ABOUT THE TOWN

Chronicle (Levin), 21 December 1946, Page 3

ABOUT THE TOWN

T. S

. D.)

SHANNON SIDE-LIGHTS

(By

Nearly two thousand years ago, on the birth of a Little Cliild at Bethlehem, a message of hope was proclaimed to the world: "Peace on earth, Goodwill to all men." But man is too selfish to practice the Golden Rule: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." I Until as individuals and nations we ilearn the lesson of unselfishness, ! there will be ever-recurring wars, j with all their resultant suffering, jcruelty and waste. | A clam survey of the behaviour J of the individuals in all nations :gives , little evidence that the heart | of man has changed. Selfishness, land the lust for place and power, jare just as evident today as they jhave been from the dawn of history. For these reasons many of us !are celebrating our first Christmas at home for many years; many of those wlio left this country with us and before us, will not be celebrating this, or any Christmas. But , perhaps one of the most terrifying facts presented to us is that over 30,000,000 people of all nationalities have been driven from their homes. > We have to be sincerely thankful jthat Red War, with all its horrors and miseries. has been kept away

Jfrom this fair land of New Zealand, ■and that our women and children have enough to eat and are decently clothed. When we think of the mothers and children in Greece, Yugoslavia, Italy, Poland and Czechoslovakia today, we are sick at heart; the phrase "Goodwill i to all men" must seem a tragic mockery to them even at this Christmas. These may not be orthodox Christmas thoughts, for Christmas should be a time of rejoicing, but this Christmas comes to a world just out of war, and the facts must be faced that we shall have to fight hard for a peace that will last. This is not a pleasant Christmas •prospect. It is out of keeping with the spirit of Him Whose birth we icelebrate on December 25. But to achieve peace is the determination :of every New Zealander. We fight : now, as in 1939-45, for better things I to come.