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Let holiday's greeting be Merry Christmas

I have observed an alarming trend this holiday season concerning the controversy of uttering "Merry Christmas," vocally or otherwise. It is a sad and shameful downside when a part of our society would rather trade off "Merry Christmas" for "Happy Holidays," as if something in the term "Christmas" might be offensive!

People are forgetting that if it were not for the Christ child, there would be no reconciliation with God for us, no salvation, no heaven and no eternal life.

An amazing and wonderful gift was given mankind Christmas night in a manger in Bethlehem. Eliminating Christmas greetings and saying instead "Happy Holidays" is transferring a sacred term to an expression of just another worldly holiday!

In closing, I offer the traditional holiday greeting and if I offend somebody, too bad! I would rather offend man than God!

Merry Christmas!

Muslims honor Jesus

As our Christian brethren celebrate one of their most important holidays, we as Muslims are reminded of Jesus as one of the greatest messengers of God.

I spent the last two Thanksgiving days with my fellow Christians at the St. Katherine Drexel Catholic Church in Weston. As I sat listening to the sermon delivered by Father Paul Edwards, I thought of how much we Muslims and Christians have in common. What a remarkable achievement, that such a diverse group of people, from many different cultures, ethnicities and faiths can be bonded together as Americans. We can indeed be an example to the world.

During Christmas, Christians celebrate their love for Jesus. We Muslims also love Jesus; one of God's greatest messengers, held in high honor. His teachings live on in our hearts.

The value of the mystery

Re: Keep the faith and the mystery, Dec. 23.

Eugene Robinson's insightful article on Christian faith provides an opportunity to highlight the meaning of "mystery." Different from current understanding, mystery signifies a certainty so complete and immediate that it cannot be expressed in words or translated into rational thoughts. Mystery is the certainty of being alive, the feeling of confidence of a child growing up in a supportive family, the awe inspired by a scenery or a masterpiece. In its purest form it is the assurance of loving and being loved. Mystery translates the Latin world misterium, which is the direct experience of the presence of God.

The loss of the sense of mystery is the tragedy of our time, in my opinion, as it represents the loss of confidence in our own value, irrespective of our economic output, of the fulfillment of our aspiration, or of the status we achieve. When a person needs some objective parameters to demonstrate that he/she is alive and worthy, personhood is lost: The statement of ourselves is trusted to uncertain events, fleeting and unstable as autumnal leaves.

Berlin didn't assault Christmas

Re: Irving Berlin's Christmas, Dec. 22.

I read with interest Harold Meyerson's assessment of Irving Berlin's White Christmas. He declares "... it was an American, not Christian, Christmas." That may be true but if so, then why didn't Berlin choose "White Holiday" instead of White Christmas - or, for that matter, why not "Spring Parade" instead of Easter Parade? It seems Meyerson's analysis is a little devoid of original intent. Berlin's intent may have been secular, but Meyerson's subtle "Christian-bashing theme" is evident and only describes his intention.

Irving Berlin wrote the song in early 1940. He was married to a Catholic woman, and even though he might have had little direct experience with the Christmas holiday, he had sense enough not to assault Christmas as you have done.

Oh, by the way, Christmas means the birth of Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas.

It's a parent's job

Re: An intelligent decision, editorial, Dec. 23.

As a Christian, I too applaud the court's action of forbidding the teaching of "intelligent design" (a.k.a. creationism) in the classroom. In fact, the last thing I want taught in any public school is anything related to my religion - they'll just get it wrong, anyway!

It's my responsibility to discuss with my children what they're taught, versus what I believe, and I wouldn't have it any other way. If I want them learning religion in school, I'll enroll them in a private school that explicitly espouses my beliefs.

A benefit discovered

Re: No breaks? Pay $172M, jury says, Dec. 23.

I used to scoff and sneer at those Wal-Mart apologists who insist the company is good for the economy, but after reading about this jury award, I have to reconsider. Perhaps we have been looking at this problem from the wrong angle.

As long as Wal-Mart continues to abuse its employees and as long as juries continue to punish the company, it will in fact be making great and regular contributions to the economy: Lawyers are earning enormous fees from these suits and the plaintiffs are actually walking away with a few extra bucks they can now spend at Targets or Kmarts.

Maybe we ought to thank Wal-Mart.

[Last modified December 24, 2005, 01:14:03]