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The
Tallahassee News
An Independent Voice in the Big Bend Since 1996
'Where
there
is no vision the people perish'
Winter 2009 Issue
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| Editorial
on
the holidays: Time for renewal of goodwill, cheer By Merwyn Kugler As we near the holiday season, we are reminded once more of the need to persist in giving the least of us the chance to resume life as we know it to be capable of, the cheer, the goodwill, the kind words, and let us say, the kind deeds that can punctuate our lives with the gratitude so richly deserved of those who stand by and only wait to serve, as the poet says, and as we say. What is it that we can do that will make the life of our fellow man better and ring in the new year with a fond memory of how we accomplished what others seemed to think was impossible, lo, not only impossible but unfathomable and unthinkable. For what is impossible may be thought of, but what is unthinkable may not even be thought of, and what is unfathomable cannot be measured or calibrated in the least quantity or even in the greatest measure, by miles and then by light years. Suppose we are in the dread of night, just suppose, and like the little match girl who has only one match to keep herself warm in the cold weather, we have no way to survive. Alone but alert, we seek help from others because without that help we cannot even begin to think of the chance that life will continue for another day, and so it is essential that we give to charity and perform good deeds so that we will be able to say that we have prevented the kinds of tragedies that haunt the globe today and are printed in the newspapers. Yes, there is a greater aspect to life than faith, and that is the actual doing of these good deeds, for faith is silent but good deeds speak for themselves and others can follow in form. They are a lesson to others whose adoption of them brings warmth and satisfaction to their lives as well as to those who inspired them. Each good deed that impels another to give of the capacity of the human to sympathize will create a thread that will combine in time to a web of good deeds and satisfaction that will cover the globe, and thereby usher in an age where we can say that mankind has reached its highest level of development. No, we are not the surly competitive race that must conquer and dominate - we are the human race that must put forth effort to make life on earth into a peaceful and collaborative effort that gives each human person the opportunity to make the best of things, to bring out the capabilities and talents that all of us possess, and this must start with each of us, first and foremost, thinking of what we can do for others. Life, as they say is short. For some, as short as a cold, wintry day. Each of the children on earth are not given equal destinies or equal time on earth. Life is unfair in many respects, as we are not born with warranties, as we expect to find on everything we purchase these days. And there is no money-back guarantee. So what can we do to help the other person survive the tremulous calamities that bring upon the human race the sufferings and grief and unhappiness that seems to mark civilization? How do we make a U-turn on a one way street? Easier said that done, but what if all the cars on the street turned in another direction? That, indeed is the answer we are looking for. Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, wrote the poet on the statue of Liberty. Yes, give us those who are downtrodden, who appear not to have hope, who are suffering in these harsh economic times, where many are out of jobs and the government seems powerless with its promises to bring society back to the level it was even five years ago. The government is not the solution. The solution must be found in each one of us who has to go out into the world and create new opportunities, to inspire others, and also to help when words are not enough, when deeds are what is essential. As we enter the holiday season of 2009, let us remember that we either can take action or simply rest on what we think are our laurels of past days. Let us not fail to remember that each person is like ourselves, and that each person who is needy and whose holidays seem headed for futher despair, needs our action rather than merely our prayers or our good will. I wish you all the best of the holiday season. |