Salem-News.com Holiday articles Page 7

650 Missing After Catastrophic Flood Strikes Philippine Islands

Experts warn that the death toll will be significantly higher before it is over.

(MINDANAO, Philippines) - Flashfloods that were triggered by tropical storm Sendong hit Cagayan de Oro City Saturday morning in the Philippines, leaving in its wake total devastation in many areas of Mindanao. The number of casualty continues to rise with death toll placed at 652, and nearly 800 are still missing.

Experts warn that the vast number of missing people could drive the death toll to more than 1400.

IGNORING THE LURE: Materialism`s Backlash

Wealthy glitter does not impress me or define my inner value. There is no price tag to my principles. These remain the cornerstone of my reason for being.

(SALEM) - With Christmas Season in full swing and the jingle of cash registers growing ever louder, my sweet spouse asked me how I formed my attitudes about not being swallowed up by Mr. Materialism. If was a question I had never pondered before.

Most education really begins in the home rather than the school. Your parents become your de facto teachers in values education.

Urgent Appeal

Keep in mind that people need to eat every day.. not just at Holidays. So... give again!

(WINDSOR, N.H.) - Christmas is fast approaching and food pantries along with “soup” kitchens across America are almost universally experiencing hardship. Not only are pantries suffering major shortages in supplies and donations, they are experiencing dramatically increased numbers of homeless and/or hungry patrons.

Shepherds` nights, Israeli troops and more

Recounting important history and current abuse from the Israeli regime.

(BETHLEHEM) - I received many notes articles and announcements claiming anniversary of the start of the 1987 uprising on 8 or 9 December.

This uprising (not "the first intifada") did not start on those dates. Below a section from "Popular Resistance in Palestine: A History of Hope and Empowerment" to explain why.*

December in Palestinian history

Not a happy month exactly...

(BETHLEHEM) - I could go on but as can be seen December is like any other period in history brings up both sad memories of atrocities as well as memories of resilience and persistence and resistance of ordinary people. As we look to 2012, we hope that what is left of December will see more of the latter actions. There is a genuine popular resistance movement in the Arab world.

But, as happened previously there are those who try to profit from other people's work by posing only for the cameras or in conference rooms or worse yet engage in destroying the resistance while speaking about it in positive terms. There is a counter-revolutionary movement by forces allied with the US, with the apartheid regime

Oregon Bikers Go Wild to Help Kids Enjoy Christmas

Bikers make a lot of noise when it comes to making kids happy.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Bikers from all around the Willamette Valley are joining together this weekend in an effort to create a wonderful Christmas for some needy kids.

For the second year in a row, Salem's "Bikers Gone Wild" Toy Run will collect and distribute gifts to kids of all ages living at Salem's Oxford houses, as well as to the SOS Club, and the Salem Hospital Pediatric Wing.

Should we continue to tolerate intolerance?

Tolerance is fast becoming extinct and being replaced by political correctness which is simply a term used to rationalize and /or justify intolerance.

(HARRISVILLE, N.H.) - At what point do we recognize that political correctness is just that... a politically motivated bastardization of whom we are, what we believe, and what we do? When did we become so ultra-sensitive that we cannot tolerate another’s opinion or beliefs as long as they are not harmful and do not infringe upon the rights or freedoms of another?

Every year the situation seems to worsen. One or two more things that have always been accepted as the norm become forbidden territory.

A Tireless Advocate of Justice for Palestinians

 Francis Khoo Kah Siang
(1947-2011)

(BEIRUT, Lebanon) - Francis Khoo Kah Siang passed away on November 20, 2011.

In addition to the countless reasons Francis will be sorely missed by his friends and loved ones, he will be missed because he leaves a void for many of us who were and remain inspired by his work for Palestinian rights. Francis Khoo is an icon of countless others, who like himself, are neither Arab nor Muslim, neither from the Middle East nor culturally or politically connected to Palestine by birth, but who support the Palestinian cause.

Thanksgiving, Evacuation Day and Wall Street

A little known U.S. holiday was replaced, more or less, by Thanksgiving, thanks to Abe Lincoln.

(SALEM) - Like most Americans, I understand the general concept of Thanksgiving, a holiday honored and celebrated every year in the U.S. and in other countries on their respective days.

The observation in the U.S. involves tribute toward Native American culture and people, and that amplifies its importance in my book. What I did not always know, is that the observation owes its existence to a decision made by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

OLDER & BOLDER: My Personal Jaunt into Gerontology :-O surprise/:) raised eyebrows

Mental motivation is extra important as our years accumulate.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Who among us does not age? I have yet to meet that individual. Since I was raised in part by both sets of grandparents during WW II and beyond, I began to admire older folks many moons ago. It is no accident that after ten years of being a full-time journalist I switched course to become a gerontologist. That journey has been mighty fulfilling.

It has included community organization, counseling, and training students in geriatric social work practice.