and fatherhood, his blog emanates a certain authenticity that welcomes you each and every time. His documentaries on the Democratic National Convention were particularly poignant.

Besides that, he’s got an awesome site, one he continuously works hard at (though he makes it look far too easy), and with all the praises he does receive, he stays utterly humble. While this blogging thing is still relatively young, I also still see a lack of Latino bloggers getting the proper accolade they deserve. Here’s a Corona to UMX.

The JLV's Blogger of the Year: The Unapologetic Mexican

Jose, who is himself an unapologetic blogger …

Tagged as: blogger of the year, blogs

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For a split second,
Imagine that brand new hundred-dollar coat you had on
Was given to someone else
Would you cringe?
Would you feel any type of way about it?
Does the image of those “less fortunate than you”
Actually make you feel any resentment or anger
That out of all the other people they could have taken their presents from
It came from the one that you wanted?
Does it make you clench your stomach?
Close your eyes tightly?
Infuriate you?
Can you imagine the audacity of someone with less money
Taking that one thing you wanted for Christmas?
The GALL!
For all the presents you already receive throughout and continuously
Consistently while this miscreant,
Leftover from our grand capitalist state
Got something you wanted 1 day out of the 365 or so days
Moons and suns play hide-and-seek with his days
And he still can’t be given anything but that prized coat of yours
Who does he think he is?
Does he deserve such a present even as you have so many more options for yours?
Does his basic humanity even come into question for you?
Will your system of beliefs allow for everyone this Christmas to get a present
Where in Christmases past, that present was never to come?
In a time when with all hope bubbling to the top of the kettle
The present is neither guaranteed nor taken for granted by too many
The present may not protect them, shield them from the bitter cold
The present may not be traded in for something a little shinier
The present is just a recurring notion
An interest for a period until that fad fades into the past
Whereas your present
Your present
Can make someone else’s present all the more present …

© Jose Vilson, who had something to say …

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Before I forget, I’m giving a shout-out to my favorite bloggers, including my Blogger of the Year. Yes, it’s the first one I’ve given, and no it’s not me. And of course, my popular Year In Review 2K8.

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The Grinch

Last night, my family went to visit my stepfather’s family in the Heights, and I literally felt like running out of there. It was like a Dominican Chuck-E-Cheese. Tons of kids, tons of presents, and the adults all thinking how much longer will they be awake. It was interesting to observe them; at first many of them were really grateful. But by the end, when asked “Did Santa get you everything you wanted?”, they completely forgot their manners. They completely forsake the man despite the plethora of Wiis, X-Boxes, Barbies, and other expensive gifts in front of them. One boy got 2 video game systems at once. I got 2 video game systems every 5 years, if that.

With that said, I was feeling in a Grinchy sorta mood.

Here’s 10 ways to ruin someone’s holiday season:

10. Invert the smile on the snowman, point to it, and say, “It’s all your fault!”

9. Get a box of the most expensive item on the kids’ wish list (an Apple Mac comes to mind), and stuff it with a bunch of old clothes from your youth.

8. Call up your local activist and tell them that President Bush just called for marshal law.

7. Give holiday homework. (I got this one pat down).

6. Pour some Nyquil into your friends and families’ EggNog. (Not too much, please).

5. Run for another term as Emporer of Rome Mayor of NYC when we’ve already had you for 7 years.

4. Dress up as the Joker in a Santa costume, and run around telling kids you’re permantly taking away Christmas forever.

3. Empty out a shoe box (again, think expensive), put a really embarassing college picture of their wilder days, tell your friend and his girlfriend you’re coming over, give her the box with the picture inside. Let the fun begin!

2. Give your children their gift with a sticker in the back informing them how much they’ve put themselves in the hole for the future. Extra bonus for those of you who are willing to incorporate facts about this latest recession and words like “crisis,” “depression,” and “bankruptcy” into the vocabulary.

1. Tell your kids Santa’s not real. Always works. Even when they should know better.

Jose, who wonders what my cabal of commenters can think of as well …

p.s. - Anyone who’s willing to walk up to the White House now with Barack Hussein Obama masks, raise your hands!

Tagged as: christmas

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