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Written and © by Jarno Tarkoma

Santa's interview

The following is part of an interview of Santa Claus.


Mr. Claus, may I ask how busy you are now?

Too busy if I may say it frankly. Gifts, letters, reindeer, elves, persistent chimney problems. But I like it that way.

Many people are complaining that true Christmas has disappeared under commercial hoopla. What is your opinion?

Well...

What was it the Romans said when I was younger??? Tempora mutantur et nos mutamur in illis. Sorry. I keep remembering old times - I was quite a latinist but that was 2000 years ago. So the times change and what can we do about it, even if we are a Santa Claus? Nothing, I fear.

The commercial system is something we nowadays seem to need to fulfill our instinctive behaviour. As I see the thing, it is void in itself, it does not originate anything. It only creates the means and variety for us, the tools of merriment.

Mr. Claus, what about the spiritual values of Christmas?

In the final analysis it is the motive which counts, I think. Christmas is a state of mind. You can have it wholly as many kids do, you can have it partially, you can lose it. You can even mimic it although I cannot understand the goal of this. Everything which happens during Yuletide follows from states of mind.

This is why I am not against commercial system as such. The wrongdoings sometimes blamed on business, of cluttering Christmas with goodies and hoopla are not invented by business. They were there when the Child was born. Gold, myrrh, frankincense... remember that. They were real, not only imaginary symbolic gifts.

So you think Xmas is about gifts and presents?

Yes, definitely. Of course I'm sometimes overwhelmed by this Xmas gift question but I do not mind giving, I am here to give and I'd wish everybody would feel the same way. That has been my stated policy well nigh two thousand years.

Mr. Claus, are you real?

Of course I exist. No question of that. When enough people believe in me, in heart, my spiritual existence is a fact. I am answering you here, am I not? As to the question of Korvatunturi, North Pole, whatnot, they are irrelevant. The geography of Cyberspace is a bit perplexing, so one could say whatever one pleases. The main theory seems to be one with snow, reindeer et al - thus let it be.

The continuous existence of me, the Santa, is a proof that I am needed and that people believe in me. That is why I keep popping up on Internet here and there despite widespread secular attitude, ridicule and outright contempt.

Mr. Claus, are people too greedy?

I keep getting an unbelievable volume of wishes every year and alas, they are deplorably materialistic. Thus a message from true believer is a glowing spark even outshining Rudolph's nose.... They keep me alive. And believe me, they are coming, too.

Many emailed letters tell me how the family is sitting around the computer and looking at my pictures. Knowing this I think I've got a fair chance to see the next thousand years....

How do you feel living on the Internet?

I see the Internet as a mighty tool for spiritual advancement for the mankind. It is a truth-bound tool because of the openness, you do not have any dark odd corners for muggers and swindlers. I see it as tool for unleashing the creative potential hidden in many people otherwise without means to express it.

Take me, for instance. For hundreds of years I have lurked in countless little books, most of time out of print, wrong colors, odd costumes. My words have been frozen, many times it was not *me* who talked but somebody else. Now I am a Dynamic Santa, in Cyberspace. I can speak, answer, participate. That's a different world altogether. I have delurked myself, in fact, thanks to modern com equipment. For me and other Immortals this is really the chance of lifetime :-). Which brings to my mind that I do not like that newbie intruder, Highlander....

Mr. Claus, would you like to give us a piece of solid Xmas advice?

Yes. Do not eat too much. And remember that the greatest gifts of Christmas are spiritual - mutual understanding and forgiveness.

Thank you, Mr.Claus

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