‘Tis The Season
“Festivus” is a fictional secular holiday invented by writers of the popular 1990s television show “Seinfeld.” On the show, Festivus was celebrated annually on December 23 by character George Costanza’s family as an alternative to the commercialism of the Christmas season.
The Costanzas’ Festivus celebrations opened with an “airing of grievances.” Each family member told others “all the ways you have disappointed me over the past year.” Implied, naturally, are instructions for “personal improvement.”
The Costanzas are perfect metaphors for the American Left who celebrate their (per)version of Festivus 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, by telling – nagging – everyone else, the American majority, not only how we have sorely disappointed them, but how to “improve,” how we must live, think, and vote…forever…
Sadly, the Left enjoys the megaphones of public and higher education and national media to remind conservatives of our social, cultural and political “deficiencies” and make their disappointments – and instructions – constantly clear.
Frankly, we’re happy to suffer their shaming, because, if a majority had listened to the Left, we would have a President Kamala Harris; millions more illegal immigrants, including criminals, traffickers and terror watch list suspects, would have poured across America’s open southern border; wages would continue to lag the brutally inflated costs of food, housing, and energy; public health and safety would still be suffering; federal agencies would be even more politicized; civic and national pride…lower; the strategic oil reserve…fully depleted; military readiness…gone; American foreign policy…in shambles; our allies would still distrust us; and our enemies would still be laughing at us.
Oh, yeah…and if we had listened to they/them, men would dominate women’s sports, children would continue to be surgically and chemically mutilated, and drag queens would be performing in grade schools and public libraries.
Fortunately, America dodged those bullets, but … count on it … there will be no relief from the Left’s constant scolding.
Luckily, the Costanzas observed “Festivus for all of us!” At their Festivus celebrations, everyone was allowed to air their grievances.
So, how have the conservative Americans included in the silent majority been aggrieved by hard left-wing members of what should be our national family?
The Left’s lack of respect for law enforcement disappoints conservatives. “Reimagining law enforcement” has produced terrible results in every jurisdiction where it has been tried. The people most egregiously affected are city dwellers who cannot afford to move out of high crime areas.
The Left continuously disappoints conservatives by fighting against and attacking the federal agents who are doing their jobs to enforce immigration law and keep our borders secure.
The Left also disappoints conservatives by opposing the reforms that would ensure election integrity – e.g., cleaning up voter rolls and voter ID. It makes us suspect that the Left intends to cheat – again.
The Left’s inability – or unwillingness – to recognize biological science is disappointing, as is their inability – or unwillingness – to answer a simple question: If genitals don’t define gender, how does removing them affirm it?
Conservatives dislike the Left’s fixations on divisive racist themes like Black Lives Matter, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, but are hopeful that both can – will – be rolled back.
Conservatives are especially aggrieved – threatened, really – by the Left’s toxic rhetoric, their habit of calling us ugly names simply because we disagree with them. Name calling vilifies and dehumanizes us in ways that encourage nut cases to commit violence – misfits who may think they’re doing a public service by beating up or even killing “Hitler,” “Nazis,” “racists,” or “sexists.”
Strike “may think.” It’s happened. Charlie Kirk is dead; so is at least one West Virginia National Guardswoman; and candidate Donald Trump was nearly killed as well. Liberals who falsely slander others with whom they merely disagree have blood on their hands.
Conservatives are deeply offended by the Left’s refusal to admit their culpability in creating a political atmosphere in which assassination is considered a legitimate political strategy. We know that to be true from their psychotic reactions to – their approval of – Kirk’s murder and their expressed desires that another Trump assassin be successful.
The Left must suck it up in 2026, because conservatives’ commitment to the law and America/Americans-first governance will continue to disappoint them.
In the New Year, conservatives just hope to survive the Left’s venomous pattern of encouraging and committing violence.
https://www.pottsmerc.com/2025/12/14/jerry-shenk-tis-the-season/
