Donald Mazen's letter complains of the lack of "Merry Christmas"
greetings on businesses and elsewhere, on the basis that "this is a
Christian nation" and "majority rules." Majority rules at the ballot box,
but not where religion is concerned.
It may still be true that the majority of the American population
considers itself Christian, but we are a secular nation, which happens to
contain multitudes of people of many religions (or none at all). Mr.
Mazen can associate Christmas with Christ and say "Merry Christmas" all
he wants, but everyone doesn't have to adopt his beliefs, even if they
happen to reflect a majority.
Mr. Mazen surmises that "Happy Holidays" is meant not to offend
anyone, "even," he says, "if they are in the minority." Does he mean to
say that being in the minority somehow deprives one of the right to wish
not to be offended? It seems to me that not wishing to offend is a pretty
nice thing, certainly in keeping with what we call the spirit of the
season, and I can see at least one advantage to "Happy Holidays" over
"Merry Christmas" as a greeting: it's inclusive, which is certainly in
keeping with the spirit of our nation.
STEVEN A. WELLS
Glendale
