My enthusiasm is in no way hampered by the fact that I am Muslim, for I do not believe that by choosing to partake in a national festival, I am in any way compromising my personal beliefs. And I am not alone in this opinion. All across the land, posters for halal turkeys in butchers' shops in Muslim-populated areas such as Southall, Leicester and Birmingham stand testament to the significance Muslims place on this day.
No one's religious anymore. Not anyone with any sense. Religion incites hatred, starts wars, and vilifies anyone who challenges its narrow-minded views. Believing in a big bearded man in the sky is stupid. I can say and do what I want because when I die I'm either going to be burnt or rot in the ground. That's it.
Ultimately, the other thing missing from the debate is that if all of us can agree that preventing abortions when possible is a laudable aim then good quality sex and relationships education as defined by the Sex Education Forum and access to contraceptive services that provide choice are absolutely vital.
It is right to invite President Yudhoyono to Britain, it is right to seek to deepen our friendship, and it is right to applaud Indonesia's achievements. But in a spirit of friendship, David Cameron and the British Government should not shy away from addressing the challenges as well as lauding the accomplishments.
When some parts of the Middle East are busy fighting on religious, political or ethnic grounds, humanitarian and charity organisations keep themselves busy with improving the quality of life for millions of deprived and disadvantaged persons. The poor, the disabled, the traumatised and the war victims in millions have been the main concern of thousands of local and international charity organisations.
The history of Hanukkah should be a reminder to all of us, that although revolutions may be inevitable, it is of greater importance to know what will happen after the revolutions. Human hope, symbolized by the lone candle glowing in the dark, requires respect for the supreme value of the life of every human being and the right of any group to religious freedom.