Christmas is just around the corner but there doesn’t seem to be much peace on earth nor good will going around in government circles.
Politicians from all levels of government aren’t showing much Christmas spirit and occasionally a few of them forget their job is to serve the public. For instance, some people are wondering if our school trustees really are putting kids first. City councillors are acting like royalty. Prime Minister Stephen Harper seems hell bent on selling Canada to any foreigner who has the cash and who knows what Premier Christy Clark and Co. will dream up next. On the global scene, nobody seems to like anybody very much.
I don’t know all the details of why the city appears to be backing out of the fire protection deal it had with the regional district, but council does seem to think it knows best when it comes to rural matters, be it a mine in the Chilcotin or a community forest in the Big Lake area. If I had a Christmas wish for the councillors it would be that they recognize Williams Lake isn’t an island, and a community isn’t necessarily defined by political boundaries. We’re all in this together.
This Christmas season our community has once again opened its hearts (and wallets) to help the less fortunate share some Christmas joy, no questions asked. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if that spirit stayed throughout the year.
It isn’t necessary to give material stuff. Respect and understanding would go a long way.
For some years now there has been a push to celebrate the Christmas season just as a holiday, sidelining the religious reason for it. I don’t buy that, but to each his own, and if you just want to have the holiday, I hope you have a happy one, but I’m wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, peace, and good will.
Diana French is a freelance columnist for the Tribune. She is a former Tribune editor, retired teacher, historian, and book author.