Once again, it is Christmas. It is the festivity of light – the festivity in which darkness is overcome by the bright star, in which our paths are illuminated, in which we find courage, in which we restore the course of our lives or in which we recover the meaning of life with faith.
We know that there are millions of people and families throughout the world that perish suffocated by injustice and chaos, suffering without hope in the future. In fact, the anguish of lingering in obscurity and hopelessness is even worse than momentary suffering.
For Christians, as for most women and men, this holiday season brings nostalgia as well as the awareness of our present situation, but it is mostly a time for a new beginning and to look towards the New Year, that is, the future.
Christmas brings the promising light – however tenuous it may be – to our path. We must seize it so that we may regain the lost strength and go forward.
The deepest meaning of the celebration of the birth of Jesus may only be this social resurgence, the recovery of strength, the certainty that there will always be another chance for happiness. This is the faith that can positively move mankind. This is the message which is the most important for us.
Hopelessness, conformism and fatalism are not beneficial at all. It is important to have the capacity to create. It is not a shame to cry, but it is essential to build a smile in our lives as well as in the lives of others. Therefore, those who are struggling must fight to overcome difficulties with their own effort and not idly rely on the helpfulness of others; and those who can help cannot, selfishly, refuse to provide that support. There cannot be room for rejection of self-esteem and the appraisal for the life of those around us in our society. Our moral and civic responsibility only ends at the limit of the contribution we can provide for collective welfare.
The Azores have considerably progressed and the living conditions we enjoy today, fortunately, cannot be compared to the past. And we will continue to progress. However, in our Azorean community, whether on our islands or among emigrant families, there are those who are facing difficult times; some due to setbacks in their family life, others for health reasons or setbacks in their professional and business lives. To all, we should provide our solidarity not just with friendly words, but with deeds.
This is also the Government’s obligation: to provide support to all people in this time of international crisis – firstly the poorest, to ensure their subsistence, and then to those whose financial stability is endangered, thus preventing these families from falling into poverty. It is important not to forget all of them.
This is what we have been trying to do in the Azores, we have been attentive to low income families, the unemployed or those with housing needs as well as to average income families with a substantial financial burden to own a house, to take care of the elderly or to ensure a specialised or higher education to their children. We have also awarded priority status – and I think we have reasons to do so – to programmes intended to support the professional initiation of youngsters or the acquisition and leasing of housing for the youngsters who are starting their family life. I have done everything possible for the Government to support of all of them in accordance with the availability of our resources.
This time of economic and social crises which are felt almost everywhere, should unite to provide the necessary solidarity, but it also should remind us all to contribute with our initiative and intelligence in order to improve our economy, our companies and farmers - from fishers to farmers, from the most important industry to the smallest trader, from the tourist entrepreneur to several service providers – strengthening their sustainability so that that may pay their employees better and create more jobs.
I believe that despite the difficult year announced for Portugal and Europe in 2011, its consequences in addition to our existing constraints, we will be able to resist and overcome these adversities with our best administration as well as with our best efforts. This worldwide crisis will not last forever and our wisdom will be important to defend ourselves as best as possible while it lasts. For that reason, no citizen, party or institution should deny their collaboration.
So let us unite and become builders of hope; the hope announced by Christmas.
To all Azoreans, all friends of the Azores, wherever they are, and especially to all those who work on the islands of Flores, Corvo, São Jorge, Pico, Faial, Graciosa, Terceira, São Miguel and Santa Maria, I wish, on behalf of our Government and my family, a Merry Christmas and a New Year full of happiness.
Merry Christmas.