We have begun the holiday season, with Halloween just behind us and Thanksgiving coming up later this month. In between Indians will celebrate Diwali, the festival of light. It commemorates the victorious return of Rama to his kingdom in Ayodhya. Every rooftop was lit with “diyas” to welcome him, and diyas are still lit all over India today. In less than a month we go from remembering the dead (even though most costumed children running after candy may not know this), remembering victory of good over evil, to giving thanks for survival by commemorating that first shared meal between the natives and the immigrants.

While the last throes of the election make it seem as if we are a divided country, split into red and blue, the recent superstorm Sandy has shown once again, that we are one rather purple country. When disaster strikes, when we celebrate (except football victories), we pull together and help each other. We remember that, no matter where we live in the country, we could be the ones in need.

In this holiday season let’s look each other in the eyes and recognize that we are the same before our maker. Our outward color, dress code, and food habits may be different, but underneath it all hides a spirit like the little diya flames that burn together in celebration.