There’s a big hullabaloo stirring this year about which department stores will permit the words, “Merry Christmas,” to be uttered on their premises. A national television preacher has announced a campaign against stores that prohibit the use of the greeting while TV’s Bill O’Reilly has ground his own religious axe over the issue. Some of these folks are urging us not to shop in stores where “Merry Christmas” is not heard.

Regardless how culturally diversified America prides itself on being, we cannot and must not repudiate our heritage. In fact, we should look to our heritage for direction and mooring in these dangerous days.

Anyone who travels between Riverdale and Fayetteville cannot but help notice the increasing number of traffic lights. Personally, I detest them. Just when I think I have clear sailing, up goes another traffic signal and invariably it’s red when I approach it.

Every so often I feel compelled to write a word about stuff. Stuff that clutters our corners, rooms, garages, rental storage space, and even our automobiles.

The nation’s psyche is becoming more and more sensationally bombarded and as result we are increasingly unable to absorb the horrors and tragedies since September 11, 2001. For example, if we were to review news coverage of events, speeches, meetings in connection with 9/11, we would probably conclude that the average American had a pretty good idea of those days.