The way this country encourages its Christian residents to celebrate Christmas is – rightly – revered around the world as an example of tolerance in action. As we all know, this does not begin and end with Christians inviting their Muslim and Hindu neighbours to share in their Christmas festivities. Each group will in turn become guests of the others at festivals like Eid and Diwali.
Although we might be accustomed to this, this tolerance deserves to be celebrated – and also defended against those who wish to sow discord between faiths who live happily and peacefully alongside each other. The law passed this year that banned discrimination on the grounds of religious belief merely codified a precept that is at the core of the UAE’s ethos of coexistence.
Our attitude to Christmas stands as a repudiation. We show by example how we can all live together peacefully while each following our respective faiths. In that spirit, we wish all of our readers who are celebrating today a very Merry Christmas.
