Editorial: A season for optimism

Monday, Dec. 25, 2006 | 7:22 a.m.

The Bible says an angel appeared to shepherds near Bethlehem, heralding the birth of Jesus, bringing "good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

That was 2,000 years ago in a Middle East that was brutally ruled by the Romans and filled with intrigue, troubled political alliances and discussions of rebellion. The political and military powers in the region have changed countless times, and technology has moved from swords to missiles. But the region, in some ways, has changed little.

Today, on Christmas, the Middle East is still splintered by political factions that threaten more war and rebellion. The war on terrorism has the U.S. military in an increasingly bloody, difficult campaign in Iraq and Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Iran, Syria, Palestinian terrorist groups and others threaten Israel's existence.

Of course, there is a world of trouble outside of the Middle East, too - terrorist attacks around the globe, genocide in Darfur and a nuclear threat in North Korea, just to name a few.

Misery can be found almost anywhere, and it can be easy to despair, but mankind has survived with the overriding capacity to find happiness and optimism. People who want to make a difference can and are doing so around the world.

Some of the more notable examples include U2 lead singer Bono, who has taken his fame and money on a crusade for human rights, and investment guru Warren Buffet, who has pledged to join Microsoft founder Bill Gates and his wife, Melinda, in an ambitious plan to help improve the health of impoverished people.

Here at home, Southern Nevada is lucky to have caring individuals and groups that make a difference each and every day. Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, Shade Tree and countless others continue to provide shelter and help to those who need it most. Individual acts of kindness and charity, most of which are carried out without notice or fanfare, occur hundreds of thousands of times during the year in Southern Nevada.

Christmas is the season of hope. The Christmas spirit, the seasonal goodwill, the time spent exchanging presents and good wishes with friends and family provide, if even for a moment, a renewed sense of hope because that is the Christmas message - the hope of God's peace coming into the world.

Today there will be countless retellings of the Christmas story, complete with the angel's words to the shepherds, "On Earth peace, goodwill toward men."

Those sentiments still hold 2,000 years later, and despite the odds, despite the history, we still have reason to hope in the power of those words.