Dear Editor,
Firework sales have not even begun officially, but the St. Peters, South Reward and Ebenezer areas already sound like a warzone.
At any given time of the day or in the middle of the night firework bombs are exploding.
We all fear the day that official sales begin. Let’s go back to the quiet days of the moratorium.
Suffering from firework injury since 1998!
Name withheld at author’s request.
Dear Editor,
We have just celebrated one of the most joyful times of the year, which is called Christmas. Although Christ was not born on the 25th of December, that particular day has been set apart to celebrate in remembrance the birth of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, who was sent by God into this world, according to the holy biblical scriptures, to save the entire human race. But today in our age and time over the years, the true meaning of this day has greatly dwindled from our minds. Man has lost the meaning of this most important season.
Most of us celebrate “Christmas,” but we have left Christ out of the picture. We have become more interested in the gift, and not the giver of the gift. We wish each other a Merry Christmas as we shake hands – even the unbelievers do it – but our understanding of Jesus as our saviour is yet afar off.
In the book of Matthew taken from the bible, Jesus gives a parable about the husbandmen, who failed to read the scriptures as to understand the coming of the saviour. When God sent His son Jesus instead of accepting Him, they slew him. In the first section of verse 42 of that same chapter, Jesus says to them: “Did ye never read in the scriptures?”
Today we are a generation of people who live in a fast moving world, where we get so caught up in the rush, greed, and concern for making it in our society, that we don’t have, or take the time to read or study the scriptures to understand the meaning of times and holy seasons.
In my younger years growing up as a child, I can recall that from the month of October, Christmas carols were already filling the air. There was a change in the atmosphere leading up to the Christmas season. It was like something sacred filled the air. As children, we taught about the toys, Santa Claus, sweet puddings and tarts. For the adults or grown-ups, it was remembering the sacred glad tidings of the birth of Jesus as the saviour.
The early morning church services would be filled with young and old. And neighbours, friends and relatives would greet each other with the blessings that Christmas brings. The change in society over the years, our falling away from the word of God, and the way we now bring up our children, have greatly affected the way we now celebrate Christmas.
Christmas today has become a pure commercial festivity. For the consumer, it’s about what all we can or will be able to buy, once we receive our early December pay checks. For the business people, it’s about what all and how much can be sold to make a big profit. For the children today, it’s n longer about toys, but about the latest cell phones, and expensive electronic games. Santa Clause today, because of this generation, has become “unemployed.” It’s just a thing of the past.
The business people are smiling, because it’s their opportunity to organize various shopping sprees, as to rake and scrape as much dollars as they can from the consumers, who are brought up in a material world. For the doctors on the other hand, it’s an additional bonus, as their offices and clinics will be full on the first work day after the festive holidays, to treat the many sick patients, who need a medical fix, because they have indulged in too much food and drink.
For many, Christmas today has become a time of gluttony, indulgence, and greed. For some it has become a drunken party, where they become so disoriented and intoxicated, that they can’t even stand on their feet, or need to be lead to their homes, because they can’t find, or remember their door steps, even drive their own vehicles.
I have always wondered why God never gave us the birth date of His son Jesus. I believe that God already knew how mankind would disrespect this sacred day. Taken from the bible, when Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey on what we call Palm Sunday, the people were celebrating and praising Him as the coming Messiah to liberate them from their enemies. But they failed to understand again through the scriptures, that Jesus was coming to establish a spiritual kingdom and to save mankind from their sins.
Because of their misunderstandings, which would lead up to their judgement as the scriptures say, He wept. Over two thousand years have passed, and man has not change. I believe Christ is still weeping today for a lost generation. The day will come when we all will have to give an account.
Name withheld at author’s request.
Dear Editor,
At times, choosing the person of the year could be a challenging enterprise, while on other occasions it does not need much probing, because the evidence is crystal clear. But what is it that really determines who gets this title? Most likely, it depends on where the focus is directed.
Dear Editor,
In the vicinities of Saunders, Betty’s Estate and St Peters; fireworks have been used for the last two weeks. Today [Friday – Ed.] the fireworks noise started since 4:00 pm. Dogs and probably other pets are scared to dead.
I just wonder why people are authorized to import and sell these dangerous products. It’s allowed for a couple of hours at Christmas or New Year’s Eve. It’s 10:40 pm and we are still hearing the noise.
We understand the happiness those colourful lights bring to most people, but they should be used for fun only for special events, not any day at any time.
Is there any authority to take this issue seriously?
Name withheld at author's request.
Time to reflect! Let’s reflect on the true meaning on what the Christmas celebration means to most of us here in St. Maarten. Over the years, we have seen St. Maarten’s celebration of the Christmas season catapult like all celebrations over the world, and it has become nothing more than a big commercial activity.
