Democratic Party Ninth District
Christmas wish from Ga. Democrats
Rev. Dr. Jim Nelson

Over the years Christmas has in many ways become much more of a secular holiday celebrating materialism and over indulgence than a religious holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus. Still, most people at least think about the Christmas message of peace, joy and good will toward all. Whether celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or just taking a day off, we are all God's children and we can all be thankful for the gift of freedom, which we have in these United States.

Besides there are certain parts of the Christmas message with which I am sure we can all agree: peace is preferable to war, love is better than hate, joy is more desirable than sadness, understanding is better than intolerance, and faith can overcome fear.

As we approach 2008, a year which will be filled with Presidential politics, let us remember that we should all be working for what is best for all Americans. We need to remember that as Americans, "We hold these truths to be selfevident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

To accomplish those lofty goals, we need to give every American this Christmas the gift of equality in the eyes of the law, the gift of freedom from governmental intrusion into our personal lives, the gift of health with universal health care, the gift of hope with a living wage, the gift of quality education, and above all else the gift of peace, security and justice. All values held near and dear by Christians and Democrats alike.

In the spirit of Christmas, and a little good-natured fun, I offer the Democratic version of the TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS.

Please sing along.....

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me

A Democrat in the White House!

Both houses of the Georgia Legislature

3 Democratic controlled branches of government

4 new alternative sources of energy

5 STRAIGHT DAYS OF RAIN

6 Bills of impeachment

7 new US Representatives from Georgia

8% more votes than Republicans

9 Liberal Supreme Court Justices

10 Amendments of the Bill of Rights restored

11th as Georgia's national Education ranking

ONLY 12 more months of Bush-Cheney

and of course "A Democrat in the White House !!!!!"

That is our Christmas wish list for you and for all Americans.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

P.S. Don't forget there were only donkeys, no elephants in the stable that first Christmas.

The Rev. Dr. Jim Nelson is a United Methodist minister, and author the of "Where Would Jesus Put the Sidewalks? A Study of Faith and Politics." In 2006, he was the Democratic nominee for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 1st District of Georgia. Currently, he is the editor of the Wesleyan Christian Advocate, the newspaper for United Methodist in Georgia.