There have been many letters similar to Loree Kowalis’ bemoaning the “discrimination” against Christians, but hers was written with such passion and emotion that I felt I wanted to reply (“An attack on Christmas and religious freedom,” Voice of the people, Dec. 2).
While I respect her sincerity and deep feelings, I take exception to some of her assertions.
Is she really being denied “freedom of religious worship” because some businesses use other seasonal references instead of “Christmas”?
Can she not wish her friends a Merry Christmas and worship at her church as often as she chooses? Do these businesses not sell the Christmas trees, ornaments and presents she wishes to buy?
How are Christians “punished” if “happy holidays” or “season’s greetings” are occasionally used instead of “Merry Christmas”?
What rights are they being denied? They are free to use whichever phrase they choose. Why would she deny others that same freedom?
She uses the Christians-are-in-the-majority argument that I have heard so often. And that is precisely the point. This country was settled by religious minorities who were fleeing countries where the state imposed the religion of the majority on everyone. Our founding fathers, in their wisdom, sought to prevent that by providing for separation of church and state. That is true religious freedom.
There are so many things in the world and our country that truly merit outrage. “Happy holidays” and “season’s greetings” shouldn’t even make the list of true Christians–not according to the Christian values I was taught growing up in Catholic schools.
