Thanks for wishing me a safe and Merry Christmas.  I wish you a Merry Christmas as well!

A few thoughts on your piece here.

You wrote, “I know this might seem like a radical thought and a bit passé, but wish them a “Merry Christmas.” Being from New York and saying Merry Christmas is like having HIV of the face. You get glares, threats and disgust.”

First: I don’t think saying Merry Christmas to others is either radical nor is it passe.  I think it’s something people do quite a lot during this part of the year—just watch an hour of television and you can’t miss it!  And if you wait until December 25, I have found that, even in NYC, many people will wish you a Merry Christmas.  I have even wished others a Merry Christmas on December 25, which is the day on which Christmas is typically celebrated.

Second:  I think you may feel like you have “HIV of the face” because you are starting your Merry Christmas greetings way too early.  If you tell a New Yorker “Merry Christmas” today, December 10, then they will probably wonder why you are saying it now.  One of my friends was born on December 26, which is cool because it is Boxing Day, but if I told him Happy Birthday today, I think he would give me a funny look or say, “It’s not my birthday, yet.”  I would suggest telling New Yorkers “Merry Christmas” on December 25; perhaps they won’t be so angry and confused!

Third:  What is it “like having HIV of the face”?  I am unfamiliar with this particular type of HIV (infection?), so I can’t engage with the simile.  Please be descriptive!

Fourth: Sure, a person can “get” glares and threats, but can one really “get” disgust?  One can express disgust towards someone else, or someone can be disgusted with you, but I think “get” might not be the best verb here.

Then, I had a question about a fact you cited—Soros’ five year attack on Christmas. What did Soros do exactly to start these attacks?  A reference would be great!

Also, you mention Christmasians.  Is this a sect of Christianity or just Asian Christians or neither?  Again, a reference to the intended meaning would clarify.

You noted the NYC School District ban on nativity scenes, but again, a reference would be helpful. With minimal work, I found the following article detailing the Supreme Court’s decision to not rule on Skoros v. City of New York:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0222/p04s01-ussc.html

Pretty interesting article, huh?  Ironically, while you note that Christmas is, indeed, a federal holiday, it was the Federal US Supreme Court that made the final ruling (or non-ruling, as it was).  I know you probably want to see New Yorkers as the cause for this miscarriage of justice, but our Federal judges surely share some of the blame!  I wonder how they would react if you wished them a Merry Christmas?  I guess they would look at you like you had HIV of the face.

Speaking of miscarriages (!), even the Fox News version of your piece provided a full array of facts about the services of Planned Parenthood, here:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,462127,00.html

You are entitled to your opinion, of course, but perhaps you could provide your readers with a more complete understanding of the issue you are discussing.  It’s pretty simple to say you are against abortion (who isn’t!?), but are you also against sexual education, pregnancy tests, birth control, and annual checkups?  I know I, for one, would be interested to know!

Otherwise, bang up job.
-Pat.