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The Christmas holiday is considered to be one of the most popular celebrations of the year. During this time respected psychologists tell us that emotions run the gamut from extreme euphoria to severe depression. Most are able to handle their feelings in a responsible way.<\/p>\n
Still, there will be many questions about the true meaning of Christmas: What should our demeanor be while celebrating this famous occasion, and what should be our focus as we move beyond the gatherings, the meals, and of course, the gifts?<\/p>\n
As I listened to the lyrics of one of our favorite Christmas carols \u201cO Holy Night,\u201d<\/a> I found myself thinking that the message within the song could not only help with our emotions but also provide some direction for the future.<\/p>\n The lyrics provide those of us who believe in the Christian interpretation of the holiday a \u201creason for the season.\u201d It is the night when \u201cChrist was born…O night divine.\u201d<\/p>\n The lyrics also suggest what our attitude should be as we celebrate. We should not despair but rejoice: His birth was \u201cA thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.\u201d We should rejoice, because the season is an opportune time to reconnect with our family, faith and friends.<\/p>\n Finally, while moving forward, the famous song and the birth of that magnificent ray of hope offer us an opportunity to focus on our blessings and our strengths instead of our weaknesses: \u201cLong lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.\u201d<\/p>\n These particular words take on additional meaning when we are reminded of the story about a man who worried about not being able to purchase quality shoes. He had an epiphany when he saw a man who had no feet!<\/p>\n During this holiday season may we all rejoice and take a moment to count our many blessings!<\/p>\n George Comer, Crown Point, Indiana<\/i><\/p>\n When most people picture a mall, they imagine national chain department stores and designer labels. But here\u2019s a surprise: Some of Chicago area\u2019s malls are a vibrant ecosystem of small and independent businesses. Take the 92 independent shops that call Aurora\u2019s Fox Valley Mall home. That means 92 opportunities to discover unique gifts for everyone on your holiday list.<\/p>\n Online shopping makes it easy to click \u201cadd to cart,\u201d but when you choose to shop small, every purchase spreads cheer twice \u2014 once to the person receiving your gift, and again to the small-business owner, invigorating the local economy and making our communities better places to live.<\/p>\n As someone who works at the Women\u2019s Business Development Center,<\/a> I know firsthand how much small-business owners look forward to this time of year. And while Fox Valley Mall is just one shining example, the truth is that small-businesses power every corner of the Chicago area \u2014 including the city\u2019s 77 neighborhoods from Rogers Park to Pullman.<\/p>\n So, as you search for that perfect (or last minute!) present, I encourage you to take a stroll through Fox Valley Mall, or a city neighborhood like Little Village (over 500 small businesses!), and explore the vibrant small businesses we have in the Chicago and suburbs. You\u2019ll spread joy not only to the people on your gift list, but also to the hardworking entrepreneurs who sustain our communities.<\/p>\n Minerva Calatayud, director of entrepreneurial programs and services, Women\u2019s Business Development Center<\/i><\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s opinion piece<\/a> by Sun-Times columnist Rummana Hussain appropriately described the anti-Palestinian sentiments held by some in this country. She correctly takes Hillary Clinton to task for waving away critics of Israel\u2019s war on Gaza. Hussain quotes <\/a>Clinton, \u201ca lot of young Jewish Americans don\u2019t know the history (of the Middle East) and don\u2019t understand.\u201d <\/p>\n Instead of dismissing Jews and others who are against Israel\u2019s carnage in Gaza, Clinton would do well to engage with former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. He has been severely critical of Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s strategy in Gaza. Olmert has referred to those who support Israel\u2019s government as a \u201cmessianic group of thugs\u201d <\/a>and has urged Netanyahu and his \u201cthugs\u201d<\/a> to stop the bombing. I\u2019m sure that he and many other dissenting Israelis have a profound understanding of the history of the Middle East and Israel\u2019s role in it.<\/p>\n Nearly 80,000 <\/a>innocent men, women, children and babies have been killed in Gaza. Israel has laid waste to the land. That the United States under Joe Biden and Donald Trump has supported Israel in this travesty is a stain on all of us.<\/p>\n Blaise J. Arena, Des Plaines<\/i><\/p>\nHelping small businesses thrive <\/h3>\n
Hillary Clinton needs schooling on Israel, Gaza <\/h3>\n
Misunderstanding memorials <\/h3>\n