Let us work and hope for peace

One of the fascinating aspects of the holiday season is how many cultures through history have celebrations in the winter months. When seeds of Christianity were being sown in Europe, the road toward acceptance of the new faith was smoothed: The new holy day honoring the birth of Christ was more readily embraced because it already was a time of celebrations such as Yule and other religious observances.

In Hawaii as well, the year’s end was Makahiki, a time of resting, feasting and — most importantly — no fighting. The celebration of "peace on Earth" was a perfect fit here, too.

If only the "no fighting" rule could apply worldwide.

Christmas finds the world in an especially troubled state in 2012. Americans recently felt the shock of a mass shooting at an elementary school, a horrible dissonance during a season ideally marked by the happiness of children.

Around the world, there’s more suffering. What started as a political uprising in Syria has long since deteriorated into government tyranny, and battles rage throughout the Middle East. Of all regions of the world, what’s known as the Holy Land should have respite at this time of year, but that hasn’t been the case for many years.

A new regime in North Korea launched a long-range missile as an ultimately empty show of might, while many of its people starve. Throughout the developing world — and even in American homes — there is too much hunger for a season that is meant to provide the occasion for parties and feasts.

And on the most petty level in the nation’s capital, elected leaders struggled to come to terms on what, in a sane world, should be a rational process of splitting differences. This should not be hard, but our rancid politics have made compromise all but impossible.

No fighting? It seems we have nothing but fighting. Where is the "goodwill toward men" in any of this?

As it happens, the goodwill is everywhere. The main reason the Star-Advertiser runs its holiday stories of people in need is to raise money for Good Neighbor Fund, of course.

A side benefit, however, is that reporting on the results — as of Sunday, the fund approached $60,000 — serves to remind readers that there are many people who share what they have to bring a little happiness to complete strangers.

Being bombarded by headlines about wars and tragedies, here at home and around the globe, people rightly conclude that the world is driven by forces beyond their control. But within their own community? That’s another story.

Christmas and the entire series of holidays that brighten December can offer the gift of opportunity, the chance to reconnect with family and friends, a time of rest, Makahiki-fashion, before we embark on a new year.

There’s also the opportunity to engender a little peace on Earth, at least on the home front. Some goals remain within our reach. Even if they’re small successes, they’re big enough to create hope.

And hope is another gift of the season. Merry Christmas to all.