It’s getting uglier out there. These days people are circling the wagons to protect themselves against ominous threats. Across the globe we see tightening immigration, new tariffs, widening gaps between rich and poor and inconceivable suffering over arguments about whether nations can even exist. Stand offs of “us” against “them” seem to be everywhere.
This is not the future envisioned by the soldiers we commemorate every Remembrance Day. How can we truly honour their sacrifice? Padre Michael Peterson suggests we can seek dialogue and understanding instead of fanning the flames of fear and hatred. We can find ways to live together in peace and compassion. We can recommit ourselves every day to use words and actions to bring peace and understanding to our families, our friends, our community and our nation. As the holiday season approaches, let’s fight this culture of fear by showing understanding and compassion to those around us. We can build on the appreciation for our community that our teachers are instilling in our youngsters by demonstrating ours around our kitchen tables and in our community.