‘God rest ye, merry gentlemen...’

‘God rest ye, merry gentlemen...’ VIEWPOINT
By Donald Sinclair
Guyana Chronicle
November 19, 2002

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IN Guyana the first days of November usher in two important and significant celebrations -- Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights and the Christian season of Christmas. While Diwali is essentially and predominantly of greatest significance to Hindus, the spectacle of the lighted Diyas and the luminous motorcades has become something of a national treasure, exciting interest across religious and other boundaries. Christmas has long had an impact upon the population at large, believers and heathen alike, even though a persistent core among the Christian faithful are outraged by the extent to which Christmas has become commercialised.

Diwali and Christmas, coming as they do at the end of a year already notorious for its unspeakable atrocities, must have special resonance in the national consciousness. The language and images of those two festivals should have special meaning and should strike sympathetic chords in 2002 Guyana. The light that illuminates the darkness; a weary world rejoicing; peace on earth, goodwill towards men; yonder breaks a new and glorious morn should be the noble sentiments exalting and sustaining our battered lives at this special time.

But the sad truth is that this Christmas there are many who, suffering the loss of family, friends and loved ones during the madness that descended upon our country, may find neither meaning nor comfort in the hymns and carols associated with the Christian festival. The sad truth is that Christmas will find many whose tender feelings have been numbed; whose hearts can bear nothing but bitterness, anguish and rage. The sad truth is that for those in grinding poverty or those suffering incurable diseases the merriment associated with the season may be simply a vexing word, a luxury that fate has reserved for others.

At Christmas Guyanese do not demand much -- a little extra to spruce up the home and buy a few gifts for family and special friends. We make meticulous preparations for the return of distant relatives from overseas, to share fellowship with them. We look forward to the characteristic menus of the season, and we accept with graciousness the invitations to wine and dine that flow aplenty at that time of the year. Maybe some day at Christmas we will turn our swords into ploughshares. Until that day dawns for us in Guyana let us resolve to give comfort and solace where there is affliction, and to make just a little lighter the terrible burdens of those less fortunate among us. God rest ye, merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay...