The day after Christmas is called ‘Boxing Day’ which was traditionally the day that the better off classes in England would give a box with some gift to their underpaid servants to soothe their class-guilt. Since long this has been diverted into a big shopping sales day for the masses. This year the London subway servants choose to strike on this popular outing day, but as double decker busses remained in service the eager crowds could storm the shops nevertheless. One wonders if not most of the goods with a lowered price have a ‘Made in China’ stamp on it, and when a new kind of ‘Boxer Rising’ will occur to put an end to the exploitive working conditions in China and other low wage countries that are flocking our discount stores and stalls with their products.
The text is taken ‘out of context’ from Deuteronomy 7:16—– It is the shift of the word ‘consume’ over time this tableau is about: “And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee. – 1769 Oxford King James Bible ‘Authorized Version” …
…or in the Basic English Bible translation made better understandable for us now: “And you are to send destruction on all the peoples which the Lord your God gives into your hands; have no pity on them, and do not give worship to their gods; for that will be a cause of sin to you.”
the limping messenger 
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