Columbia, SC — Soon it will be the Christmas season all over the world, and I wonder which country and/or people keep and honor Christmas in the most fitting way.

Is it The United States? Really? When our government cannot agree that all Americans need health insurance? When U.S. troops (human beings) are fighting and dying in two countries whose governments seem to be very corrupt? When, after more than 200 years of being a country, we still have bigotry and prejudice? Do we have nearly 8 percent unemployment in part because so many of our Christmas gifts come from other countries?

If you are like me and don’t like the answers to these questions, it is not too late to change them. We have got to come to some understanding that we cannot continue to purchase almost everything from other countries. We have got to understand that U.S. troops are also moms, dads, sons and daughters; our troops need to be brought home now.

I believe the bigotry and the denial of health insurance go hand-in-hand. How can a society claim to be civilized when so many millions of our citizens are without the necessary safety net of health insurance?

Perhaps this Christmas will be the start of better times in our country. If we all truly understand the real meaning of Christmas, we can change things for the better.

Timothy M. Bledsoe

North Augusta