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It's that time of year…

Christmas is one of the hardest times of year for street-involved people.  Granted, it’s a time when they receive more free stuff than usual, but more powerful than the stuff are the feelings of loneliness and loss, and the many painful or traumatic memories about family, or the lack thereof, that are triggered at this time.  There’s a reason why acts of suicide and self-harm go up at this time of year.
And so, I thought I’d post a link to the “Fairytale of New York” by The Pogues.  Here’s a bit of Christmas music for all the lovely motherfuckers who are going to spend Christmas eve in the drunk tank, the hospitals, and the homeless shelters.  God bless us, everyone.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ff3aoSyYOVs&feature=related]

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  1. “Here’s a bit of Christmas music for all the lovely motherfuckers who are going to spend Christmas eve in the drunk tank, the hospitals, and the homeless shelters. God bless us, everyone.”
    I guess God bless all but the MF’s…With all the talk of ministering to the poor and lost, I would think you would have a little more compassion. Though we hate to see people who have little control of their actions, they need Jesus too. You are stronger than this…

  2. Mark:
    I think you’ve misunderstood me. I use the term ‘lovely motherfuckers’ as a term of endearment — a way in which that term is often used amongst street-involved people. Consequently, this post isn’t rooted in any ‘talk of ministering to the poor and lost’; rather, it arises out of real relationships of mutuality with street-involved people.
    So, spare me any middle-class ‘compassion’ that is unable to enter into the language of, or genuine solidarity and friendship with, the street-involved.

  3. “So, spare me any middle-class ‘compassion’ that is unable to enter into the language of, or genuine solidarity and friendship with, the street-involved.”
    I did misunderstand you. But as far as your comment above…you have no idea who I am, or was. I was born and raised in a war-torn country without a pot to shit or piss in, a home that was made up of left over crates from the armies that left them, no electricity, no running water, little food, surrounded by thieves, beggars, murderers, and insane people who would kill you for a piece of bread. I lived it.
    Your desire to help those in need is admirable. But there is a time to finish the milk and eat the meat .

  4. Mark:
    My bad, I mistook you for somebody else — a friend of mine who has the same name as you (I forgot to check the email address before I responded to you). Sorry about that.
    Oh, and there’s also a time to finish the milk and eat the cookies… mmmm milk and cookies… especially since I try not to eat all that much meat. 😉

  5. Love that song for Christmas. It’s one of the very few that actually is thematically about redemption (at least the way I read it). Merry Christmas, Dan.

Webmentions

  • It’s that time of year (again)… « On Journeying with those in Exile December 29, 2008

    […] that occur within yourself over a year by tracking the kind of music you listen to at Christmas.  Last year, I was listening to The Pogues, but this year my Christmas song is this beautiful piece by Joni […]