“And so this is Christmas”
/
The President and Committee of Management of the Sardinian Cultural Association wish all Members, friends and followers of our website, a very joyous Christmas, A Happy New Year and a safe holiday season.
FROM THE PRESIDENT - As many of us are about to celebrate a time of joy, that is Christmas 2023, the start of 2024 and our summer holidays, I thought it timely to present you in two parts what I am thinking about this coming holiday season:
PART 1 – An overview of the world today, from a nonpolitical poignant of war and conflict, for us all to reflect upon.
Imagine that, excluding the carnage that is happening today, there have been over 250 major wars in the world since the end of World War 2 in 1945, in which 23 million people have been killed, tens of millions made homeless, and count-less millions injured and bereaved.
Well over 37 million people have been killed by these wars in the 20th century. Three times more people have been killed in wars in the last 90 years than in all the previous 500 years.
There are over 35 major conflicts going on in the world today.
In armed conflicts since 1945, 90% of casualties have been civilians. 3 out of 4 fatalities of war are women and children.
In the wars of the last decade, more children were killed than soldiers, child victims of war include an estimated 2 million killed, approximately 5 million disabled, 12 million left home-less, and more than 1 million orphaned.
There are approximately 300,000 child soldiers in the world.
Landmines maim or kill approximately 26,000 civilians every year, including approximately 9,000 children. At least 75% of landmine victims are civilians. It is estimated that there are more than 65 million landmines in the ground in at least 70 countries.
More than 500 million small arms and light weapons are in circulation around the world. In major conflicts since 1990, they have caused 4 million deaths, 90% civilians of these 80% women and children.
There are approximately 30,000 nuclear warheads in the world, with some 5,000 on ‘A-trigger alert’, ready to be launched on a few minutes notice.
Current global military spending is approximately $800 billion per year; more than the total annual income of the poorest 45% of the global population.
Genocide and other mass murders killed more people in the 20th century than all wars combined. Approximately 70 million people have been killed in genocides in the last century. And approximately 350 million people have been killed, by democide (officials acting under the authority of governments) in the 20th century, apart from war.
Well! Let’s not forget the many other problematic issues that currently exist in the world relating to human rights, social justice, poverty, over development, disregard for the environment and sustainability.
Whilst, as we very well know, all the above is unfortunately still happening these days, to assist us in not spending the joyous time ahead in a state of depression, we recommend you listen to the beautiful ageless song, with the words all so true, by the late and great Louis Armstrong’s - What A Wonderful World on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqhCQZaH4Vs.
Furthermore, to further assist us in reflecting on all the above, and hopefully on our contribution towards a better world, we recommend you listen to the also beautiful ageless song by the late John Lennon also on YouTube - Happy Christmas with the Harlem Boys’ Choir - on You tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flA5ndOyZbI&ab_channel=JohnLennon-Topic.
PART 2 – Proudly born a Christian and equally proud non-regularly practicing Roman Catholic, with all respect to those of other faiths and non-believers, on the 25th of December I will celebrate the joyous holiday of Christmas.
Therefore, I thought it a good idea to give you my ideas and views of why Christmas is important to me.
Christmas is one of the biggest celebrations of the year, and for good reason. However, the real reason for the celebration has for some time got lost amongst all the shopping and, as we are told by Governments of all persuasions, the importance of consumerism to the economy. Therefore, it is easy to get caught up in all these things which, I acknowledge aren’t inherently bad.
In view of the above you many may be wondering, why is the real reason for Christmas that important?
Christmas is important to me because it is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the Son of God who came to redeem all mankind, Christmas is a day of remembrance and worship.
Christmas doesn’t have to get lost and can be integrated into, not what many call in terminology which I find very offensive the “silly season”, but holiday season spent with family, friends, and loved ones following all our individual traditions.
Going back to what is the true meaning of Christmas? And why we celebrate this every year? I thought I would give you the following that in my view are my “top ten” reasons:
Jesus Christ was born;
God’s promise was fulfilled;
We recognize what Jesus came to accomplish;
We remember the religious aspects of Christianity as a whole;
We follow individual Christmas traditions which should bind families together;
We think and, where possible, give generously to the less fortunate;
We exchange gifts and spread happiness, as did the three wise men;
We should slow down;
We feast and enjoy special foods that are only prepared at this time;
We should maintain traditions, such as children’s anticipation for Santa Claus coming to visit them on Christmas Eve.
Finally, I am sure you have many more reasons as to why it is important to celebrate Christmas, and all of those are just as important as mine!
Ref. Paolo Lostia Worldrevolution.org
