Be sure to appreciate this holiday season

It would seem mandatory that with the "Special Holiday Issue" we published today, we should recommend safety and moderation when celebrating New Year's Eve, especially with the tragic events that have affected our campus, causing lost lives and injuries, and made heroes of common people.

Or, in this final issue of the semester, we could wish good luck during the upcoming exams and congratulate ourselves on yet another completed semester at Appalachian State University. With the travelling our campus will face, we could tell everyone to be safe during the travelling to Florida, Georgia, across North Carolina, Oregon, or where the road home may lay.

All those seem too easy, and perhaps today's message is as well. In any case, take time to appreciate the holidays, whatever they may hold for you.

For many of us, this is the one time during the year we can be devoid of stress. There is no summer job, no essay to write (or grade), and the opportunity to finally snuggle in the sheets instead of huffing to class at 9 a.m. in 25 degree weather exists.

We get to see family and friends, which we do take for granted. Families offer us with support, strength, and often, tuition. Friends who have gone to other colleges get back to the hometown to catch up on a semester away from lifelong pals. Opportunities to appreciate loved ones are few for hard-working members of a university. This break is a perfect time to do it.

Larger than just the family/friend circle is a greater one consisting of the storekeepers, other drivers (to those guilty of road rage) and people we meet. Stores close later, police, rescue and firefighters are on call more, and people are travelling long distances. Any of those scenarios may apply to you, but if not, remember how a kind word can make one's day. It is too easy.

Indulge your senses this holiday season until the overload. Smell the mulling spices, feel the snowflake on your nose (or the warmth of a vacation south), taste the home-cooked meals, listen to the singing and music and look at the sparkles in storefronts, streets and homes. Half of appreciating the holidays is in taking these things in. And finally (we must say it), have a safe and happy holiday, whatever it may be.

Kara Lynne Hodge

Dec. 25 marks my 22nd Christmas. I guess maybe since I am getting into that whole "adult" phase of my life, I'm not enjoying the holidays as much as I should.

It could be the whole craziness of shopping malls and outlet stores that has disenchanted me (yes, I was the brave soul that went to Concord Mills the day after Thanksgiving).

Or maybe I'm not enjoying the holidays because what I get for Christmas isn't as exciting as it used to be -- there are no more toys under the tree. Instead, now it's books on writing resumes and home furnishings, or even socks (Who wants socks as a present?)

But maybe I'm not enjoying it as much because the Christmas season has lost its original meaning - the spirit of giving, of putting others before yourself, of being thankful, kind and selfless.

For those of you who have forgotten (as I have at times), Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ (Get it? ItÕs CHRIST-mas.)

Christmas celebrates the birth of a man who was a perfect example of selflessness, kindness and generosity. He gave his life for all of mankind, putting the world's needs before his own. The spirit of Christmas' original focus was the life of Christ and his good deeds.

Obviously, the holiday is deeply rooted in the Christian religion, but don't let that scare you off from reading the rest of this article. Here is my point:

Whether you are a follower of Christianity or not (and I am), Christmas is about love, thankfulness and putting others before yourself for one season of the year.

You, my readers, are very lucky. You probably have more good in your life than you think you do, whether it is in love, financial status, family standing or education.

There are people who aren't so lucky. There are people in this world who don't have a soul to take care of, or aren't being taken care of themselves. There are people who don't have enough food to last them this week and there are people who will not wake up in the comfort of a warm house or apartment.

You, my reader, probably have all the things I listed above. You probably are sheltered, clothed, well fed (even if itÕs Ramen noodles) and loved by more than a handful of people.

You probably still have your health, are getting a good education, and have the resources you need to get somewhere in your life. And if you are reading this, that means that you are alive and ahead of the millions who will not make it this week.

This isn't a guilt trip. This is a reminder that if there is anytime to help your fellow man, Christmas would have to be that time.

Whether that means sacrificing a few extra dollars, or giving your free time up for the less fortunate, do it.

Here are some ideas: Volunteer to help pass out dinner at your local shelter. Make a few homemade cards and take them to a nursing home. Drop your spare change in one of the tins the Salvation Army sets up outside of stores. Donate to your hometown's canned-food drive or buy a toy for an Angel Tree child.

And doing something for someone else may not involve the type of volunteer work I just named. Is there someone who deserves to be appreciated or someone who deserves a thank-you letter? You can write a letter or an email, or just tell the person how great they are.

And so I will take my own advice.

If there is one person who deserves to be put first, it is my partner in crime Ian Hutchinson. So Ian, here is my thank-you letter to you:

Ian, the paper ought to name something after you because you have worked so hard. Your passion for good writing has pushed me to work harder to keep our beat the best it can be. Creating the entertainment beat of The Appalachian with you has been the most rewarding thing in my college career yet. For the first time in my life, I actually enjoy going to work. Thank you for being a part of that. I wish you the best in life. I know you'll do well.

So to the students, faculty and staff of Appalachian State University, I challenge you to keep the true spirit of Christmas alive this season. Merry Christmas!

The season for giving, receiving and lying

Ty Brueilly

Everyone gets everything twisted when Christmastime hits. And people do things that they otherwise would not do any other time besides Christmas. They go crazy finding that gift for their friends and family, call up people that they haven't talked to since the Christmas before, and then they get all stressed out because they can't find that scooter for their nephew they will get six of anyway from everyone else in their family.

But the biggest thing that bothers me is the fact that parents would lie to their kids about Santa Claus, while they preach year 'round about how immoral and bad lying is.

I understand that there is an exception to every rule. But the exceptions are usually beneficial to someone. How can lying to your child about Santa Claus be beneficial? I have yet to understand. A preacher can stand up in front of a whole church crowd and state what can be considered sinful and what his congregation can do to stray away from sin.

Then when Christmas day comes he still has presents under his tree for his daughter that are from "Santa Claus."

I recall back in the day of elementary school when one of my friends first found out that there was no Santa Claus. My parents did a wonderful job, from day one telling me the truth about Christmas and Santa Claus, so I knew the truth and there were no surprises for me. I didn't want to rain on my friend's Christmas Day parade so I never told him that there was no Santa because I felt it was his parents' job.

One day when my friend asked another little kid in class what he was getting from Santa he abruptly yelled that there was no Santa. My friend was shocked and ran to the teacher.

He told the teacher that the other little boy was lying and he didn't find that funny. Then my friend noticed a kind of gleam in the teacher's eye and asked, "There is a Santa Claus, isn't there?" My teacher was one that was trusted by all her students but was not afraid to let her mind be spoken, as well as the truth, so she broke it down to him and told him the truth.

My friend then cried and cried because he believed his teacher knew what she was talking about, and on top of that he didn't really need to hear it from his teacher, he needed to hear it from his parents. Ever since then I was puzzled that my friend's parents would cause my friend some unnecessary pain and crying, but I was also grateful that my parents told me the truth about everything.

I just can't understand why parents tell their children the lies. I'm sure the children will be just as happy with their gifts even if they aren't from Santa Claus; maybe even happier because they know that the gifts were heart-felt from their parents. And where did this whole Santa thing come from? Does anyone ever take the time to realize and learn what the whole thing is about? No, they just go along on their merry little ways, with no guilt about telling their children the lie, then wonder why their children grow up to lie so easily.

Maybe if parents started telling their children the truth about such things, we might have a little more stability in our population, as well as a little more trust.

Sooner or later everyone finds out that there is no Santa Claus, and if the parents aren't straight up with their children, in time they will grow up to be naive, un-trusting or pure liars themselves. Save everyone the trouble; be straightforward about the truth, that way they can know about it before now instead of it hurting them down the road.