- The President did not wish a "Merry Christmas" in his holiday card
- The Irish say: "this is not a Christmas card"
- A card aimed at global goals, forgetting the common man's misery?
The President did not wish a "Merry Christmas" in his holiday card
A couple of weeks ago, the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, and his wife, Sabina, issued their annual Christmas card for 2024 with the message "Peace and Love". During the festive season, many people express their concern for each other and open their hearts to wish each other a cosy home and a feasting table, but the greeting is different this time. On the other side of the card is the "elephant in the room", with all eyes on it: the United Nations' (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Finally, glancing at the card reveals that it does not mention the winter season.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, as they are known, comprise 17 global goals adopted by UN Member States in 2015. They aim to achieve by 2030, addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and social justice. It is probably not without reason that some lay people take the greeting as an insult[1]. They believe that those who greet are caught up in the attitude that the world is too crowded and that we need to breathe (or "breathless") as little as possible. This postcard is, in their eyes, "exactly the moment" when the focus is on reducing pollution - but not on the well-being of individuals and the uplifting festive mood.
The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, is well known to many for his commitment to sustainable development and environmental protection. He often uses a variety of platforms to raise awareness of these important issues. The Christmas card seems to have become one of them, spreading a focused message - but not in the spirit of Christmas.
President Higgins' term of office ends in November 2025.
The Irish say: "this is not a Christmas card"
When internet users see the content of the card, they scream:
"This communist artwork perfectly encapsulates a nation poisoned by Marxist ideology; Michael D. Higgins has failed to protect the people, the heritage and the future," some say[2].
They point out that the card does not contain the word "Christmas" or any Christian element at all, even though in 2022, Christians made up around 74% of the population of the UK. 74 percent of the Irish population. People moan 'what kind of Christmas card is this if there is not a single reference to Christ or Christians, not even a 'Merry Christmas' wish. This, they say, is what the 'awakened anti-Christian left' looks like, who have forgotten that each one of us is first and foremost a human being.
A card aimed at global goals, forgetting the common man's misery?
The postcard seems to be addressed to international heads of state, members of the diplomatic corps and members of the public in Ireland and abroad. The drawing of doves and rainbows forming a heart around the world carries the message 'Peace and love on earth, goodwill to all'. Each dove carries an olive branch. On the inside are extracts from several of President Higgins' addresses calling for peace and drawing attention to the world's record spending on arms and quotes from Pope Francis and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. As mentioned, the card's reverse side shows the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The card was designed by artist Michael O'Dwyer, who also designed last year. The design and content of the annual Christmas card has been coordinated by Sabina Higgins for the past 14 years, taking into account secular concerns. In all the cards, Sabina and President Michael D. Higgins have sought to apply the message of Christmas and the birth of Jesus to the problems of the world today. However, some people argue that life is not just about secular issues. They want support, a kind word, encouragement and a hug. Meanwhile, sustainability principles have begun to creep down the chimney, pretending to be Santa Claus.
Speaking about this year's Christmas card, Sabina said:
"Sending an annual Christmas card is an important tradition that brings us closer to our loved ones and our global family, whoever and wherever they are. Sending the right Christmas picture that best conveyed the message of love that needed to be conveyed to our national and global family was a very important and interesting job for me. It is amazing that every year, special pictures have come to me from different places.
Population growth is a complex, sensitive subject. Leaders often choose diplomatic language to deal with it. But Christmas is not a conference, and cakes are not the points on which sustainability is measured.
