CHRISTMAS 2002
By Dave Roberts
Peace on Earth, goodwill to all.......
Sometimes they seem like commodities
in short supply, but the message of Christmas has
been there for two thousand years and there is something
supernatural about it.
In some countries, it is a chance
to cease hostilities. There are stories of the guns
falling silent in Europe for Christmas during the
world wars, and this year we can but pray for some
kind of supernatural sanity in Palestine. In this
country, an opportunity to down tools for a party
seems a pretty good deal. As December rolls on,
we see the celebrating start. Some fervently celebrate
the coming of the Christ child, others see the arrival
of beach weather as the real event of December.
I've never seen a white Christmas.
It's not something that sounds even a little bit
appealing to me. Even in secular Australia, we come
out by the thousands to sing carols by candle light.
The wonder of the coming of Jesus side by side with
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. The weather is pretty
good and Santa often arrives on a Harley, or the
Bush Fire Brigade gives him a lift. I just can't
see it all happening in a snow storm.
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Last year was a splendid time for
me, with the opportunity to get out and see those
folk who had really got into the decoration. There
were houses with lights and tinsel everywhere, and
everywhere there were kids who were too young to
care what it was about, just that it was magic,
and that somehow, people had been motivated to put
on a show that seemed to be just for them. OK OK,
I'm old enough to know what it's about, but it's
still magical and it is still apparently just for
me...
Last year, with hard times around
us, I noted more than ever it had become a community
event. On more than one trip around the streets
of Bunbury, Collie or Dardanup, we could see where
several homes in a row had got together and the
result was a row that stretched the joy over a longer
trip. My favourite experience of the whole month
was Dunstan St in Mangles (Bunbury), where the whole
street had got seriously involved. There was music,
there were lights, there were lollies, and there
were lots of people wandering up and down just drinking
it in. Couldn't help it, had to drive up the street
calling "peace on Earth, Goodwill !!"
and the feedback was great.
I can't help but feel that even with
my limited experience, I am sure I live in the best
country on the planet. I'm convinced that our basis
in Christianity and westminster democracy are great
gifts, but it's a particular Australian interpretation
of them that means we don't have "the troubles"
that we could have in Ireland. We have a significant
Muslim population, but the combination doesn't give
us the conflict we see in Bosnia. There is a whole
stash of ways we could lose the pleasures of living
a free, multicultural life in the south west, but
the first and most dangerous seems to be that we
could just give it up by turning our backs on the
standards of tolerance, joy, and inclusion that
we've somehow achieved thus far.
So the secret of Christmas seems to
embrace everything that it came to give us. Yes,
we should get out in the evening and sing songs
about the baby in the manger who came and saved
the world. And yes, we should give each other presents.
And yes, we should wander over the street and have
a beer with the guy who we spoke to last christmas,
though maybe we should try for a pleasant conversation
in April and August as well. What about the Hindus
in the street? Well if we spread some peace and
good will, then maybe krishna will be happy too,
and maybe they'll get to know the baby.
This month, we invite you to recommend
a street that is really getting into it. Come the
middle of December in our update, any street that
is getting a significant number of votes might get
a mention, so we can all go out and enjoy it. So
find some joy, make some peace, and take hold of
Christmas. My own vote is that we can get the most
out of the season without hammering the credit card
too badly or contributing to the road toll, .....
the challenge is on.
Felis Navidat.
December 2002
