No, Virginia, there is no Christmas!

If little Virginia O’Hanlon were writing today, I suppose the letter to the editor would read:

Dear Editor: I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say that there can be no Christmas. Papa says, “No dear, it can only be called a holiday.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Christmas?

Sadly, I believe Mr. Church would have to respond:

Virginia, your little friends are right. Our country has been affected by extreme fear of retribution and litigation, and a complete loss of our historical foundations. There is a strange belief taking over that our writers of the Constitution, all of whom were of Christian upbringing, intended that the concept of separation of church and state meant there could be no Christian element in government activities. Yes, Virginia, due to civil liberties, Christmas has been eliminated.

Fear not, my dear Virginia, for in its place is the concept of Holiday, where you will be persuaded to recognize Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, oseibo and Eid, Noel and Navidad, Babouschka and Winter Solstice. It matters not that vast majority of Americans recognize and celebrate Christmas; it the small minority that shall dictate our traditions.

I know not if we can save Christmas, my dear Virginia. I fear that in the name of civil liberties, Easter may be next, possibly even Valentine’s Day, for who needs to be reminded each year of a jilted love?

But you and I should try. To your friends, say “Merry Christmas”; please put up your Christmas tree and your Christmas decorations; send out your Christmas cards and buy those Christmas presents.

Because, Virginia, whether you celebrate Christmas, Eid or Winter Solstice, all of these celebrate our existence, our joy, our romance, our past, our present and our boundless enthusiasm for the future. So Virginia, Merry Christmas.

Let’s stop catering to the “few” and put traditions back where they belong.

Cris D. Lemay
Peachtree City, Ga.

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