Let's talk about both sides of a common coin -- the Ghost of Christmas Past -- and Christmas Still to Come. George Eastman called photography "a mirror with a memory." So is December 25. Our lives are linked by a revolving door: memory, and prophecy.

It's often said that people seem nicer in the weeks preceding Christmas -- although that's said less often now. Our age is not so nice.

If we seem gentler, it's because Christmas is a religious holiday -- and religion is ennobling and civilizing. So are images that link us to childhood: a blur of snow and song and light and peace and, yes, God so loved the world that He sent his only begotten son.

Christmas is a magic time. It is also a seamless time. Look at the carousel of carolers. Suddenly, you're eight and hearing "Joy to the World." Decorate the tree, and you're twelve again mixing icicles and popcorn. No event so evokes awe and wonder, recalling what we could be -- and so seldom are.

Christmas conjures hula hoops and Roy Rogers lunchpails and hockey games and Lionel trains. It also means -- or should -- good will and community and do unto others. So let's inhale party mix and chorus "Silent Night" and drink to the greatest time of the year. Or as Tiny Tim himself proclaimed: "God bless us, every one." Merry Christmas.

What's December 26? The day after Christmas. It's also Boxing Day, when people exchange gifts in Great Britain and its dominions. Many celebrate even here -- for we are linked to the mother country by heritage and civilization, culture and soul.

Thomas Jefferson said famously, "We are all Republicans. We are all Federalists." In a sense, we are all Americans, we are all Brits. Think of what we owe to Shakespeare's "this blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England." It has helped America summon lightness against the dark.

The ties that bind our countries are moral and economic, political and spiritual. From England we received democracy, the rule of law, and basic human rights. Also, commerce, ethics, and our way of speech. As George Bernard Shaw quipped: Two countries," he said, "separated by the same language."

Britain stood with us at Verdun and on bloody Omaha. In Korea, the Gulf, and now Afghanistan, Gibraltar would crumble before English character did. Think of how Churchill pledged Britain's "finest hour" or "Blood, toil, sweat, and tears" or told America, "Give us the tools, and we will finish the job." Forging colossal events has been this colossus of an isle.

Ask the Desert Rats or 82nd Airborne or berets at Tora Bora. If every nation deserted America, Britain would never yield. Here's to a happy Boxing Day -- and a relationship that grows more special every year.

Before September 11, bleeding hearts were yelping, "Open borders, ease visas, give illegal aliens citizenship." We now see the fruit of their lunacy: fifth columnists, balkanization gone mad, terrorism from within.

Take Mohammad Junad, 26, born and raised in New York. On September 11 Mohammad's mother was on the 9th Floor of the World Trade Center, yet escaped because of policemen and firemen. How has Mohammad repaid us? By going to Afghanistan to fight for Osama Ben Ladin.

"I do not feel any remorse for the Americans who died September 11," Junad told BBC Television. "I will kill every American I see in Afghanistan ... and in Pakistan. I do have an American passport, but at the end of the day, I'm a Muslim." This, from the son of a mother whom America's finest saved.

Mohammad said his family supports his decision. His grandfather told him, "Your loyalty is with the Moslems. Even though you're in New York, your loyalty is with them." Mohammad, here's where my loyalty is: with Americans, and its families whose loved ones died because of Quislings like you.

I'm glad we're rid of Mohammad's kind of treason. We'll be even better if we get rid of the multiculturalism, identity group, pro-immigration, hate-American refuse which poisons this land.

Christmas is over, but bigotry still exists. Doubt it? Trek to a place that is being ridiculed as "The Town That Hates Christmas: Canandaigua USA."

Most Canandaiguans don't, of course. The vast majority are Christian. More celebrate Christmas. Even more back freedom of expression. That's what makes so appalling an educator trying to mock the core of what Canandaigua was, and is.

Her name is Cheryl Eng-Link, Canandaigua's Primary School principal. Recently she sent a memo demanding that school officials avoid saying "Christmas," "Merry Christmas," or "Christmas Tree." Think of that: a principal trashing a town's faith, heritage, and right to speak -- for what? Political correctness: brown shirts masquerading as leaders of our kids.

When Canandaiguans exploded, Ms. Eng-Link sent a flack out to condemn what he called the "tyranny of the majority." The only tyranny is by elitists who detest Christianity, dislike Christmas, and disdain free speech. Say Ramadan, fine. Kwanzaa, even better. Defer to atheists, agnostics, gypsies, tramps, and thieves. Only Christians are deprived of speech.

Already an Associated Press writer has chronicled Canandaigua's thought police. More newspaper stories are on the way. Here's a Christmas gift for Ms. Eng-Link and her hacks -- the pink slip they deserve. They're trying to make Canandaigua a laughing stock. Let's make the last laugh on them.

Want to express your opinion on these topics to Curt? Click here.