Do they know it’s Christmas? Should they?

Tough time of the year for some.

Awesome time of the year for some.

As an individual, I have always found it very difficult to flick a switch; be all joyous and merry when it is expected, and then…..

We all go back to how we are the rest of the year..

Many now say, it’s not about religion, “happy holidays” etc. Well, sorry, No. It is about religion. Nothing wrong with that. Let’s not twist it out of shape. It is ok not to be religious. Leave Christmas in its purest form.

The number of women I see wearing a cross as their necklace these days, but the minute they speak, hate flows out! It is really hard to reconcile the hate out there, with Christianity. But there is of course, always a way to excuse hate and tuck it away, behind what’s allowable

I am not into any religion. But seeing the alarming rise of knife crimes and other crimes in London today, it is easy to see that the old Sunday schools and biblical teachings of hell fire were useful deterrent that is now missing and has left a void, in which so many of today’s youth think nothing of grabbing a knife and stabbing others to death, for the minutest of reasons

I have always had an issue with coming home from the carefree life of boarding school, to what I always saw as a forced happiness of Christmas. But it wasn’t until I spent years visiting some of the poorest parts of the world, that the dejection hit me. Do they know it’s Christmas? Well, the question is: should they? We dash in to dazzle them with temporary hope in gifts at Christmas and the very next week, they are left to rot?
Yes, I accept that perhaps they do need to help themselves a bit. If roles were reversed, nothing would be different. Yes. I get that.

Many say: “well, but we gotta live our own lives”. Well, yes. But that’s exactly what the drug-dealer thinks, as he sells drugs that destroy lives. The drug-dealer believe he is simply doing what he has to do, to feed his own family, take them on holidays abroad etc. It is exactly the same thing a hate-mongerer thinks; spread hate, get paid. And it really does pay well these days, as there are so many out there, willing & happy to fund hate!
It is exactly the same thing an armed robber tells himself; he’s just trying to make money to live his life. We can all find ways to justify what we do.

I do not begrudge those who are happy or can switch on happiness in December or are able to block out the sadness around us. It is a wonderful gift to have. But for some of us who do not have that gift, it is indeed torturous to see horrible, awful people, sing carols and dole out joy for a week in December and then back off to doing the most awful things the rest of the year. I’m no saint, so I try to be exactly how I have been all year at Christmas. I can’t flick that switch (ain’t got one in me) to turn into a wonderful, joyful person in December. But I try my very best not to spoil it for others.

I am not saying that being sad is going to crack it and make the world a better place.

We just need to be understanding of those who do not appear so keen to walk on their heads in Dec and sing carols etc. Some folk are too poor to buy gifts and yes, others will say: “it’s not about the gifts”, ok. So, why is there a pile of gifts? And how do those who can’t afford gifts fit in? How do they feel? How does it make them feel?

Anyway, it is what it is.

It is unfortunate, but traditional is tradition. People must do what they grew up doing. And yes, it is how it is. And it is, how it will always be.