Well, one thing about starting a new year is that we can reflect on what took place in the old year.  This New Year brings with it added ingredients--a new decade, a new century, and a new millennium.  And reflection on the past becomes especially important, if we begin with recent events and work backwards.
    December to Christians and Jews and in 1999 also to Muslims is particularly important.  It is a month of joy because the presence of God is experienced in the lives of people.  Although gift giving is important in the celebration of Chanukah, the real emphasis is on light.  The light represents the presence of God burning through the darkness of people's lives, and it gives hope for things yet to come.
    The same can also be said of the Christmas holy days.  The gift, the child in the manger, is the light that pierces the darkness of the world and grants peace to people of goodwill.  It should be noted that the message of Christmas is not that there will be peace and goodwill, but that peace will come to people of goodwill.
    In the community of Claremont, the year of 1999 began with the shooting of Irvin Landrum, Jr., on January 11, by policemen.  At the end of that same year, these "peace officers" were given "pay-offs" of $1,000 each by their fellow city employees for being "municipal employees of the year."  Then one week later, the Claremont Police Department presented them with plaques as the most outstanding members of the force.  All this was done despite the unanswered questions still haunting the citizens of the city and many people in the Pomona-Inland Valley.
    The "awards" raise further questions as to why these groups would make these presentations at such an acrimonious time.  Is it that they wish to end the investigation and hide the facts?  Is it that they believe that by making a "pay-off" to Officers Hany Hanna and Kent Jacks will make them feel better and be at "peace" with themselves?  Will the officers, themselves, truly find peace?  Will the City of Claremont, itself, find peace?
    We all yearn for peace.  We want to remember the words that came to us at the end of last year and remain with us still--"peace" and "goodwill"--but there will be no peace until all the facts are brought to light.  There will be no goodwill until "people of goodwill" are willing to walk in the light.
    At the moment, people are being kept in the dark about what really took place on that January night.  The people should be told about the gun, which had no fingerprints on it and had not been fired.  The last person to whom it was registered was a now-deceased former police chief of the City of Ontario.  The people should be told why a council person and the City Manager reportedly tried to interfere with the constitutional right of a Pitzer College professor to protest the Landrum shooting by asking his college president to restrain his activity.  Why was the defaming of Irvin's uncle, Obee Landrum, so important that the City Manger used suspect procedures for procuring is irrelevant twenty year old criminal record?
    All these questions should be brought to the light.  The Hebrew scriptures tell us, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who have lived in a of land of deep darkness--on them light has shined."  Now is an appropriate time for the citizens of Claremont to ask, "Who represents them?"  "Who's in charge?"  Is it the city employees?  Is it the Police Department?  Is it the City Manager?  Is it the City Council?
    No city must allow itself to be held hostage by its public servants.  Despite the awards and seeming pay-offs that have taken place, the citizens, no matter on which side of the issue they stand, must demand that they should no longer be kept in darkness concerning the Landrum case.
    Most citizens of Claremont are people of goodwill and seek to reconcile the disparate groups of their city.  This is no easy task; but, if they remember the spiritual gifts that were presented  to them at the end of last year, then the work of peace can begin.
    During the holy month of Ramadan, which took place last month, the worldwide community of Islam prayed that Allah's light would bring peace and understanding to people everywhere.  But, peace does not come to everyone, only those who are people of goodwill.
    May the new millennium bring a Happy New Year to all who are aware that upon them light has shined.  Now it is time to do something about it.  May the award be peace.  May the pay-off be reconciliation.  Let there be light!

The Reverend Harold A. Jackson, Jr.
Pastor, Mentone Congregational Church, United Church of Christ
Mentone, California;
Chair, Social Concerns Committee, Pomona-Inland Valley Council of Churches.
Mr. Jackson does not speak for the Mentone U.C.C. Church or the PIVCC.