Dear Sir,

This time of the year always offers us some respite from the challenges of life in our often tumultuous little island that really is another world on so many fronts.

The suffocation of never-ending political banter and strident political debate and division rolls along unabated with no real discipline as to where we blather out our partisan views.

In Bermuda, it never ceases to amaze that so many of our citizens assume that you embrace their viewpoint if you happen to be of the same skin hue.

While there is some division along racial and socioeconomic lines, we are at our core a gracious community for the most part, albeit many would argue to the contrary.

My belief is that they who feel that way are wrong, while accepting that the room for improvement is a large one. We are altruistic and generous to those less fortunate and have plenty to give, despite the time-worn statement that we are “taking licks” and call ourselves poor.

Our island home is stable despite the tremors of discontent by some, as is the case everywhere on this planet, both real and imagined. This time of year always leads to gastronomic excess, with plenty to eat for all, especially our less fortunate brothers and sisters.

Food and plenty of it everywhere, and we are more than willing to share. After all, it is Christmas time and we love it. Thankfully, Scrooge and his ilk have no place in festive Bermuda.

We must take advantage of the opportunity to talk about what has the ability to unify us rather than divide this little country that offers so much promise, notwithstanding our challenges going forward. Unto us a Son has been given and He is the Prince of Peace, as mentioned in Isaiah. The seeds of unity must supplant the poison of division of past injustices and whatever hatred existed. This season provides hope of reconciliation and acknowledgement.

We do accept that not all of us believe in the virgin birth and all of the miraculous events of the Incarnation of the Son of God, but we do believe in goodness, family and the fellowship of close friends during the holidays.

It really is a wonderful time of the year to recharge our batteries and to sow the seeds of brotherhood.

It is a fact of history that the Christ child was born, lived among us, performed miracles and died a vicarious death as a grown man so that all who believe in Him and accept His grace through faith can be saved for all eternity.

May the blessings of this truth, both historical and biblical, be embraced for the betterment of our country, which needs the healing it is able to bring.

Merry Christmas.

WAYNE B. SCOTT