‘Tis The Season To Love Family And Friends By Jerry O’Meara

Now that the election is over, we may want to celebrate the love and enjoyment we can experience with family and friends. I can think of no better time to do this than the holiday season.

In my many years of observing the ebb and flow of politics, I have learned that there will always be differing political opinions, but the animosity that sometimes accompanies those differences is unnecessary and damaging to the future of our relationships with family and friends.

I am also too old to be shocked by anything I hear from the media, however, I came close when I heard several of the television “hate merchants” advising people to stay away from friends and family at holiday get-togethers if they favor a different political party than yours.

This is ridiculous and disturbing. If you can’t enjoy precious time with friends and family due to political differences what type of person have you become? And what does this say about us as a nation?

When and why did politics become so personal, and why do so many people listen to these haters?

I count my family and friends as blessings because I know I won’t always have them.

If a friend or family member disagrees with you politically do not discuss politics. It is that simple!

Each one of us possesses the ability to shine brightly in many ways. We light up brilliantly when we think or speak of things that delight us, like our grandchildren. Since we are frail humans we also have faults. We become dark when we think or speak of things that anger or disturb us.

I believe the shining star in each one of us far outweighs the darkness. Let us endeavor to find the bright star in each one of our friends and family members during the holiday season and beyond. We may discover that we have more in common than we realize.

May you and yours live in the Light of Peace this holiday season and throughout 2025.