The lucky ones

VIEWPOINT

By RALPH HARDIN

Evening Times Editor

There’s a pretty well-known Christmas song called “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” performed by a super-group of musicians under the name Band Aid and recorded back in 1984 as a fundraiser for relief efforts during the Ethiopian Famine (sort of a holiday-themed concept version of “We Are the World.”

While the song’s message is a good one (take time during the holiday season to remember and maybe do something to help the less fortunate), it is widely regarded as, well, not good. No one is saying that helping the needy is bad… it’s just that there’s something a little off about these rich and famous people “doing their part” by singing a sappy Christmas song.

And as an avid Christmas song fan, I have to agree. I mean, I’m still going to listen to it when it comes on and I’ll even sing along, but it’s right up there with “Christmas Shoes” and “Sim-

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ply Having a Wonderful Christmastime” as holiday songs I could go the rest of my life without hearing again. Anyway, why am I writing about Christmas songs in the middle of March? Well, in the aforementioned song, there’s a line, sung by US frontman Bono that goes, “Tonight, thank God it’s them instead of you.” Again, I get the intended message (be thankful for what you have when others have little or nothing), but it just irks me every time I hear it. It is, however, something I think we all do.

Case in point: You’ve probably already read the frontpage story in today’s e-edition about the deadly storms that blew across the state over the weekend. Three people lost their lives and 30-something people were injured — on top of the millions of dollars in property damage.

People are hurting. Crittenden County knows what Mother Nature’s wrath can bring, so I’m sure plenty of us will offer thoughts and prayers for the victims. We might even donate time and/or money to the relief effort. But most of all, we’ll probably just be thankful that it wasn’t us — this time.

On Sunday, my family and I made the trip down I-40 to visit my wife’s parents. Along the way, we saw the aftermath of a pretty serious crash involving two tractor-trailers and two SUVs.

I don’t know exactly what happened but all of the involved vehicles looked pretty mangled. And while I hope everyone got out unscathed, my first thought?

Glad that wasn’t us…