Hope will conquer hate this Christmas

Sometimes it feels like the forces of hate are gathering and taking hold like never before.

- Alex Cole-Hamilton

Whether that's in the churn of world events, in our political discourse or in our communities.

Even in Scotland, the voices of intolerance have become so emboldened in recent months that a Christmas school play in Inverness had to be cancelled after racist and abusive messages were directed at the school and staff online because of the inclusion of Syrian refugees in the story line.

Meanwhile, council workers in Aberdeen received abuse for taking down flags (which were put up to intimidate asylum seekers) in order to put up Christmas lights.