The Ghosts of Christmas Present

We feel the pall that hangs over this holiday. It won't go away and it shouldn't. This is the way Christmas 2012 happened: with the ghosts of children hovering over holiday gatherings, nationwide.

Looking ahead -- and we must -- I hope Americans treat what happened in Connecticut the way the people of Norway responded to Anders Breivak's mass murder of children. Instead of fracturing, they came together in love. It made them stronger rather than weaker, and more determined than ever to bring about a just, peaceful society.

We could do worse this Christmas than emulate the wisdom of these people, who have been through the same and worse. No guns, no violence. That must be our goal. This Christmas, my fondest hope is that we can come together as a nation to make this dream a reality.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.