Àm na Nollaige, àm as àbhaist a bhith cuimsichte air càirdeas agus coibhneas, agus sin nochdte tro thiodhlacan de gach seòrsa. Gu fortanach cha leig càirdeas is coibhneas a leas a bhith cosgail agus tha iad nan nòs giùlain beatha làitheil air an còir dhuinn uile amas fad na bliadhna seach a-mhàin aig àm Nollaige. Ach cha ghabh cosgais seachnadh nuair a thig e gu tiodhlacan, agus abair gum bheil ionmhas air bàrr naidheachdan an-ceartuair agus chan ann a-mhàin a thaobh cosgais bith-beò ged a tha sin na adhbhar iomagain dha mòr-chuid. Tha cuideachd, mar eisimpleir, a’ Ucràin ann an èiginn le gainnead armachd gus a dìon fhèin an aghaidh na Ruis, agus an seo fhèin cuid de Chomhairlean Alba a’ rabhadh gun tèid iad banca-briste mur a faigh iad barrachd maoin bhon Riaghaltas ann an Dùn Èideann.
Nuair a thug Putin an ionnsaigh air a’ Ucràin bha dùthchannan an taobh an iar aonaichte agus èasgaidh nan taic dìon, agus bha Breatann an ceannas na taice sin. Ach tha an t-srì air leantainn ’s dòcha nas fhaide na bha dùil agus a dh’aindeoin gheallaidhean taice leantainnich bho Phrìomhairean Bhreatann gu ruige seo, aig coinneamh nan Rìoghachdan Aonaichte bho chionn ghoirid sheachain riochdaire na dùthcha seo taic a chur ri tagradh airson tuilleadh taic airgid dhan Ucràin. Bha Ameireagaidh air an tuilleadh taice a dhiùltadh, agus dh’fheumte faighneachd an robh rùn Bhreatainn ag atharrachadh cuideachd? Gun iomradh air dìth spiorad Nollaige tha e draghail smaoineachadh gum biodh na dùthchannan an iar a-nise dol a thrèigsinn na Ucràin le fios nach tèid aice air seasamh an aghaidh cumhachd na Ruis às aonais tuilleadh taice. Tha eòlaichean poilitigeach làidir nam beachd nach stadadh an Ruis leis a’ Ucràin a ghabhail thairis, agus gum bheil e deatamach dha tèarainteachd nan dùthchannan an iar gum buannaich a’ Ucràin an cogadh. Cha b’ e tiodhlac Nollaige a bhiodh ann an tuilleadh taice dhan Ucràin ach co-dhùnadh ciallach agus iomchaidh a thaobh an dà chuid dìon na Ucràin agus an iar.
Aig àm sgrìobhaidh seo tha aithris air nochdadh gum bheil buidseat Riaghaltas na h-Alba suas ri billean not gann airson na bliadhna romhainn, agus ma tha sin fior chan eil cus dòchais gum faigh na Comhairlean an tuilleadh maoin. Am measg gach buaidh a bhios aig a sin cha tèid aig na Comhairlean air na leasachaidhean deatamach a tha a dhìth ann an seirbheis foghlaim na dùthcha a choileanadh, an dà chuid a thaobh luchd-teagaisg is ghoireasan a bharrachd, agus cuideachd leasachadh air togalaichean a tha air a dhol bhuaithe gu ìre chunnartach.
’S e dùbhlan da-rìribh a th’ aig an Riaghaltas is aig Comhairlean coinneachadh ris gach dleastanas a th’ orra, ach chan ann air tiodhlacan Nollaige a tha sinn a’ bruidhinn an seo idir ach air còraichean foghlam chloinne an-dràsta, agus ghinealaichean ri teachd. Chan eil teagamh nach e tiodhlac thar luach a th’ ann am foghlam, agus cha bu chòir caomhnadh a bhith air ìre neo fialaidheachd a chuid lìbhrigidh!
Along with its religious significance Christmas has long been associated with friendship and kindness, demonstrated through the presentation of gifts of all kinds. Friendship and kindness are not costly and should be an aspiration of everyday life throughout the year. Gifts, however, tend to require money and money is a continuing headline topic and not just because of the challenging cost of living. For example, the Ukraine is desperately seeking additional funding to restock its depleted store of ammunition, and here at home some local authorities are warning they will go bankrupt unless Holyrood increases support for them.
When Putin first invaded the Ukraine western countries were eagerly committed supporters of its defence, and Britain was a leader in that process. However, as the war continues perhaps longer than expected, and despite assurances of continuing support from British Prime Ministers, the UK delegate at a recent UN meeting abstained from voting for further support for Ukraine’s war effort. With the USA having refused to support the funding request, has the UK’s position also changed?
Christmas spirit aside it is worrying to think that the West might now abandon Ukraine while knowing that it cannot compete with Russia without further help. Political experts seem certain that Putin will not stop with a victory in Ukraine, and for that reason it is vital that Ukraine wins the war. Further support for Ukraine would not be a Christmas gift but a rational and appropriate decision relating to both the defence of Ukraine, and the West.
At the time of writing it is being reported that the Scottish Government’s budget for the coming year may be facing a one billion pound shortfall, and if that be true there would seem to be little hope of additional funds for local authorities. Among the many impacts of such a situation councils would not be able to address urgent educational development needs in recruitment and resources, or deal with the repair or replacement of buildings which have deteriorated to dangerous levels.
Government and councils face a daunting challenge in funding delivery of their various responsibilities, but we are not discussing Christmas presents here but the educational rights of children, now, and for future generations. Education is undoubtedly a gift beyond value, and there should be no rationing of quality or generosity in its delivery.