Author: Liam Mcdonald

There is a beautiful movie out at present, Merry Christmas, which tells a true story of the trenches in 1914, when Germans, French and Scottish sang hymms, played football and celebrated the special day for man, in so called no mans land, with a mass in Latin, a universal christian language of the time. The prevailing language of the time was empire and war. The ignorance of the powers that were in control unleashed 4 more years of utter carnage and millions senselessly slain. This in turn led to the horrors of the 39-45 war. The simple men who fraternised on that fateful day and were ostracised and despised for their wisdom and humanity, are at last being celebrated.

“And so this is Christmas and what have we done, another year over and a new one just begun Another quote from John Lennon, 20 years dead this year. From the terrible tsunami of last year thru hurricanes and more earthquakes, have we learnt any more about how to live on this fragile earth, that we call home. The response to the people affected by the tsunami was gratifying, almost a redemption of the human spirit of reaching out and hepling our fellow human beings in trouble. Then to the feeble response to the Kashmir earthquake where the indifference of the wealthy countries is evidence of a lack of compassion still ruling our way of living.

Still a lot of growing up to do. Compassion and love are energies far greater than economics and yet we seem bereft of the former because of our immersion in the latter. We are still blind to our true potential. The great lesson that Jesus is pointing to, demonstrating, is love. 2005 Chistmasses have come and gone and still we have not heard, Christmas is all about an economic bonanza and the truth lies dormant year on year. time to wake up to the truth and start loving. Peace and happiness.

A small planet revolving at breakneck speed around a hot star in the midst of an enormous galaxy, a species clings on precariously, rocked by quakes and storms, oblivious to the point of view we have evolved to see. We are wrapped up in a desperate struggle to survive and bogged down in inherited fixed ideas.

On a small island on this little planet an armed struggle to unite this divided isle has just ended and still there is no peace. The feuding sides are still locked into hatred, distrust and blind bigotry. There is hope, if the people can find the spirit of reconcilliation.

A great human being, Nelson Mandela, led his people out of the terrible injustice of apartheid with this same spirit and left a legacy of hope, justice, peace and freedom. Can the same be done in Ireland? Reconcilliation is the key and strong and inspired leadership is required, a united Ireland in the spirit of peace and freedom.

By seeing the big picture we can appreciate the life we have. We can enjoy our time here, surfing on the edge of the universe.