Editor’s note: The following letters are in response to a letter in the Reporter’s Dec. 4 issue, stating that “the cross and manger are offensive to many people of many religions” regarding their inclusion on the “It’s OK to say Merry Christmas” signs around Redmond.
• Yes the Redmond area has a growing population of Muslims, but there has always been citizens of other religions or people of NO religion.
But they have accepted that the majority of the population in Redmond and throughout the USA are Christian and they celebrate the Christmas holiday.
I must confess I have never worked with anyone of the Muslim faith, but have worked with many people that are Jewish.
They always joined in the Christmas celebrations and wished everyone “Merry Christmas” and never heard any of them complain about the celebrations.
A very recent Pew Research poll shows 70.6 percent profess some affiliation to a Christian faith.
Non-Christian faith 5.9 percent
Non-affiliated 22.8 percent
Don’t know/refused 0.6 percent
I happen to fall into the non-affiliated group, but have no problem sharing the Christmas celebrations and wishing people “Merry Christmas.”
Rajan Amani finds the cross and manger offensive, too bad.
You are allowed to practice your religion how you wish, please accept that the majority of people around you want to celebrate their religion. It is called freedom.
Fred Redman
Woodinville/Redmond
• Rajan, tolerance is a two-way street. You cannot ask for others to be tolerant of your views or beliefs without being willing to tolerate the views and beliefs of others. It is your choice to take offense at the beliefs of others though I would recommend you just let it go. Have some fun with it and post competing signs about Hanukkah, Eid or even your kids’ birthdays. Free speech is protected by law for better or for worse, so there’s no sense in getting upset over such a small thing.
Bob Brown
Redmond
• Here in the United States we welcome immigrants of all faiths. I hope they will learn to show the same tolerance of the many religions here as we show theirs, rather than complaining about the symbols of one religion or another.
Robert O’Hara
Redmond
* I’m responding to Rajan Amani and their complaint about the presence of crosses and managers during the Christmas season.
Welcome to the United States and the 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Rajan says that “progressives in this city want our society to be open and not offensive.” I don’t know what that means, other than violating everyone’s First Amendment rights to keep certain ones from being offended.
Get over it, no one is being harmed and I can think of several places on this planet where people dream of this liberty that we take for granted.
David Stella
Redmond
• True, our local population is very religiously diverse.
I would venture to say however, that the majority of Redmond’s population is Christian. I’m sorry if the cross and manger are offensive to you and “to many people of many religions.” I suggest you look the other way when you see these Christian icons and accept them as part of our diversity, as we’re asked to accept yours!
Richard W. Bowne
Redmond
