Full of Holiday Jeer

This country is devoutly materialistic, religiously and politically divided and at war. This season is about generosity, goodwill and peace. The irony is wrapped, packaged and festively ribboned specially for editorial cartoonists to spread holiday jeer.

The contrast between the made-for-TV Christmas and the reality show we live in couldn’t be sharper. On the small screen, the Grinch converts, Rudolph romps and Scrooge repents. On the big stage, the Grinch prospers, Rudolph’s nose flashes high terror alert, and Scrooge rewards ghosts past with plum lobbying jobs in the private sector.

It’s a wonderful life, all right, if your Iraq tour hasn’t just been extended, your health insurance canceled or your job outsourced.

Now look at the big picture: Chunks of the warming North Pole are floating out to sea, timber interests are eyeing Charlie Brown’s pathetic little tree and figures show a billion children around the world getting lumps of coal this year.

Maybe we pulled out of the recession just in time for holiday depression. Santa better eat his steroids.