Branafia for one, a “Merry Christmas” for most, and “let’s pray” for all!
The Ole Seagull had the opportunity to speak at the Jan. 26 meeting of the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB Board of Directors regarding a resolution pertaining to encouraging the use of the greeting “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays” during Ozark Mountain Christmas. As it was being discussed, one of the board members just couldn’t seem to wait to share the fact that he had a problem with one of the columns that the Ole Seagull had written about six months ago, the one where the term “Branafia” was coined.
“Seagull, I remember that column, it was entitled ‘Look, up in the sky, it’s the secret handshake clique – no wait, it’s the Branafia” and had nothing to do the use of the term ‘Merry Christmas’ during Ozark Mountain Christmas.”
“You are absolutely right.”
The tapes of the meeting indicate that the person specifically said that the column had “basically compared this group [the chamber board], this organization [the chamber], and the very people sitting in this room to a criminal organization that deals with murder and drugs and that sort of thing.” When the Ole Seagull replied that “The column was not directed at the board or the chamber,” he said, “It was specifically directed at this board.”
“WOW, and “Merry Christmas” to you Seagull, he seems pretty adamant.”
“And he’s not finished yet.”
The Ole Seagull asked “Was the chamber board even mentioned in that article?”
In what just might be a Freudian slip, he replied, “The meeting of the chamber board, the board retreat was, yes.”
Just to make sure the Ole Seagull asked, “It was mentioned in that article, “the board retreat?”
He replied, “Yes.”
Using his own terminology, let’s see what the column “basically” contained, or, more appropriately in this case, didn’t contain. A “basic” word search of the column shows that the words “board” and “retreat” did not even appear in the column and that the word “chamber” only appears once, in noting the title of Ross Summers as a speaker at the July 1, 2004 meeting of the Hollister Board of Aldermen. It should also be noted that the words “criminal,” murder, and “drugs,” or any reasonable derivative thereof, do not appear in the column.
“Based on that and what the column actually said, how can any reasonable person say that it was “specifically directed” at the chamber, the chamber board, or “the very people sitting” anywhere, let alone in that room?”
“Anyone can say anything but does that make it the truth?”
When the meeting finally got back to the issue of the chamber encouraging the use of the greeting “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays” in connection with the Chambers involvement with Ozark Mountain Christmas, the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce & CVB’s Board of Directors voted by a margin of nine to seven to adopt the measure.
“Whoa there Seagull, doesn’t that close a vote on a measure to encourage the use of the greeting “Merry Christmas,” in lieu of “Happy Holidays,” during Ozark Mountain Christmas cause you some concern?
“Sure it does but let’s keep things in context.”
The very next vote was on a totally unexpected and spontaneously presented motion. That motion was to open each board meeting with prayer, passed unanimously, and, to an Ole Seagull, speaks volumes as to the commitment to our community’s values that the majority of those on the board have.”
“You know what Seagull, that vote just might be as important to Branson’s future, or even more so, than the Merry Christmas vote.”
“Good point, after all, God works in mysterious ways and ’causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.'”
