Festive Greetings

It's that time of year again - the time when Christmas greetings start to arrive by snail-mail, e-mail and other means. 

Usually the manner of the greeting reflects the personality, profession or world-view of the sender. Take lawyers for example.

Someone once said that to be a good lawyer you need the mind-set of a 10 year old. When one of our sons was that age, we understood exactly what was meant. To protect his privacy I won't spell out the details, other than to say he was gifted in complying with the letter of the law while identifying and exploiting the loopholes in parental instructions. 

It won't be any surprise to regular readers of this blog, that I like Christmas greetings to be exactly that - CHRISTMAS GREETINGS, not 'Seasons Greetings' or any other variation on that theme. That doesn't stop me enjoying the humour of this festive greeting allegedly from a lawyer.

 A 'Lawyer's Festive Greeting' is posted today by Catherine Fox on her Close Encounters blog. She writes that she was sent it by a barrister friend, but does not name the author. Do take a look at her blog - always worth a read, but if you are short of time, here is the quote in full:

Festive Greetings 

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. In addition, please also accept our best wishes for a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2011, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make this country great (not to imply that this country is necessarily greater than any other country or area of choice), and without regard to the race, creed, colour, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual orientation of the wishers. 

This wish is limited to the customary and usual good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first. 'Holiday' is not intended to, nor shall it be considered, limited to the usual Judeo-Christian celebrations or observances, or to such activities of any organized or ad hoc religious community, group, individual or belief (or lack thereof).

Note: By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher at any time, for any reason or for no reason at all. This greeting is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. This greeting implies no promise by the wisher actually to implement any of the wishes for the wisher her/himself or others, or responsibility for the consequences which may arise from the implementation or non-implementation of it.

This greeting is void where prohibited by law.