Muslims aren't taking Christ out of Christmas

I'd like to respond to Pat Henkin's letter of Dec. 15, wherein s/he laments the loss of "Christmas" during the holiday season. I support his/her sentiments about the ever-encroaching "Happy Holidays," which is becoming more prevalent with each passing year and stifling all mention of Christ at Christmas.

However, s/he then jumps to mentioning a new Hayden "business," Salvation for Muslims, and makes the spectacularly false inference that Muslims are to blame for this shift in how our culture labels this holiday.

First, Ms./Mr. Henkin may want to look up this "business" on Facebook, where s/he'll find that it is a self-described nonprofit Christian mission and educational institute. One simply need read the description to see what they're about; i.e., they're on the same page about Jesus being the reason for the season.

Secondly, Ms./Mr. Henkin states, "I didn't know we had a Muslim community in this area." Yes, there are Muslims living among us, and they are NOT the reason nativity scenes increasingly are prohibited in public spaces, nor are they to blame for the dwindling usage of "Merry Christmas" as a seasonal greeting. Muslims share the belief that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary (though specific details vary), so they're the last people who would be offended at celebrating His birth at Christmastime.

I, too, am from the East Coast, yet I've also lived in the Southwest and now the inland Northwest, and Christmas is a casualty of political correctness everywhere. One need only peruse the Press letters to the editor to see the local PC on display. It's here - but the Muslims didn't bring it, nor are they promoting it.

Please, Ms./Mr. Henkin, don't blame Muslims for the increasing American obsession with stripping away any meaningful celebration of Christmas. And feel free to say "Merry Christmas" all you want. I make it a point to do so during this time of year. Last time I checked, we still had the freedom to say it in this country (and FYI: it's permissible to say in some of the world's strictest Muslim nations too). If you are a Christian and desire to celebrate the religious significance of Christmas, then by all means, do so whenever and wherever you can.

Dana Culp is a Post Falls resident.