A Merry Christmas to all

Letter to the Toronto Star published complete on line, and only the ultimate sentence in print, December 11:

Re: Why 'Happy Holidays' doesn't ring true, Dec. 8:

During a visit to Israel, the country was celebrating Hanukkah. The locals extended best wishes to me, a Christian. I thanked them and returned the expression of goodwill. Emma Teitel rightly takes issue with the politically correct who would downgrade 'Merry Christmas' to 'Happy Holidays'.  

While he was mayor, Mel Lastman informed those responsible for city hall decorations that it was a Christmas tree, not a Seasonal Tree as some described it. I trust no one would describe the Menorah now in Nathan Philips Square as a 'seasonal candelabra'. 

Diversity means the honouring of differences, their inclusion, not suppression.

Merry Christmas

An unpublished letter to The Globe and Mail, December 28, 2009:

In wishing Merry Christmas to one and all, Rex Murphy has upset a few readers (letters, Dec.28). One of them states: "To be wished Merry Christmas is to be presumed to be a member of Christianity." Not so.

To wish good luck does not presume a belief in fate or fortune or a rabbit foot. To the wish for a good day, I trust these readers do not reply: "Don't tell me what kind of day to have." Happy Holiday might apply to a vacation or long weekend.

In Israel during Hanukkah, I was delighted when friends who knew I was not Jewish wished me Happy Hanukkah. They were extending a wish for my happiness, and I returned the greeting with equal enthusiasm. The only presumption was that I would share their goodwill. So too with Merry Christmas, a timely hope for shared joy.