The entire globe seems caught up in a maelstrom of conflict and strife these days and that turmoil is starting to boil over onto our shores. We must not let it.
Across the face of the planet there are villages, towns and cities containing neighbourhoods where people of all faiths and ideologies have managed to get along, often for generations, living in harmony—taking care of the most important matters of shelter, food and family.
Canada was built upon the concepts of peace, order and good government—a decidedly different credo than that of many other nations but it has largely stood our citizens in good stead.
The devastating impact of war that descends upon those tiny neighbourhoods who normally enjoy a comfortable détente with their fellow human beings rarely, if ever, comes from within. Instead, they get caught up in the brutality through no fault of their own when those with their own agendas come to town.
Thus has it been with many of the recent conflicts that are cluttering up our holiday news feeds—ordinary people trying their hardest to live ordinary lives, just like “us.”
There has been much tossing of labels, anger and frustration attached to the Canadian government’s call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Hamas, it is said, must be crushed—the cost of innocent lives be damned—and anyone who says differently is obviously anti-Semitic and a traitor to the past. This is not true. Those calling for the ceasefire and release of the Hamas hostages are simply expressing a decency and humanity that does not accept that the ends justify the means.
We have seen far too much of these actions coming from our allies.
It is not alright to send a predator missile hurtling down upon a wedding crowded with celebrating men, women and children just because a “credible” source has indicated that a leading terrorist figure might be in attendance. It is not alright to engage in torture of those who are not innocent in the hopes of catching others. These are not the actions of the “good guys” no matter how those in power cite justification of the means in hopes of leading to just ends.
This is the season of goodwill towards all. We can look closely, even in our own backyards, to see examples of those with very different ideologies and faiths setting those differences aside to live their lives in peace and order—even if they don’t believe our nation currently has “good government” in hand.
As we gather in this holiday season, let us reach out to those around us and wish them the very best of the season. It’s okay to wish people Merry Christmas, but let us remember this time of the year also includes Hanukkah (and our Jewish friends could use a bit of support given the current rise in hate engulfing the world), Eid al-Fitr, the holy time of Ramadan (and they could use a bit of support as well, given the concurrent rise in Islamophobia) and a host of other “holy days” that are celebrated in December—so Happy Holidays is also okay.
Let us, as Canadians all, employ our basic human empathy for those in desperate need of succor.
