Editorial: Christmas also about humility

The true meaning of Christmas follows Christians wherever they may go. Still, for newcomers to Las Vegas, no matter how strong their faith is, it can be tough at times during the holidays. It can be especially discomforting for recent transplants who, because they're new to their jobs or don't have enough money, cannot get home to spend Christmas with their families.

While both newcomers and old-timers would agree that Las Vegas is unlike any other place in the world, people here are the same as people everywhere during the holiday season. Sometimes it's something as simple as a gentleman waiting to hold open a door for a lady who is loaded down with gifts. Or out on our roads, where nastiness too often reigns, it can be a pleasant surprise to find Las Vegans suddenly displaying civility. Warmth to others also can be inspired by simple, but touching, moments, such as seeing a 3-year-old girl's face light up when she sits on Santa's lap, whispering what presents she hopes to receive.

The city prospers from its almost-anything-goes image, but the reality is that this city is made up of hard-working families who practice their faith throughout the year. For that matter, while it might seem hokey to the jaded, what also helps unite Las Vegans is a belief that goodwill and peace don't have to be illusory. Whether it's here in the valley, or in our nation's capital, or around the world in the trouble spots of the Middle East and Northern Ireland, hope abounds for better times.

Aside from the annoying commercialism of the holiday, the celebration of Christ's birth does have a special resonance in a nation that takes pride in its religious pluralism. Christ's birth in a manger represents to people of all faiths that no matter how humble a child's origin, we all are born with dignity and maintain it the rest of our lives. Indeed, our nation's founding document, the Declaration of Independence, affirmed that all men are created equal. While too often we take this sacred belief for granted, every year Christmas importantly instills a sense of humility, no matter our faith or station in life.

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