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Season's Greetings

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THE SUNCOAST NEWS

Published: December 24, 2008

'Tis the season to be jolly - or grouse about what to call the season. By now, many people have made peace with the fact that we live in a society in which people holding any number of beliefs about the events of tomorrow, Dec. 25. Some people who celebrate the events at the center of the religious aspect of Dec. 25 but do it on different days. Others have a celebration that this year began Dec. 21 and run for eight nights. Others observe a holiday that begins Dec. 26 and ends Jan. 1. Some people observe Dec. 25, but the only spirit that moves them is ho-ho-ho and mistletoe. To some Dec. 25 is - bah, humbug - just the day before Dec. 26.

There are people who are disturbed by what they believe is the banishment of the signs of Christmas - even the word Christmas - from the public square, both governmental and commercial. They see the absence of manger scenes on courthouse lawns or Christmas trees in the lobbies of banks and other businesses as the tyranny of the minority.

Many of us, to be sure, have become too sensitive and fearful of ruffling even a single feather this time of year. So we err on the side of caution. On a list of what's wrong with the world these days, however, being overly sensitive to the feelings of others isn't near the top.

In the end our beliefs are personal things that no other person or institution can take from us. Killjoys can't be killjoys unless we, as individuals, let them. So don't.

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