CHRISTMAS is not only a time for celebration. It is also a time for reflection on what has been, and what the future may hold.

We will reflect with sadness; the dateline September 11, 2001, etched in our minds as it will be in perpetuity.

The events on that fateful day brought home how vulnerable we all are to the scourge of international terrorism.

The seizure of the ship in the Channel and the arrest of a passenger on a transatlantic flight demonstrate how the spectre of terrorism still haunts all of us.

It is inevitable the year ahead will continue to be dominated by the ramifications of those dreadful events 103 days ago.

The fact that we fear other atrocities will occur and that we have little hope of preventing them shows how far we have to go to defeat terrorism.

But alongside the fear, there is a great deal of comfort to be gained from Christmas. It is, after all, a time when families and friends join together. It is an occasion where we choose to celebrate what unites us, rather than what divides us.

It is a principle all nations should implement on the international stage.

As Northern Ireland has graphically illustrated, it is compromise and negotiation, not violence, which will ultimately reduce the threat of terrorism.

Two thousand years ago the message to come from Christmas was one of peace, understanding and tolerance.

It is a message that endures and remains just as relevant in the modern world.

WITH Newcastle United flying high at the top of the Premier League, it is a very happy Christmas for Bobby Robson.

In a week when tales of thuggery and drunkenness have dominated football, it is fitting that a man of immense stature, integrity and dignity is enjoying outstanding success.

Even at 68 he has a boundless passion, energy and enthusiasm for football.

If any youngster is looking for a role model in football they should turn to Bobby Robson, rather than the so-called stars who have brought our national game into disrepute and shame.