As the world gears up for the Christmas season, many cities on the globe are on edge.  Even traditionally safe China has issued a terror alert targeting foreigners.

Jerusalem, the cradle of Christianity and Judaism and which also holds an important place in Islam, is more or less under lockdown fearing attacks by Palestinian extremists.

All major capitals are on high alert because of two major factors; crowds are larger than normal and are sitting targets for extremists, but an attack of any size on Christmas Day would have more publicity value than on any other day.

Religious fundamentalism has grown stronger in the last decade and bigots are giving it unnecessary fuel by uttering irresponsible and incendiary remarks. This would be the best time to make amends.

Christmas is a time of goodwill, generosity and forgiveness. Senseless loss of life, or what has come to be known as "Killing in the name of God”, should not be given room to flourish. The Christmas spirit should instead help bring communities together and uproot extremism in our midst.

This season should not go down as just another mundane holiday celebrated by merrymaking and overindulgence in food and drink, let this Christmas inspire everyone to draw up a blueprint of how they can contribute to peaceful coexistence and good neighbourliness and as the saying goes, "charity begins at home”.

The New Times family wishes each and everyone a merry and safe Christmas.