A past president’s Christmas message

There is much happening in our world during this Holiday period. A war in the Ukraine still rages after two years. A War that was first estimated to last only a few days proves that when a people desire to live free can overcome unsurmountable odds.

Riots have erupted around the world calling for the destruction of a free country proving that hatred does exist in the hearts of ignorant and easily manipulated youth around our planet. So much to write about but all is being cast aside to make space for the wonderful time of the year that we call Christmas. I refuse to let the grinch creep into our happy time of the season. We will wait until next week to discuss the flooding of tunnels in Gaza or the immigrant crisis on our borders or what happens if Ukraine falls or what the failure to support Saudi Arabia and their war with the Yemeni rebels has meant to us; but for now throw off the fears of the world and embrace the time of the season.
We talk about political correctness and the war on Christmas. Our nation has been bombarded with the attack on anything religious or attacks on one religion by members of another religious group. We speak of this as if it is a new development within our great nation. In fact it has been with us for decades but men of moderation and leadership have addressed this in a tone of love that addresses the true meaning of Christmas.
In 1981 President Ronald Reagan gave his Christmas speech; a speech that broke with political correctness and personified the strength that build our great nation. This speech follows.
“Good evening.
At Christmas time, every home takes on a special beauty, a special warmth, and that’s certainly true of the White House, where so many famous Americans have spent their Christmases over the years. This fine old home, the people’s house, has seen so much, been so much a part of all our lives and history. It’s been humbling and inspiring for Nancy and me to be spending our first Christmas in this place.
We’ve lived here as your tenants for almost a year now, and what a year it’s been. As a people we’ve been through quite a lot — moments of joy, of tragedy, and of real achievement — moments that I believe have brought us all closer together. G. K. Chesterton once said that the world would never starve for wonders, but only for the want of wonder.
At this special time of year, we all renew our sense of wonder in recalling the story of the first Christmas in Bethlehem, nearly 2,000 year ago.
Some celebrate Christmas as the birthday of a great and good philosopher and teacher. Others of us believe in the divinity of the child born in Bethlehem, that he was and is the promised Prince of Peace. Yes, we’ve questioned why he who could perform miracles chose to come among us as a helpless babe, but maybe that was his first miracle, his first great lesson that we should learn to care for one another.
Tonight, in millions of American homes, the glow of the Christmas tree is a reflection of the love Jesus taught us. Like the shepherds and wise men of that first Christmas, we Americans have always tried to follow a higher light, a star, if you will. At lonely campfire vigils along the frontier, in the darkest days of the Great Depression, through war and peace, the twin beacons of faith and freedom have brightened the American sky. At times our footsteps may have faltered, but trusting in God’s help, we’ve never lost our way.
Just across the way from the White House stand the two great emblems of the holiday season: a Menorah, symbolizing the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, and the National Christmas Tree, a beautiful towering blue spruce from Pennsylvania. Like the National Christmas Tree, our country is a living, growing thing planted in rich American soil. Only our devoted care can bring it to full flower. So, let this holiday season be for us a time of rededication.”
Let us step back from our daily grind, take a deep breath and take a look at what we have and not dwell on what we don’t possess. Let us understand what a magnificent gift we have with freedoms and liberties that are guaranteed to all. Most importantly, let us celebrate the birth of Jesus and give thanks to live in a country that allows us to believe however we want without the threat of retaliation.
Gpd bless America, Pray for the Ukraine and God Save Israel. Merry Christmas everyone.