The Military Council in Myanmar’s Kachin State has reportedly ordered all Christian churches in townships designated for the country’s 28 December elections, including Myitkyina, Putao and Tanai, to hold their Christmas celebrations before 20 December to avoid conflict with the elections.
This report (dated 12th December) horrifies me. How can you do this to Christmas? How can you subject Christmas to a selfish and cruel, political agenda? Christmas is sacrosanct, especially for a Christmas boy. It is sacrosanct not because of all the hype and the glitz, but because it is a time of year that reminds us what it truly means to be human. To be truly human is to be kind, to be kind to oneself and to one's brother and sister. Take this away and we lessen humanity. That is a sin against humanity.
Once again Pope Leo saves the day with his recent call to arms (dated 6th December):
"The Church will not be a silent bystander to the grave disparities, injustices and fundamental human rights violations in our global community".
Christmas is ever a time of hope. It is a time when we are reminded to believe in goodness and kindness, in happiness and fun, all being alive in our world, no matter what befalls us. And why not? So don't mess with Christmas.
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