I’d like to respond, with a short note, regarding Martin Cheek’s
article the
”
War on Christmas.
”
While I appreciate his perspective, I’d like to add my own take
on the usage of
”
Happy Holidays.
”
Dear Editor,
I’d like to respond, with a short note, regarding Martin Cheek’s article the “War on Christmas.” While I appreciate his perspective, I’d like to add my own take on the usage of “Happy Holidays.”
I was brought up Presbyterian and celebrate Christmas. I married a Jewish man, who celebrates Chanukah. I have many friends that celebrate both holidays. I also have friends that celebrate Kwanzaa, and December also includes the Islamic New Year, Winter Solstice and New Year’s Eve. This month is filled with many celebrations and holidays. I believe we should respect and honor all forms of diversity, especially today and now.
I love to say “Merry Christmas” to my friends that celebrate the birth of Jesus. I love to say “Happy Chanukah” to my friends that celebrate the Festival of Lights and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. I love to say “Happy Kwanzaa” to my friends celebrating their African heritage and culture. And, the Islamic New Year, where Muslims reflect on the passing of time and begin their new year in prayer, is a very thoughtful holiday.
These are all “Holidays.”
If I’m not sure of someone’s personal celebration, I find it perfectly agreeable to say “Happy Holidays”! I’d much rather include the whole bunch, by saying “Holidays,” than to exclude someone, or worse yet, offend them.
Granted, the commerce is geared towards Christmas, but that really doesn’t have a thing to do with the “Holiday,” does it.
Happy Holidays to everyone! And, Happy New Year 2011!
Christy Schwartz, Morgan Hill
First show some respect for our culture before building mosque
Dear Editor,
Here we go again. An article in a recent Morgan Hill Times reported the renewed efforts to build a mosque in San Martin.
The last time I checked, we are still at war with radical Muslims and they are still killing American soldiers overseas. And let’s not forget about the ridiculous and humiliating things we have to do just to get on a commercial airplane.
So again, the representatives of the so-called “religion of peace” want to add insult to injury and build a mosque in our idyllic community. To make it worse, they selected one of the most visible and prominent sites in the community. Their not-so-subtle, subtleties are not lost on many of us.
If they want to “open their heart to those around the community” as stated in the story by their spokesperson, then perhaps they can do some things to show their loyalty to our country and its ideals. In spite of what our Liar and Chief claims, America is still a Judeo-Christian nation; it was founded as one, has always been one, and will always continue to be one if millions of Americans like me have anything to say about it.
Do we have other religions in this country? Of course we do, and we welcome them. But we expect them to assimilate into our culture not try to change us into theirs.
So if you want to be accepted by the community, try being a little more understanding and accepting of our culture. In about six months, we will have our annual July 4th celebration and parade.
Perhaps you could sponsor a float, drape it in bunting and American flags and maybe have some of your faithful leading the crowd saying the Pledge of Allegiance. I could loan you one of my golden retrievers to sit on the float since we Americans like dogs.
Maybe I could get some of my gay friends to ride along with you so you could demonstrate how tolerant you are of alternative lifestyles. And as a lead up to July 4, maybe some of your better educated could write some articles for the local paper on how you condemn those rascally radical Muslim terrorists.
Since I doubt if any of these things will happen, perhaps you might want to reflect on whether you really want to become assimilated Americans. And if you don’t, then maybe you should return from where you came from.
Maybe it’s time for another Crusades.
Jim Becker, San Martin
