Editor, The News:
Re: No Xmas tree this year (Letters, Dec. 2).
Lorne and Patty Archer’s letter was the most confusing bit of belly-aching I have read in a very long time.
I can’t figure out if they are lamenting their own loss of Christian faith due to their attraction to the secular commercialism that has been part of our western culture for decades (even Charlie Brown in 1965 found it overwhelming); or if they are expecting the Christian churches in our community to launch their own media and commercial blitz to compete (instead of, perhaps, directing funds to hampers and shoe boxes, dinner for the homeless, supporting the underprivileged in our communities)?
Sorry, Archers, but whether or not there is any ‘Christ’ in your Christmas is between you and your God and you can’t blame others for that.
The secular part of the Christmas, or ‘holiday’ season – Santa, trees, and shopping – is just that, secular.
Most Christians, in my experience, enjoy both the religious and secular aspects of this special time of year.
If you equate Christmas to Groundhog Day, then by all means, you would be wasting your money on a tree and gifts.
But rest assured, today there are 2.3 billion Christians world wide, who continue to cherish the angel’s message to the shepherds near Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. “Be not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11).
May I offer this antidote for your disenchantment: since you clearly won’t be doing anything else on the morning of Dec. 25 this year, why not make an effort to walk through the doors of any one of the many Christian churches in our fine community and experience what Linus so eloquently expressed: “That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”
Tracy Francis
Maple Ridge
Taking a stand
Editor, The News:
Re: No Xmas tree this year (Letters, Dec. 2).
I have to agree with Lorne and Patty Archer, I too am so disappointed in our churches, our government, whoever it was that decided we should now celebrate ‘the holidays’ instead of Christmas.
Let’s remember here, we are celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. This is one of the few remaining ‘Canadian’ Christian traditions we do have.
Yes, I know it is celebrated in other countries as well, often by another name.
This may sound like a tirade, it may even sound bigoted, and believe me I am not, but this is my country, I was born here, and I am sick and tired of our Canadian and Christian traditions being changed to accommodate other cultures.
We are supposed to be a ‘melting pot’ of cultures, and that is wonderful. But I refuse to celebrate ‘the holidays,” which, as the Archers say, has about as much meaning to me as Groundhog Day.
In our home, we will always celebrate Christmas, we will always decorate our Christmas tree, we will always exchange Christmas gifts, and attend Christmas parties.
And if someone has a problem with that, too freaking bad.
I said Merry Christmas to a store clerk the other day. She then quietly and somewhat embarrassingly informed me, “We’re not allowed to say that to customers anymore.”
She then chirped “Happy Holidays.”
Give me a break.
When is someone going to take a stand for our Canadian culture?
Those of us who were born here and have lived our lives here should not have to change our way of life to accommodate others.
We live in a beautiful, diverse country, but let’s not forget our own culture and traditions for the sake of being ‘politically correct’ every time.
Penny Ferguson
Maple Ridge