A CHRISTMAS CAROL HOLIDAY QUIRKY BLOG 2015 bY Calvin Schwartz December 24th 2015 1:11pm
It’s always complicated for me writing a holiday blog; emotions run all over the place. Holiday movies fuel the energy of my creativity and wisp me around mostly Jersey memories. A few minutes ago, I watched “Miracle on 34th Street” with Maureen O’Hara and child actress Natalie Wood. The movie was made in 1947. The black and white film depicted post war life in New York City perfectly. I said to my wife how much I loved and appreciated the writing of the movie. How perfect an ending to see ostensibly, Kris Kringle’s cane; it makes you believe in everything about the movie. A few years ago after watching “The Wizard of Oz,” for the 44th time, I realized it would’ve been a perfect ending if Dorothy was wearing the slippers back in Kansas after she woke up. Oh well; back to the holidays.
at the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean County
The Ghost of Christmas Present reveals to Scrooge two emaciated children, clinging to his robes, and names the boy as ‘Ignorance’ and the girl as ‘Want’.
Right after I’m finished writing this blog, I’ll hop on my exercise bike and pedal full throttle for 90 minutes while watching “A Christmas Carol.” How I look forward to Christmas Eve and Alastair Sim as Scrooge. Christmas has poignant meanings for me. I celebrate Christmas in my own way. In my first novel, ‘Vichy Water,’ my main character, Elvin, goes to Power, Montana on Christmas Eve for Midnight Mass. Funny thing, it’s on my bucket list as well but that is a very long story. But there is an extant year- long meaning of Christmas for me; it involves awareness and proactivity with homelessness and hunger. This too is a long story. Perhaps I can explain a bit with reference to one of my favorite movies(holiday and all year), ‘A Christmas Carol’ starring Alastair Sim from 1951.
on assignment with NJ Discover LIVE radio/TV co-host Tara-Jean Vitale at Tent City Lakewood where 100 homeless people lived.
There have been a number of actors playing Scrooge. For me it’s only Alastair Sim. The tech noir film ambiance lends itself perfectly to the time Charles Dickens wrote the novella in 1843. A few things about the movie still hold on to my soul. The Ghost of Christmas Present reveals to Scrooge two emaciated children, clinging to his robes, and names the boy as ‘Ignorance’ and the girl as ‘Want’. The spirit warns Scrooge, “Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.”, dramatizing the book’s social message.
Here’s where the movie’s theme gets relevant, timely and fascinating. “Want” is a powerful force. In 1843, people wanted and needed. Of course Scrooge asked, “Are there no work-houses?” In 1980, there were 40 Food Pantries/Food Banks in America and today there are 40,000; a devastatingly incomprehensible example of want and need beyond most of our comprehension. A dollar donated to a food bank can buy three meals. Last week, this factoid about the low prices of gas was published and astonished me. Because of the low price of gas (fuel) America is saving $350 million a day. I played around with the numbers. If all of us took $1 of savings a week and donated to local food banks, can you imagine what a special Christmas season and all year for up to 50 million Americans who are hungry?
one of my favorite improv Christmas pixs. I got a chance to play a large red elf on Asbury Park Boardwalk
Continuing Charles Dickens’ theme of “WANT” in the movie ‘A Christmas Carol’, I bring to this blog the news about a report that NASA had some involvement in: “NASA Study Concludes When Civilization Will End, And It’s Not Looking Good for Us.” Look for yourself:
“It is an independent study by university researchers utilizing research tools developed for a separate NASA activity.” There are five risk factors for societal collapse (population, climate, water, agriculture and energy). The report says that the sudden downfall of complicated societal structures can follow when these factors converge to form two important criteria. “The two key solutions are to reduce economic inequality so as to ensure fairer distribution of resources, and to dramatically reduce resource consumption by relying on less intensive renewable resources and reducing population growth.” What does this all mean to me in this Holiday blog? Dickens was enduringly smart. Want is the root of so many problems. The holidays should be a good time for all us Earth inhabitants to look at the less fortunate; a powerful message of the season.
As a journalist and human, nearly three years ago, I became involved with Tent City in Lakewood, New Jersey where 100 homeless humans lived in tents for up to 12 years because Ocean County had no provision for the homeless. Then two years ago, I became involved with the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, writing several articles about hunger and “want” and need. Then I went to an all-day event in Red Bank dealing with hunger. Then there’s Dickens in 1843 warning about ‘Want’ and I say to myself nothing has changed here on earth and in America since 1843. Want and Ignorance and Hunger not only exist but have grown in scope from 40 to 40,000.
Scrooge on Christmas Morning
On a more upbeat(after all it’s the holidays) extraction from the movie; the scene on Christmas morning when Scrooge wakes up and realizes he’s still alive and can change the course of his life by being a better, giving, and grateful human. The sheer joy and excitement of revelation propels Scrooge to stand on his head on a sofa which is priceless. Later on, I love what he says to Bob Cratchit, “I haven’t lost my senses, I’ve come to them.” Therefore I’ve added this scene to my bucket list. Someday I’ll come to that moment of sheer joy and find reason to stand on my head; hopefully on a morning local television program. Scrooge and I are about the same age so if he can stand on his head so can I. If we could move in the right direction fighting hunger and homelessness, I’d stand on my head.
It’s the holidays which are full of dreams and wide-eyed children. I’m wide eyed right now finishing this blog and wishing everyone the same thing Tiny Tim wished.
Have a Merry Happy Healthy Wondrous
Calvin Schwartz, writer, co –host NJ Discover Live, co-host, Rock on Radio with Danny Coleman and citizen of New Jersey , USA
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