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Let's celebrate Christmas without fear

Today is Christmas, the day on which the followers of Jesus Christ celebrate the birth of their Saviour, whom they believe is the Son of God. Christmas has today developed into a global event that peoples all over the world speaking many tongues observe with joy and rejoicing.

In Sri Lanka it is the main festival of the Christian minority and they share their joy with fellow citizens of other religious persuasions.

Perhaps it is our colonial heritage, but most Lankans, particularly in the urban areas join in enjoying this season of goodwill and cheer whatever their faith.

Serious Christians correctly seek to remind the faithful at this time that the real celebration of Christmas must be to remember the core message of Jesus, which is one of peace. Christ, who was named so because his followers believe he is the Messiah of good tidings, taught goodwill and love to fellowmen.

He asked that man turn the other cheek and love his neighbour. That is why they call him the Prince of Peace.

They also decry the materialism that has overwhelmed the festival. The shopping, the parties, the new clothes, the revelry, that is not the real Christmas. This is instead a time of reflection on the message of goodwill and sharing.

And a time to dedicate themselves to the mission of Jesus, which was to bring peace on earth. In the land of Christ's birth, unfortunately there is still tension and fear as war clouds gather over the Middle-East.

But here in Sri Lanka we are enjoying a respite from conflict.

At mid-night last night we completed 12 whole months without war after 19 years of brutal civil strife that has killed and maimed so many of us and left nearly a million displaced.

In this past year we have had time to lick our wounds, to ponder on what caused our war and seek solutions. This has been a time for the moderates in our society, whom we have discovered outnumber the extremists by the million, have had the opportunity to voice their opinions and lend strength to the peacemakers. It has been a time, truly, for the meek to be heard.

The absence of war has given our people hope that there will be a better time for our children in the future in Sri Lanka.

In this time the lives of at least 2,000 young men and women have been saved. Two thousand families have been spared the grief of losing sons and daughters in the prime of their lives.

In this year the parties to the conflict, the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have been able to sit at the same table and discuss a long-term solution to the national question. We as a nation have watched the peace process unfold and come to realise that the journey to a lasting peace will be long and hard, but also that we are truly ready to place firm steps on the path towards that goal.

In this season the freedom from the fear of explosions in public places has made a big difference to the way people can celebrate. Lankans under twenty years of age will not remember a time when the movie theatres stayed open late, street parties went on till morning and carnivals and funfairs where large crowds gathered to have fun where the order of the day and the night.

So in addition to Christmas we have something special to celebrate.

John Lennon in his now famous song said "So this is Christmas, and a Happy New Year, Hope it is a Good One, without any fear".

This year we do have a Christmas without fear.

Let's celebrate.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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