Merry Christmas

There is a trend to wish each other "happy holidays" rather than the traditional "merry Christmas." Congress proclaimed Christmas a federal holiday in 1870. In 1999, a federal court acknowledged the secular aspects of Christmas in rejecting a claim that the holiday impermissibly endorsed and furthered a particular religious belief.

Those who would remove the term "merry Christmas" have no objection to the holiday, Santa Claus or brightly colored trees. I am one of those who celebrate Christmas as the birthday of Jesus. I don't know if Jesus was born Dec. 25, that isn't important to me. It is the day I celebrate his birth.

Celebrating Christmas is my right according to the Declaration of Independence: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." If the agnostics or atheists wish to exercise their right to not commit to belief in my God, that is their right and I would not impede it.

Your belief is your right, and I will not impede you. All I ask is the same. If I visit your business I will wish you a Merry Christmas and hope you do the same. If not, I may not return. You can call it "x-mas" or say "happy holidays," but it's Christmas and I will wish you a Merry Christmas always.

DAVID McNEELY, Scott City