Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all my friends old and new. There will be many new and exciting features for 2008. I thank everyone for their support in 2007.

Whats Wrong with Happy Holidays?

Local editorials across the nation are reflecting on the phrase Happy Holidays this time of year. Conservative Christians feel somewhat unhappy that Merry Christmas has been hijacked by the phrase Happy Holidays. I find it interesting that each year, Happy Holidays is attacked and no one comes to the defense of this phrase. Instead, we focus on Merry Christmas. I grew up with Merry Christmas. I use it in my house all the time. Yet,
I love to hear Happy Holidays when I go out in public.
The reason is my area is changing. The United States is changing. We have many religious and cultural traditions. December, as a month has more than one holiday.

Thus the phrase Happy Holidays. It reflects everyone's holiday.
Yet, some feel betrayed. Why? After all, can't Merry Christmas share the stage with Happy Holidays? I like knowing my kids learn about all the major holidays in December. It teaches them about the traditions found in Judaism and African cultures. I ask myself, what is wrong with enjoying all the traditions?

If Christians are not careful, Merry Christmas will soon carry the stigma of Intolerance. This is ironic, considering Jesus never intended his birthday to represent such a theme. So during this time of peace, lets think about what Jesus would do. I think Jesus would be open minded enough to run down to the store and say, Happy Holidays.

To all my friends, old and new. I wish you all a blessed holiday and Happy New Year.

Working Families Party

The Working Families Party of New York State is working for changes in Legislation that reflect many of the values of hard working people who have little or no representation in Albany. I will give a larger overview of the parties objectives in the People Making a Difference Blog. Please support them during election time by voting on their party line. Here is the website to get to know the party.

http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org/

Book Signing in Camden on January 5th - Live Concert

There will be a book signing in Camden on the 5th of January. I will be giving part of the proceeds to the American Cancer Society. This is part of a benefit which includes 5 hours of music. I have seen the lineup and highly recommend you get your tickets early. The location of the event will be at the High School. The High School is located just outside the village of Camden on rt. 13.

Vermont Society for the Study of Education

Please check out the story I have on the NCLB horror story site regarding activism and ending the nightmare of NCLB. For those wanting to go directly to the site, just copy the link below to your browser.
http://www.vsse.net/node/265

Rome Art and Community Center a Great Success

The book signing at the Rome Art and Community Center was a great success. The Mayor of Rome showed up for the event. Many thanks to the Mayor for his support. The audience was responsive and very interested in many aspects of the presentation and the book. I was appreciative of the kind words and feedback from all who attended. The musical presentation from Josh and Matt was outstanding. More on them later. Many thanks Rome for a great turnout. More dates for book signings will be posted this week.

Please Check New Features to the Website

The blog is growing. There are new features conveniently located in the Web Directory. Some people who have read the book have committed to writing feature stories for both the home page and new links. The book has been out only for a few weeks and people are getting active.

Teaching Tolerance at Home and School

Teachingtolerance.org is a website sponsored by the Southern Law Poverty Center. This organization gives free curriculum and products supporting decency to schools all across the nation. The website has programs for parents and students at every age level. Please support this organization. Best of all....it's free.

Resources for Teachers, Parents, and Advocates of Social Decency

Proceeds from the book will be used to help setup an online store for products that promote debate, democractic principles, and social justice. For teachers and parents, I will have access to hard to find movies and curriculum support. Also, I will open the website to promote new artists and products that need support. I will update the progress in future blog entries.

Tom Chapin's Not on the Test

For Parents, Teachers, Legislators, Social Workers, and especially children. LISTEN CAREFULLY AND ENJOY

http://64.23.8.93/audio/NotOnTheTest.mp3

Not On The Test
by John Forster & Tom Chapin
� 2007 Limousine Music Co. & The Last Music Co. (ASCAP)

Go on to sleep now, third grader of mine.
The test is tomorrow but you'll do just fine.
It's reading and math. Forget all the rest.
You don't need to know what is not on the test.
Each box that you mark on each test that you take,
Remember your teachers. Their jobs are at stake.
Your score is their score, but don't get all stressed.
They'd never teach anything not on the test.
The School Board is faced with no child left behind
With rules but no funding, they're caught in a bind.
So music and art and the things you love best
Are not in your school 'cause they're not on the test.
Sleep, sleep, and as you progress
You'll learn there's a lot that is not on the test.
Debate is a skill that is useful to know,
Unless you're in Congress or talk radio,
Where shouting and spouting and spewing are blessed
'Cause rational discourse was not on the test.
Thinking's important. It's good to know how.
And someday you'll learn to, but someday's not now.
Go on to sleep, now. You need your rest.
Don't think about thinking. It's not on the test.

Book Signing at the Art Center

There will be a book signing at the Rome Art and Community Center on December 1st 2007. I will be showing the film "Why We Fight" and discuss the reality of the film compared to what we believe is real. I am working on a yet to be approved arts presentation that will be given promotional attention next week.

The Quest For Human Decency Is Finally Here!

I just wanted to let everyone know that the book is coming out October 15th. Anyone interested in an advanced copy can email me at giardino@juno.com