It is the brightest and best idea we as humankind could aspire to, and at this time of year, at least in countries where Christmas is widely celebrated, we at least like to think we rededicate ourselves to the idea.
But, it doesn’t take much looking at the headlines from around the world to know we are still a long way from achieving either peace on earth, or goodwill to all.
From before the times of Christian crusades to the Holy Lands to the battles in Afghanistan today, we have killed, maimed and destroyed through countless skirmishes, battles and world wars, never managing to learn from the carnage, nor from the message of the Christmas season.
Turn on the TV and see footage of American citizens going into grocery stores and coffee shops with an assault rifle hanging off their shoulder and you know even here in North America we are only the right ‘match’ away from starting the fire of a war.
Our record of goodwill toward all is no better.
Here in Canada we are dealing with the horror of unmarked graves at the site of former residential schools, schools that remain a stark reminder of the racist policies against First Nations people as their children were ripped away from families and taken to schools to be taught how to be ‘white’. The lessons too often including physical, and sexual abuse.
But, again did we learn from those terrible decisions?
Chinese people being attacked over the past two years because they were somehow blamed for the COVID-19 pandemic tells us we as a broad society have certainly not all learned the concept of goodwill to all.
Of course it’s never all bad either.
In the midst of the World War I there was what became known as the Christmas of a series of widespread unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front around Christmas 1914.
And closer to home for us today people regularly toss teddy bears on the hockey ice around the country, providing toys for the less fortunate, and put their coins and bills into collection kettles to help assure those in need have a Christmas meal. They are thankless examples of goodwill to all.
What we need to do is find a way to end the wars, the hatred, the racism, the intolerances which too often seem to take control. The lesson of the season is so simple, ‘peace on earth, goodwill to all’ if we can only keep that in mind 365 days of the year.
