The Massie Christmas greeting appeared on social media channels in time to celebrate the 2021 Holidays. The image comes from an iPhone camera and falls within a subspecies we might label: group-selfie. This particular group seems energized beyond common expressions of emotion; their manic joy exceeds what you normally witness in even the most animated internet self-portraiture. I suspect our picture contains layers of meaning — some of the messages buried deeply beyond our ordinary perceptions. Nevertheless, its essence stands out in high-voltage technicolor: We are a family infantry unit, cohesive, happy together and heavily armed, willing to wipe you off the planet to protect our home. The political subtext: Do not trample our sacred right to bear arms; remember the roots of liberty must be watered periodically by the blood of American patriots. They portray all this smiling through well-kept teeth, each member with a finger on the trigger of their military-style rifle.

Just digging a few inches below the surface we can find fascinating (although a bit haywire) signals. To get a more clear look at their Christmas wish — written in a postscript directed to Santa Claus himself — it is useful to add contrast by pointing out a few wholesome things they did not request; for example, they failed to ask for love, goodness, kindness and understanding to increase among human beings everywhere. Likewise they remain silent about health and prosperity. We could continue for paragraphs enumerating the requests omitted from their prayers. Their plea is concise and concrete: “Santa, keep ammunition coming; especially for Dad, bring him beaucoup bandoliers for his M60; for Mom plenty of rounds to operate her Thompson sub-machine gun; and for our baby girl, give us ammo to stoke her assault firearm, the diminutive but deadly, short-barreled Uzi. “

It is understandable that some citizens of North America — and other people around the globe — took offense at this Christmas card and rejected it. To illustrate, I have reproduced in full verbatim a piece of ephemera — evanescent because it appeared as an advertisement in the Los Angeles Times newspaper, paid for by a private individual, and was tucked away at the bottom of page A11:

ADVERTISEMENT

This shows Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky on his Christmas Card, smiling with his family holding their guns. They appear very pleased.

THE WORLD HAS PASSED ME BY AND I AM LOST

I have always thought that when we elect people to Congress they would at least try to look decent and upright, like they belonged as our representatives. If this group were of another color, there would be a no-knock police raid.

Why has there been silence from other members of Congress about this Christmas card? Do they all agree with it? Do all members of Congress keep machine guns in their closet? He has received praise from the gun lobby but no condemnation from other members of Congress. WHY????? I asked Congressman Adam Schiff and Brad Sherman that question but have not received a reply. Is there a secret oath they take not to criticize another member no matter how they behave?

Repeating a previous thing that I learned in basic training in 1944 from my Sargent at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, GUNS ARE ONLY MADE TO KILL PEOPLE. REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS MASSIE PLEASE LISTEN.

The ad finishes: Paid for by Gary Platt.