Well, now we’ve finally gone and done it.

You know, when an angry herd of elephants tramples people to death in Bangladesh, it is truly a human tragedy. When an angry herd of Black Friday shoppers do the same to a security guard at Wal-Mart (in search of discounted electronics, no less), it’s a tragedy, all right, but for completely different reasons.

Seems we might do well to step back and re-evaluate our priorities as a society, don’t you think?

Along the lines of the holiday theme, I’d like to offer my thoughts on holiday lights.

There are those who believe that the number of holiday lights on people’s houses is directly proportional to the health of our economy. More prosperity equals more lights it’s a simple equation.

However, I actually believe that the number of lights has more to do with the weather on that long, four-day Thanksgiving holiday weekend. A weekend with Indian-summer-like temperatures means people don’t mind being outside, so those who are predisposed to putting up lights will put up more of them, and people who are on the fence about it will actually do it.

Cold weather is a deterrent, and cold, raw, rainy weather like we had yesterday all but cinches a smaller number of light displays. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing when you think about some of the etiquette breaches that you and I have had the opportunity to see within our own neighborhoods.

I’m all for a tasteful wreath on the door, some nice candles in the window, even some lights on the outside of house, but some of the Clark Griswolds of the world take things entirely too far. Here are some of the greatest offenders:

• If lights are going to move, they should all move in the same direction. There’s no goodwill toward men if your schizophrenic light display throws your neighbors into some sort of seizure.

• If you’re outlining your clothesline with lights, you may have taken your holiday lighting enthusiasm too far.

• Colored lights are okay, but choose a palette and stick to it. It’s the holidays, not Mardi Gras.

• And, finally, I’d be hard pressed to find that chapter and verse of the Bible where the shepherds and wise men are joined at the manger by Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang. Same goes for Frosty and those giant inflatable snow globes and figures. And, I’m fairly sure that the wise men were led to Bethlehem by a star and not by Rudolph with his nose so bright. I’m all for having people celebrate the holidays in their own unique ways, but the revisionist history approach to things needs to stop.

Here’s hoping that all your holiday wishes come true, even if it means finally figuring out a way to rig that 150 watt Snoopy Santa and his 14 magical reindeer to the roof of your garage.