Recently St. Jude hospital and Shriners Hospital For Children have been airing ads for children stricken with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

The childhood victims have been featured in the promotions with statements, reminding us, "Thanks for caring,” “Thanks for sharing" and "Thanks for your contributions.”

Because of our concern they have been allowed to spend more time with their families. My wife is a faithful supporter of St. Jude.

Just a week ago, we focused on the true meaning of Christmas. It was the season when we wished peace and good will to all men. It is the time of year when the world falls in love and every song you hear seems to say, “Merry Christmas-may all your new year's dreams come true.”

It is only kind and humane that our desire in 2017, should equally be that all men and women, in every corner of the globe, will grow in health, wealth, prosperity, peace, love and joy.

It is totally not in keeping with the prevailing conditions to wish ill will to any person. It is, therefore, with absolute fascination that I read, from a far and safe distance, Carl Paladino's words.

They were like discordant notes that marred the symphony of joy that filled the air.

In case you are unfamiliar with the name, Carl Paladino is a Western New York political figure who was co-chairman of Trump's New York State campaign. He ran unsuccessfully for the governership of the state against Mario Cuomo.

Relax, Trump supporters, I am not accusing you or the President-elect of this kind of attitude. Indeed, a Trump spokesman has already condemned Paladino's words, calling them reprehensible. Nevertheless, if you are of a minority persuasion, it is understandable that you are a little nervous that such personalities surround the President-elect.

Paladino said that he had meant to email his remarks to friends. Instead, he said, he inadvertently sent them to Artvoice, a Buffalo weekly, which published them two days before Christmas. The remarks were in response to a light survey about 2017 circulated by Artvoice to figures in the Buffalo community.

His answers:

1. What would you most like to happen in 2017?

                  

Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Herford. He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to Valerie Jarret, who died weeks prior, after being convicted of sedition and treason, when a Jihady cell mate mistook her for being a nice person and decapitated her.

                  

2. What would you like to see go away in 2017?

                  

Michelle Obama. I’d like her to return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.

                  

On December 23, Paladino was contacted by The Buffalo News, who enquired whether he really made the comments. Paladino replied, "Of course I did" and told the editors to "go f@$& themselves" for making the 

enquiry.

Paladino, in the interview with The Times, said he was “not politically correct,” though he disputed the notion that his comments were racist. Asked why he wanted to see the first lady live with a gorilla in Africa, he paused for a long time, then said: “What’s wrong with that?”

His words seem to indicate a man who is especially proud of himself. Even in jest, especially at this time of year, that is beyond the pale.

Indeed, his comments were so egregious that his own son was offended.

If one is not familiar with the victims of his venom, one would certainly have to ask, what is cause of such vitriol?

Surely, they must have broken into his house, burnt it down, raped his wife, sodomized his daughter and lured his son into hopeless drug addiction, which caused him to overdose and die.

These people must have done him a deep personal wrong, wounded him so profoundly that it left him with searing emotional scars.

It just has to be more than a difference of political ideology.

It always amazes me how hatred can so deform and twist the human soul. It hatches on to your emotional DNA and so infects it, that you lose all sense of reason, decorum, compassion and consideration.

It’s all encompassing influence births in you such an animus that it consumes your life.

It sustains such a stranglehold on your mind that you blurt out indefensible words with a callous disregard for their effect or damage.

Here is a 70-year-old man, living on borrowed time, who has already caused pain to his own family and experienced his own tragic loss.

In 2010, he admitted to his wife an extramarital affair. The unfortunate liaison had produced a love child. He broke the news to his distressed wife while she was dealing with the death of their 29-year-old son Patrick, who had perished in a motorcycle accident.

He is supposedly of the Catholic faith. If so, his life stands in stark contrast to the selfless existences of Francis of Assisi, Ignatius of Loyola and Mother Teresa of Albania.

During the time of year when people are expressing warmest regards and best wishes to their family, he is wishing and hoping for disaster and destruction upon the family of another.

An unbelievable piece of work-- this "prince" of a guy--totally illogical, totally irrational.

I have to assume that he is so insulated from the cares and concerns of life, so assured of a blissful eternity, that he does not worry about the following:

• Any mad cow disease infected gorilla type,
• Interacting with his wife, his legitimate offspring and his love child.
• Repairing the brakes on his car.
• Filling his prescription at the Pharmacy.
• Serving his food and drink at the nearby restaurant.
• Administering the wrong medicinal dosage at the hospital.
• Neglecting his cries of pain while lying flat on his back.
• Changing his Depends if he ever winds up in a nursing home.

Moreover, when he crosses the river of death, such statements are going to be viewed, accepted and acknowledged with approval in the halls of heaven.

I do not recommend, however, that anyone else entertain such a notion.

Mere fallible mortals that we are--constantly in search of a Savior-- we cannot afford to ever adopt that kind of attitude.

I suggest that, inasmuch as possible, we live peaceably with all men, even those of a different political persuasion.

We are not all powerful and we can never dictate who will be there to help when we fall in need along the highway of life.

You can never be sure who is or will be a good neighbor.

That is why we are instructed and I hasten to remind us all once again -- Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

Have a blessed, prosperous and happy 2017.