Keep The Christ In Christmas

To the Editor:
As I was looking at the front pages of The Daily News, New York Newsday and The New York Post, two of them read &#8220holiday season begins” and the Post read &#8220Xmas season.” I felt a little perturbed for isn't it the Christmas season? When we go shopping for presents and things do we call them holiday presents or a tree, do we call it a holiday tree or a holiday wreath? We call it what it is, a Christmas tree, Christmas wreath and Christmas presents, not to mention all the Christmas shows and music on the radio stations which plays Christmas music all the way to Christmas. Have we gone too far in trying to be politically correct?
I don't mean to be disrespectful to our Jewish friends or neighbors, for their holiday is also this month, starting December 26, the first day of Chanukah, and we should honor that period as well for a miracle was performed for them. I think we should call this the Christmas and Chanukah season, not just the holiday season or greeting cards which vaguely say happy holidays.
But let me say this, Christmas is more than just the birth of Jesus, it is also the message he brought - peace, love and goodwill toward men - a message that has served us well for over 2000 years.
By just calling this a &#8220holiday season” for giving out presents, the message is slowly dying from commercialism.
There was this woman last year who wrote, in a similar vein in various newspapers, that she would not wish a person a happy holiday, but a Merry Christmas and during Chanukah wish her Jewish friends a Happy Chanukah.
I, for one, will do the same. For I believe Jesus represented hope, love and kindness, whether or not we believe he was the son of God, let us, therefore, believe in his message which is to love one another as God has loved us. In that way when we wish someone a Merry Christmas what we really are saying is that peace and love be with you and all year too. Can that be so bad? It is a lot better than saying have a happy holiday like the media wants us to do. Wouldn't that make this a better world?
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Bellerose