HARRY R. HULL JR: 'Tis the season to say 'Merry Christmas'

I find that our use of the insipid "Season's Greetings" and the shotgun "Happy Holidays" to be a poor substitute for "Merry Christmas."

The reason for the season, as many say, is unquestionably the birth of Jesus Christ. Why must we evade this fact? One need not be a Christian or a believer in the divinity of the Christ child to take part in the celebration of his birth. The simple fact is that there is no other person who walked the face of the earth who has had such a deep and long-lasting effect on civilization.

Our literature, art, music, architecture and culture is permeated with the legacy of Jesus Christ. We venerate countless other human beings and cherish their contributions to humanity. We even have special holidays for some (e.g. Martin Luther King Day). Even our Muslim brothers and sisters recognize Christ as a prophet and reverence the memory of Mary, his mother.

Why must we give in to political correctness, cultural relativism and the wants of those who seek to divest our society of its religious heritage? Does not the legacy of Jesus, whose message of love teaches us to love our neighbors as ourselves, touch a deep longing in our hearts? Is not his birth, whether we believe him to be divine or not, a cause for joy for all who seek to live in peace with others? If so, lets be open about it!

"Bah! Humbug!" indeed. Read "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. Merry Christmas!

HARRY R. HULL JR.

Pass Christian

This story was originally published December 19, 2015 at 6:45 PM with the headline "HARRY R. HULL JR: 'Tis the season to say 'Merry Christmas' ."