Posted by Hal Bailey, a resident of another community, on Dec 7, 2007 at 9:45 am

Thank you, Dolores, for saying, so very well, the reality of this season.

You might have left one point out of your consideration. Historians have established that Jesus was not born at this time of year and Christmas is celebrated at this time because Christianity was brought to Northern Europe where various festivals of Yule Tide, as Wheel Turn, celebrated earth's turn back toward Spring.

Since I have more global relationships than local relationships, I will commonly say, "Joyous wishes at Christmas" to my global relationships. Like the majority in USAmerica, I am not a devoted Christian and I celebrate the Yule Tide season as renewal of peace and goodwill with a world that welcomes my wishes.

Any dogma placed too deeply in our celebration of peace and goodwill distracts from the overall meaning of this time of year.

Thank YOU,

Hal