Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanza
and Happy New Year to you all!

I'm hoping you all have a most wonderful holiday season. Especially in light of what happened last week in Newtown, CT. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the families who were directly affected by that day.

In this season of giving and joy, it is easy to turn a blind eye when things don't go right in our small world. And by small world, I am speaking about our surf community, here in Northern New England. There are, and there always will be, that 10% that just don't adhere to our unwritten code of ethics.

Or to put it bluntly. Some show little or no respect to those who have come before you.

I am a Vietnam Veteran. And I have always had the utmost respect for the older vets. The WWII, and Korean vets. Always. It was something that just came natural to us. Today, I am now on the receiving end of a similar respect, and admiration from the younger veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. I am humbled by their thanks, and respect.

As a result, we all have a mutual respect for each other.

In surfing, as most of you know, there is no governing body or police force that lay down the rules, and watch over the surf scene. Therefore we have to police our own. It's been that way since the 50's. Surfers police their own.

The one common thread that most surf communities share all over the globe is this. That the older surfers who have been surfing the longest, usually get that due respect. Why? Because They earned it. You all know this. Or you should know this.

It's the basic principles of our lifestyle. Respect. You give respect you get respect.

If you were to travel to some other surf destination, you should, and I know, that 90% of you do take that mind set with you. You would never hassle an older local for any reason in California or Hawaii. Unless it was completely unavoidable. And even then, most of us would find a way out of a potential situation.

Because the bottom line should always be, that surfing remain a fun thing to do. We surf because it's fun. But having said that we should always be vigilant of who and where we are at all times. Respect should be something that comes natural to you.

Can you imagine someone who's only been surfing a few years paddling out in Rhode Island, and surfing waist high waves with someone like Sid "The Package" Abruzzi, and then Sid takes off in front of this guy, only after seeing the new guy catch more than his share of waves. And then, have this new guy catch up to Sid and deliberately shove Sid off his board?

Hello? Imagine that same scene at Makaha with Buffalo. Some young guy shoving Buffalo off his board?

Or Gerry Lopez at Pipeline? The list goes on.

Not to say, that any of the older locals around here are on the same level as those guys, but to a certain extent, we do have a handful of locals who have been surfing for a long time, and still surf today. They earned that respect.

I think you know where I'm going with this.

Respect. We can't allow that to happen. Because it only perpetuates more violence. You must stop the violence before it escalates. And the simple way of doing that, is to simply show a little respect to those who have been around.

And to the younger surfers who think of the older surfers as "Grumpy Old Farts". Guess what? You will be old someday. And that 'some day' may be here sooner than you think . Trust me, we all get old. Every single one of us. If you show no respect now what will happen when you become old?

So I'm hoping that 10% out there who feel the need to disrespect the older crew, stop and think about their actions. In the end, there are plenty of waves to go around. Plenty. And it's certainly not worth getting into a hassle over a small waist high day.

So please. Everyone take a step back and regroup. Let's show that mutual respect to one another, and remind those that don't, that this will not be tolerated. Because until there are security forces on the beach, and in the water, we have to take care of each other.

Merry Christmas! Happy Chanukah! Happy Kwanza! And a Healthy and surf filled New year to you all!