The Rev. C. L. "Skip" Lindeman of the Church of the Lighted Window in La Cañada Flintridge was quoted as saying " ... Religiously speaking, this fracas is a lot of hullabaloo unworthy of the heat and energy that it's creating."
All he has to do is pick up the newspaper or watch television of what's been going as to the diminishing of Christmas. Doesn't he see the damage being done to the traditional observance of Christmas? Apparently not.
This is the same minister who had stated in a response to an earlier News-Press topic that the United States is not a Christian country. I can't believe that an ordained minister would make such an erroneous remark. The percentage of Christians in the U.S. is reported to be 80-85%.
The Rev. Thomas E. Witherspoon of the Unity Church of the Valley in La Crescenta was quoted as saying "I think the idea that there is a plot to end the celebration of Christmas is ridiculous."
I agree with his following statement "that Christians should be sensitive to people in other religions is absolutely correct." But I would like to add, what about the people in other religions also being sensitive to Christianity, especially at Christmas time.
Let me cite a few cases of Christmas being under attack by secular forces: A public school in New Jersey refused to let its students sing "Silent Night" as it is written, although the school reinstated the song. Some schools have changed their calendars from "Christmas break" to "Winter break." Some schools are prohibiting the singing of Christmas songs as well as not allowing Christmas plays or displays by students.
In some circles, including the city of Glendale, the traditional Christmas Tree name has been changed to Holiday Tree.
Enough said.
* DONALD MAZEN is a resident of Glendale.
