Re: Merry Christmas

Carl,

Your mother was right. Christmas is indeed important to Christians.
Buying a tree to decorate your home, putting up ornaments or giving
people gifts to share your joy at this time of the year, though, will
not secularize the holiday. It`ll just mean you have a nice tree and
ornaments and gifts to share. I certainly wouldn`t feel disrespected as
a Christian if you did any of those things.

As for your reaction to Christmas cards and greetings of merry
Christmas, I think it`s sad that you can`t simply accept these good
intentions towards you and leave it at that. I`ve got a muslim family
living down the street. When ramadan came, I wished them a happy
ramadan and I certainly didn`t feel compromised as a Christian for
doing so. They have their beliefs and I have mine and we have discussed
our beliefs with mutual respect and friendship.

I`m sorry you receive wishes of merry Christmas with the same horror
someone might take a child molestation or rapist accusation. I think
that`s a sad over-reaction and I hope you`ll get over it someday.

Until then, I`ll refrain from wishing you merry Christmas - but I will
wish you all the best in the new year.

James

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