Seasons shootings

And now, a special message to our patriotic shoppers at home and abroad.

While out pre-Kwanzaa shopping this week, I noticed one shopping center along U.S. 280 had seasonal banners up in the parking lot. Not unusual, except for the mixed message.

Similar to the one pictured here, the design on the dozen banners featured a dove with an olive branch in its beak and the nondenominational holiday pleasantry, “Peace on Earth.”

What made this decorative banner stand out was the American flag incorporated on the wing.

I guess the banner was too small to fit the actual message: “Peace on Earth, courtesy of the U.S. Armed Forces, and democracy (or something resembling it amidst the shootings and bombs and insurgent mayhem) for all.”

Maybe other shopping centers could also jazz up their Christmas/Hanukkah signage with patriotic messages, or at least, up the irony:

Dubya in a Santa hat tossing Bibles to detainees, with “Mission Accomplished” in that cute cursive string of holiday lights;
Cheney in a manger, surrounded by shepherds with gifts of oil, oil and oil;
Rudolph the Threat-Level-Red-Nosed Reindeer, “I’ll find those WMDs”;
Condi, making a list (checking it twice) of countries, to find out who’s been noncompliant with nuclear ban treaties or nice.

Only 38 more shopping days for that special freedom-loving patriotic someone in your life.