It is my very pleasant privilege to bring greetings to you through this column as we again approach that season of the year when tradition and custom turn our thoughts to peace on Earth and goodwill towards all men. For each of us, Christmas has its own meaning and its own memories. It is the same, yet ever changing.
For most it is a family festival when family and friends gather, sharing laughter to become a part of our memory of Christmas. Once it seemed enough to be sure that no one in the community was alone, hungry or unwanted on Christmas Day. There is still that task, but now the whole world presses in on us.
The Spirit of Christmas asks not only that we extend the hand of fellowship to the stranger within our gates, but also to the stranger on the other side of the world. It would seem that our motto, "For Home and Community," should now have an additional word 鈥� "World.鈥�
In reading the various community news items in the News-Optimist and Regional Optimist, I note that many of our clubs are living up to our motto, even to the suggested addition of remembering this Christmas season the unfortunate both at home and abroad by purchasing Christmas seals for tuberculosis, making donations to the Empty Stocking Fund and many others on the home front and supporting organizations such as CARE further a field.
The spirit of Christmas also asks how successful have we been at battling prejudice. What limits have we placed upon that goodwill to men, which is the very essence of Christmas.
Christmas should be more than a festive day. It should be a day of dedication to the task of making ourselves better people and making this world a better place in which to live. It should also be a day of contemplation and devotion to the end that the good and welfare of all may be promoted in the affairs of life and living.
When the spirit of Christmas is carried on throughout the year, it enables men and women to live in peace and harmony and to work together to create a much better civilization. Much remains to be done. Much more will be done when all men of all areas, of all races, embrace the full meaning of the Christmas message. Then and only then does the cry "Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All Men" have the full meaning intended by the man who first uttered those words.
May the Spirit of Christmas brighten the days of the year to come and may your tree keep its needles, your turkey cook tender and your hearts be at peace.
Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all my readers, Battlefords Publishing and all the staff and country reporters. Keep up the good work.
