It’s become a holiday tradition at Gazette Chicago. For the third consecutive year, this editor and publisher, after enjoying Thanksgiving with family and friends, settled into his office chair to put the finishing touches on the December issue. I heard the telephone ring as the clock approached midnight. Reaching over a cup of tea and a plate of my favorite lemon cookies, I answered, “Gazette Chicago, how may I help you?”
The voice on the other end sounded very familiar—and one that was expected. “Lieutenant Frost here, from NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command. This is year three of contacting you—I guess the third time’s a charm—perhaps for both of us.”
“Yes sir, how could I forget you? I must admit this time I was expecting your call. What can I do for you?”
“Well, it’s not for me, per se, it’s for your community and the country. Do you have it in you for one more trek to the North Pole?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” I answered. “What’s the mission and itinerary?”
“Well, things are going well at the North Pole right now. The elves are busy making their final toys, Rudolph and the other reindeer are getting in their final workouts, and Mrs. Claus is making sure Santa has enough to eat to give him the stamina for his whisk around the world on Christmas Eve.
“There is just one thing…Santa has requested a meeting with you. You see, every year as Christmas approaches, he receives cards, letters, and telegrams, and now he also receives Facebook posts, Instagrams, and texts about how good, or how naughty, the children have been this year. It’s quite a social media command center he’s got up there.
“Anyway, I digress. Santa feels that with 2022 being another tumultuous year, there are many adults who have been either naughty or nice, and some who even have been both. He wanted to share his list with you to make it public for all to read—and to reflect upon—and to make 2023 a better year for everyone.
“We don’t depart from the norm too much at NORAD. As usual, the car will put you up at 0600 hours to get you to O’Hare Airport. Then, I’ll meet with you for a quick check-in before the boys in the Air Force fly you up to the North Pole. See you soon,” Lieutenant Frost concluded.
Click went the phone and off I went to pack my bag and get a few winks of shut eye before dawn and my fight to NORAD.
“Hello again, Lieutenant,” I said when I saw him. “How are you this morning?”
“Doing fine, doing fine,” Lieutenant Frost replied. “Have a seat for a moment while your itinerary is being finalized. I shared over the phone that Santa wants to make public his naughty or nice list. He’s getting a little peeved that the adults are still behaving poorly and not looking out for the best interests of others. Santa feels there’s just too much greed in the world, and it’s getting worse by the year.”
“Well, can’t say I disagree,” I replied. “It seems every time we take one step forward, we take two steps backwards.”
The lieutenant raised his eyebrows in agreement.
“Well, here’s your special passport to the North Pole. Have a good flight to and fro, and don’t forget to send me your summary when you get back. My new email address is inside the itinerary. Oh yes, please remind Mrs. Claus to have the elves ship the batch of her special holiday cookies for the boys here at the base.
“Okay, off you go—thanks again,” concluded the lieutenant.
After a smooth ride, courtesy of the Air Force, I was on the tarmac at the North Pole. Once again, Everitt the Elf greeted me with a warm smile and a firm handshake.
“So good to see you again—isn’t it amazing how quickly a year passes by?” asked Everitt. “Santa and Mrs. Claus are very much looking forward to seeing you. Let’s hop in my horse-drawn sleigh and we’ll be there in a jiffy.”
I was soon ushered into Santa’s office with the big, comfy, leather, high-back chairs. There was a roaring fire blazing. Shortly thereafter, Mrs. Claus appeared with Everitt in tow. A silver platter was overflowing with hot chocolate, peppermint sticks, fruit cake, and cookies.
“Hello Mrs. Claus, so very nice to see you again,” I said as I rose from my chair in respect.
Her sparkling eyes showed her appreciation and gladness. “Santa has been talking about you all morning. He so much enjoys your visits—as do I. Now, please, enjoy some refreshments and Santa will be back from the toy shoppe soon,” said Mr. Claus.
After a few sips of hot chocolate, Santa entered the room.
“Ho, ho, ho, so good to see you my friend,” said Santa with his broad smile. “It’s a busy day, so let’s get right down to business—that okay with you?”
I nodded in agreement.
“It’s good to see that life is somewhat returning to normal,” explained Santa. “COVID remains a real threat, but as we come out of this watershed one-in-a-hundred years occurrence, I’m afraid that many are forgetting that it took millions of people looking out for one another to get us through.
“Here is what I’d like you to do,” Santa continued. “I’m going to share my ‘naughty or nice’ list and I want you to put after each person, organization, etc. whether they will receive a candy cane or a lump of coal. Now, just to set the record straight—I never leave a lump of coal for any child on Christmas Eve. I firmly believe that there is love and goodness within the heart of every child. It’s oftentimes the adults, and/or the surrounding community, who have failed that child—and set them on a path to poor behavior. We need to show kindness, love, and patience.
“Ready? “Here we go,” Santa said.
“Since we started with COVID, I want to admonish those who still deny that the virus is real or a threat this winter. And those that have become complacent with not getting their follow-up booster shots. I know that where you live in Chicago and across Illinois only 13% of your fellow citizens have received their booster shots. People need to stay vigilant. So, for the COVID deniers and the many who haven’t gotten their boosters: lumps of coal.
“I want to compliment and thank the many healthcare frontline workers, physicians, nurses, and others around the world who continue to show bravery in treating those suffering with COVID and so many other health conditions. I also want to thank the administrators, security workers, environmental and food service employees, and everyone who runs our hospitals and clinics, as well as those who run our laboratories and those who sell healthcare insurance so that millions of Americans can be insured and have access to care. To the health care teams that conduct global missions so that the underserved—many in Third World countries—can receive proper and life sustaining treatment. And, to the development staffs and donors that give generously to build health care facilities across the globe. Candy canes for all.
“A tip of Santa’s hat to all the police, fire fighters, and other first responders and emergency workers, and those who work at our 911 centers; they answer the call when others are in need. To our national parks staffs and others who conduct challenging rescues up high in the mountains or deep in the valleys. To those in the armed services, who protect the lives of Americans at home and abroad, often placing themselves in danger to protect the innocent and democracy itself. To those keeping children safe in our communities—those on block patrol and school bus drivers. Candy canes for all.
“And who can forget our teachers, professors, special and teachers’ assistants, librarians, special ed staff, coaches, school administrators, janitors, and security personnel, those in the cafeteria providing nourishment, and all who make it possible for our youngsters and young adults to purse their dreams. For ‘the DREAMERS’—those who came from foreign countries to make a better life in America—they deserve full citizen status. Candy canes for all.
“To Gen-Z and Millennials, who came out in force during the mid-term elections. And to the millions of other voters who choose democracy instead of oligarchy. For those who showed up to the polls despite voter suppression in many states. To the women who came out en masse to protect the health care rights of millions of Americans. To the United States postal workers who delivered mail-in ballots across the country. To the candidates who stood up for the truth and ran on platforms to help lift the middle class and those in poverty. To the election workers who bravely went to work each day despite death threats and fomented hate thrown their way. Candy canes for all.
“For the incumbents and other candidates who ran on ‘the Big Lie’ that the 2020 election was stolen, who spewed hatred and vitriol during their campaigns, and who threaten opposing candidates and fellow Americans. To the former President of the United States who continued to embrace the fallacy of ‘the Big Lie’ and encouraged others in ways that could permanently damage democracy as we know it. To all of you: I cannot believe what I observed from my station here at the North Pole. To the far-right media outlets and politicians who spread lies and, as an example, made light of the horrific attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi: shame on you. Lumps of coal for all.
“To President Joe Biden, who has been consistently underestimated, ignored, and even insulted by a media that purposely fails to value his wisdom, decency, and determination and his policies to build computer chip factories and make the United States an exporter of clean energy that will set up decades of American prosperity: a candy cane.”
Santa took a deep breath and pulled a tissue to wipe a tear streaming down his rosy cheek.
“Gun violence in the United States is now a public health crisis and should be treated as such. There have been more than 600 mass shootings in 2022 and weapons of war such as AR-15s continue to be the weapon of choice for these murderous individuals. Our children, co-workers, members of the LGBTQ+ community, and parade-, theater-, and church-goers among us are the targets. There are many elected officials, such as President Joe Biden, who are rightly calling for a nationwide ban on assault rifles and other high-powered guns. Yet, there are many elected officials, influenced by the National Rifle Association and gun manufacturers, who refuse to do the right thing—even when their own constituents are among the slaughtered. We’ve gone from feeble ‘thoughts and prayers’ to ‘now is not the time’ (to discuss mass shootings whenever they occur). To the cowardly among us in Congress: lumps of coal for all.
“To Mayor Lori Lightfoot and her administration. It was another tumultuous year with ongoing, public battles with members of the City Council and others who didn’t agree with her policies and positions. For the inability of the mayor and Chicago Police Superintendent Donald Brown to fail to get a handle on escalating crime and violence in our city. And yet, in many instances the Mayor has tried—her Invest South/West initiative is providing much-needed resources for our South and West Side communities. She is combating food deserts in those areas. She has encouraged Chicagoans to get their booster shots. She has also shown a human side when at the scene in the aftermath of many of these violent acts. In this case, both lumps of coal and candy canes for the mayor, the police chief, and her administration.
“For corporate executives who continue to rake in record-setting profits, while their workers struggle to make ends meet as inflation rises globally and they receive wages that are not even supplying the purchasing power that workers from 30 years ago had. It is hard to believe, for example, that a Jewel Food Store bakery worker is making a lower wage than her predecessor from the 1990s (as reported by the Chicago Tribune on Nov. 13). For egotistical billionaires such as Elon Musk, who could purchase Twitter without breaking his piggy bank, yet lay off and threaten thousands of workers, dismantle Twitter’s security systems, and push his newly acquired social media platform to the brink of supporting oligarchies in America and across the globe. To the millionaires and billionaires who poured millions of dollars into the campaigns of flawed candidates in Illinois and nationally, just to protect their own individual and corporate tax structures—shame on you. And to the many industries that still refuse—in 2022—to pay women equally to men. A recent Chicago Sun-Times story (Nov. 26) told of the rising number of women entering the trucking industry. The report showed that women truck drivers are less likely to be ticketed or get into accidents than their male counterparts. They have proven to be safer drivers, keeping us all a bit safer. Yet, the average male truck driver receives $61,000 annually while women trick drivers earn only $52,000. I’ll tell you, Mrs. Claus and the women elves at the North Pole wouldn’t stand for that—nor would I allow it. Lumps of coal for the corporate heads, board members, Wall Street moguls, and others who suppress wages.”
Santa said that he could go on and on but hoped that his list of “naughty or nice” could cause one to pause this holiday season and think of what they could do as individuals to make their community a better place—with the hope that by doing so, others would take notice and do the same. “Paying it forward” is the key, he said.
With that, Santa was done speaking and I packed up my recorder and notebook and bid farewell to Santa, Mrs. Claus, Everitt, Hermey the Dentist, Rudolph, and everyone at the North Pole. Oh yes, I did remind Mrs. Claus about the shipment of holiday cookies for the staff at NORAD. As I looked back at the residents of the North Pole one last time—waving and smiling at me—I had the feeling I’d be seeing them again. Wouldn’t that be grand?
Santa wished to thank the readers of Gazette Chicago for getting through another difficult year—and knows that all of you did your best and will continue to do so—to improve the lives of those you love and those you do not know by name in our communities.
We agree with Santa Claus. We too, are grateful for all those in our community serving others. We are grateful to our readers and advertisers—for supporting us the way that you do. Our advertisers keep us going— we send a heartfelt “thank you!” to each of them and ask our readers to please support these business and organizations. And “thank you” to those readers who donated to our efforts in 2022 through the Chicago Independent Media Alliance (CIMA) campaign or the joint Gazette Chicago/Civic Lab 40th anniversary campaign.
We hope you enjoy this holiday season—you deserve it. Find something enjoyable to do in our “Christmas in Chicago” section beginning on page 14. Celebrate the holiday season Chicago-style. Support the many non-profits serving others found in our “Spirit of Giving” section beginning on page 18. Santa would be proud if you do—and you’ll be making someone’s Christmas more joyful and bright.
The Gazette Chicago staff will be taking a much-needed break during the month of January but we will see you on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, with our special mayoral and aldermanic election preview issue. It should be a doozy.
We wish you good health, peace, joy, the love of God, family, and friends, and some quiet time this Christmas. And a very peace-filled and Happy New Year. See you in 2023.
Until then, stay safe and secure.