From: ralph@eddlewood.demon.co.uk   
      
   In message , Lisa   
    writes   
      
   >Canada is such a melting pot of different cultures that out of ten   
   >friends, eight of mine do not celebrate Christmas.  Some celebrate   
   >Kwanzaa, some Hannukah, some the Chinese New Year, and some do not   
   >celebrate at all. Perhaps this is somewhat true of the USA, which has   
   >historically welcomed people of many different cultures and faiths,   
   >although I heard on the news also that the majority of American people   
   >are Christian.  A couple of years ago, our stores began wishing people   
   >"Season's Greetings" and "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas",   
   >and the schools removed religious elements from their holiday   
   >activities, concerts etc.  As a Secular Humanist, I welcomed these   
   >changes, because I that my worldview were being, if not respected, at   
   >least acknowledged.   
      
   Many thanks for that, Lisa. It does confirm the rumours that I was   
   getting.   
      
   Whilst I agree with your last point, we are rather traditionally   
   inclined in my family. My motto, derived from Robert M. Persig, is   
   "Don't ask what's new? Ask what's good?"   
      
   So we have a "Christmas tree" (undoubtedly preceding Christ), have a big   
   family gathering, and exchange gifts. We enjoy the occasion without   
   reference to the myth. But we may also go to church for the carols, as   
   we enjoy singing, and the mulled wine and mince pies.   
      
   The cards we send are secular; in fact, religious cards are quite   
   difficult to find here.   
      
   Really, what would please me a lot more than any de-Christianisation of   
   the winter solstice, would be an acknowledgement that we are all   
   humanists now, and that this calls for changes in politics.   
      
   Only hoping!   
      
   Best wishes,   
      
   --   
   ralph   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)