One thing I have learned in this life is if it were not for our hopes, our hearts would most assuredly break. So long as we can find the courage to allow hope to prevail we can never be defeated. At times that theory is sorely tested I know but nevertheless it is infallible. When we face adversity and do nothing, we feel overwhelmed and powerless. But when we get involved, we feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing we are actually working to make things better.

 Never has hope been more essential than now. As we watch the world and our way of life changing with each day that passes, as friends become adversaries, as our leaders continue to make choices guaranteed to further widen the rifts between us,  as we see violence and anger replacing dialogue and  compromise as the tools  of diplomacy it is understandable that hope might waver, but we must not allow it to die. To do so is to accept  defeat totally and irrevocably.

 In recent years we have witnessed the compromising and subversion of so much that we have claimed to represent throughout our history. Those values are worth fighting to protect. And fighting does not have to include violent uprising. It only takes sufficient numbers of  people caring enough to make their voices heard.

Just ask yourselves ...  is life as we would wish it to be ? Are we allowing our prejudices and unwillingness to consider other viewpoints to influence our principles and core beliefs ? Have we forgotten what our faith actually teaches ? Is this the world we wish to bequeath to our children ? Or are we ready to stand up and defend that which  is most precious . Our freedom and the freedom of others to live in harmony with our fellow man free from religious persecution  and bigotry or the over zealous domination of a vocal minority.

When leaders further their own agenda at the expense of  liberty and freedom ... democracy ceases to exist. Democracy is not something which can be forced on societies. It must be free choice or it becomes the antithesis of what democracy represents.   In a democratic society the voice of the people matters and is heard.  This is not the first time in history that democracy has been blasphemed, nor will it be the last,  but those who truly believe in what our values and principles represent must find the courage to stand up and demand an accounting. It is not only our right, it is our obligation.

 There is an old quote attributed to Confucius which says ... " To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order, to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order, to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life, we must first set our hearts right." Never have there been truer words. For much of what is happening today can be directly attributed to the cancer which is eating away at our nation's very fibre.  The enmity among us feeds to the strength of those who would divide us to serve their own ends. We  are enabling the very thing we fear most. The destruction of our way of life and our belief in freedom and equality for all.

Yes, there are those who would destroy us but we are  not obliged to make their task easier and that is what we are in the process of doing. 'Divide and Conquer' are not just empty words. That theory has the ability to lead to our demise as a society. There are already signs they are succeeding.  When have our people been so divided ? When has there  ever been so much ill will and mistrust among us ? Superior weaponry and strong armies may  give the appearance of strength  but the true strength of a nation lies in it's unity. We must find a way to heal the wounds we have inflicted on one another. Until we do that we are inviting disaster.

 I am aware this page seems to be warning only of dire consequences but that is only true if one is prepared to allow hope to  wither away and die. So long as there are those among us who do believe there is hope and are prepared to reach out  and embrace those who are now so estranged we can, and will prevail.

 Perhaps a first step might be to accept that  others do believe they are acting in good faith just as we do and there may well be merit on both sides.  And we must listen to one another with open minds and hearts and  be prepared to make compromises to achieve the overall objective. We must come to know one another again. We are really not so different in our beliefs, we have much in common, not least our love for our children and our very real concern for their future. We need firstly to heal ourselves if we are to be of any use in healing others. Hatred and mistrust are the tools of  the dark side.  Hope, faith in the goodness of others, and our innate common decency and good sense are the tools  with which we can and will win.