A Christmas Wish For All
What a year it has been! Have you ever ridden on a roller coaster? That’s what this year has been like!
From a quite controversial President Of The United States, to record breaking mass shootings, to accusations of inappropriate behavior coming out of the woodwork, to the threat of terrorism, to constant calls of “fake news”, and to too many more out of this world stories, I don’t think I have seen such a flood of craziness, tears, and hatred. I simply have not seen enough happiness and good will lately.
I know life can’t be all sunny and rosy every day. It never has been. And I don’t want to get all mushy about nice things for fear of being called a 
“snowflake”, but it seems I am watching the United States, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all, become the United States, divided, and only here to push one’s own agenda.
I shiver to think of the good that can be done when folks work together, when people of very diverse backgrounds and beliefs can find common ground, and when people from different political leanings can realize that others have different life stories that shape their needs and wishes. I shiver because it often seems like an unreachable goal. But I try to remain hopeful that our great country can find its bearings once again.
I don’t want to take sides on any argument or discussion, but I do firmly believe in the American dream. This dream consists of a country, founded over two hundred years ago, that opened its doors to diversity. Diversity in all walks of life, whether it is your choice of religion or lack of religion, your standing in society, or perhaps an anti-social stance, your mental capacities or lack of said capacities, your tastes in fashion, your sense of humor, your choice of partners, your physical attributes, and, very importantly, your ancestry. To deny any citizen their right to pursue any part of the American dream is to stand against America.
I am not oblivious to the fact that there are people out there that take advantage of the American dream. I also know there are people out there that would love to bring down the American dream. But these are not the people I speak of. I am talking about our neighbors, our family, our fellow citizens. And it certainly breaks my heart to see the insults hurled at our fellow Americans on social media, not by outsiders, but by our very own citizens. This is more like the American nightmare!
To sum it up, I would like to make a simple Christmas wish. In this season of joy, let’s actually have joy. In this season of peace, let’s actually have peace. In this season of love, let’s actually have love. And may it carry over onto the new year and every year after that.
With that, I wish each and every one of you (and not just those that agree with me) a Merry Christmas, and I must ask, what’s so funny about peace, love, and understanding?
-Johnny Divine
