The joy and happiness that December and the holiday season usually brings will be tempered again this year by the host of horrors that occurred over the past few weeks and throughout the year.

                Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or Milad un Nabi at this time of year, the pause to be thankful is again shadowed by the pain of all of the victims of violence.  Of those who have trouble recognizing the goodness that should be found in these holidays, they still feel the need to reach out to the victims and families who suffered, or are suffering.  Then they realize that giving is the real spirit of every day.

                As hope for a better world dwindles, we need to ramp up faith to bring back hope – faith in mankind; faith in our religion; and, most importantly, faith in ourselves.  Only then can we hope.  We need to look in the mirror and see who we are.  We need to look deep inside and see if we are the solution or part of the problem.

                Last year I wrote that hate and distrust breeds even more hate and distrust.  Are you a hater?  Who do you hate and why?  You may not even be aware that you are a "hater" and that others avoid you because of that. 

                Think about it.  Have you ever seen political disagreements evolve so quickly into blatant acts of hatred followed by quick retaliation with total disregard to whatever collateral damage may occur and to whom?  It seems that nobody is entitled to their opinion anymore unless it agrees with the hater. 

                As we continue to add words to the dictionary, the word "compromise" may soon be deleted, followed soon after by courtesy, respect and understanding.

                In our fast-paced, internet-powered social world, half-truths and downright lies fly around the world faster than the truth.  Truth takes a backseat to those who want to "post it" first.  Those who prefer to get it right are left in the technical dust of social networking.  Caught up in the swiftness to communicate, people are quick to believe the half-truths or lies because it feeds their desire to be controversial or argumentative - or just hate.

                Police all over the country are still threatened by posters on social media, many who take every advantage to hide their identity.  What's real and what isn't?  Police officers, no matter where, need to be extra vigilant.  What triggers someone to intentionally attack or kill an armed police officer?  What triggers anyone to intentionally kill another human being?  What innocent victims will be forever harmed by the acts of those who hate?

                This holiday season, give the world, your nation, your neighborhood, a special gift.  Promise yourself that you will love before you hate.  If you can't love, then vow that you will try to understand before passing judgment.  Or, you can simply agree to disagree.  Do your best to correct a mistake instead of ignoring it or perpetuating the results of it.  Pledge to help those in need, regardless of who they are.

                Hope starts with people and their willingness to identify their shortcomings and make the changes necessary to become a better person.

                Make that your gift to others.