Christmas beyond the Christian preparation of Advent which is encouraged as a time for reflection and looking forward to making better and improving whatever comes out pf the reflection will surely leave many with differing feelings; hopefully with more joy than sadness.
As the year winds down as far as the country is concerned in this issue the penultimate for the year, the wonder is if this will be that in every sense for this newspaper production by Montserrat Printing and Publishing Inc., and this Editor!
We read where one editor writes: “We know first-hand that journalism is in trouble not just ‘here’ but all around the world. Looks like things may get worse before they get better.”
We know and are humbled enough to believe that as bad as it is, there are others who have suffered and are suffering much worse.
But we may feel somewhat afraid because of the power that we encounter, then comforted because of the power which is mightier than that power that may cause us to be afraid.
It is because of that comfort and encouragement for which we are thankful already for those who support us, empower us and who will help to bring our battle for good to the victory that will propel this land and its people.
Christmas we know is a time of: Faith. Hope. Love. Even as we will say 2018 has been a time of: Anger. Fear. Hate.
Love conquers Hate. While hate is easy to incite, you play to the worst of human nature. It’s a scorched-earth policy to use hate, and a path to hell for any leader. Sure, it seems easy to use hate to destroy, but you can never build with hate. So a government that uses the worst of our humanity will at some point find that turned against it.
Every religion we know shows us that, right? Jesus Christ, the Prophet Mohammed, Buddha …
Lest there are those who believe or who may appear not to be conscious of their hate, this is not directed necessarily to Montserrat, but especially where the job of journalists and newspapers experience this.
Love takes longer, but love always wins. Especially during a time that requires massive collaboration to deal with global problems. We need to work together – not against each other, and the leader that can unite will always beat the leader that pounds on the fracture lines of society to incite hate. (It is why we are willing to support the Dr. Lowell Lewis political dream for Montserrat and see that we work to make him to be the next Premier for Montserrat – do the analysis – right here)
Hope conquers Fear. Fear brings out the worst in humanity. A paranoid, dog-eat-dog world plays to the worst of us and destroys the best in us. When you deal with your fear, the road is clear because only you can stop yourself from achieving your dreams.
Faith conquers Anger. It is important to control our anger. Getting angry doesn’t really accomplish anything except a self-indulgent release of frustration (and normally not even at the cause of the anger).
It seems we are getting comfortable, though time will tell, and with some effort to counter, an environment of evil, unleashed from those who think they alone have a voice – ill-natured, language, blasphemy – The lies that get tolerated and the shortcuts that are so easily justified, but also a society that profits from these acts.
We must be on the lookout for these and more in our midst and not perpetuate the pretense that will cost us our future, and that of our children’s.
We are feeling the faith comes from the advent of Christmas. We believe in it, we believe in goodness.
We are putting our faith in a crowdfunding effort, the request evident as will be seen at the end of every article we publish online including this. We thank you already as it is our hope to appeal to love, using our faith. Just towards the work of ending injustice in the land and the world we live, now.
For this Christmas season, this eve, we wish everyone clarity of thought to realise our contradictions, our duplicity, nay, our hypocrisy; the fortitude to rise above them; and the collective will to defeat the violence, the ignorance and indifference that threaten to suffocate us all.
May we all have a season for reflection, the kind that will remind us of our humanity, and our responsibility to demand it not only of ourselves but also of those who wield and have wielded earthly power and influence over us.
