Archie & the American Dream

I have a confession -- I've not given a damn about Christmas since 2001 -- Christmas just evolved into such crass commercialism I found it pointless.

Yet, in typical Raine fashion, I find myself embracing the concept of christmas if for no other reason than to piss off those anti-American types. I'm not one of these hard core, beef eating, apple pie embracing Americans a la Archie Bunker. I'm more the type that believes, "American by birth; Texan by the grace of God." But the whole Texan thing I can delve into at another time.

If you haven't noticed, the undercurrent is happening -- quietly but strongly the pro-Americans are making their presence known.

• You want to rename our Christmas trees "holiday" trees so they don't offend some minorities? Fuck you.
• You want to wear a towel around your head for your drivers license photo and yelp about your civil liberties being taken away if you're told to take the thing off? Fuck you.
• You want to sneak across the border like a thief in the night and kill a Dallas cop and then have your consulate start yelping about your civil liberties because Texas makes use of the death penalty? Fuck you.

See the whole "holiday" tree thing won't work because the judges are getting around the ACLU by saying it's ok to refer to it as a Christmas tree because it reflects American culture and not necessarily religion.


I was pleased to hear today that a 40-year old cartoon, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown" had so many advertisers wanting to buy airtime that ABC was having to turn them away left and right. A 30-second spot went for $200,000 -- Desperate Housewives isn't even commanding anywhere close that price.

And the great thing about that show -- it explains the TRUE meaning of Christmas -- which is Christian related. Linus explains the true meaning as told in the book of Luke. And the cherry on the icing of the cake is that the show ends with a carol praising God.

Daniel Ash has a song he wrote for his band Love & Rockets. Daniel is a British boy now living in L.A. and when he performs An American Dream he says something along the lines of "Fuck yeah -- America has been great to me!"

And I was dreaming in my sleep
Saw through you all
And I was dreaming still on my feet
Saw through you all

And I saw what you could be
And you just don't feel free

And I saw what you could be
But you just won't be real to me

So let's blame this excess
On an American dream
So let's blame the success
Of an American dream

Are you confused by the chaos
In everyones wandering eyes
Do you dream of running naked
In warm rain
Are you confused by the chaos
It's no, it's no surprise
We all stand next to Jesus
Close to Satan we're both the same

These birds can't fly away away
These birds can't fly away

So let's blame this excess
On an American dream
So let's blame the success
Of an American dream
Of an American dream
Of an American dream
Of an American dream

Feeling so high and low
It's the American dream
It's the American dream
It's the American dream
It's the American dream