With all due respect to Kevin Miller and his presumption that Christianity is the state religion, I must speak out in reference to the entire “Merry Christmas” “Happy Holidays” nonissue. (“Enough already,” The Daily Astorian, Dec. 16)

If you come to our home, you will find a Christmas tree, but in the homes of most of our friends, that is not the case. Some celebrate solstice (which was the origin of the Christmas holiday that the Christians adopted in the first place), others are Buddhist, Jewish, celebrate Kwanzaa, or embrace Earth religions. They’re all my friends, incidentally, and are extraordinarily kind and thoughtful people. We love to get together and experience each other’s traditions.

But to make the tired, false assertion that Christianity has been the main reason for the development of this country shows that you have not really done your research. Thomas Jefferson himself stated, “Christianity … (has become) the most perverted system that ever shone on man … Rogueries, absurdities and untruths were perpetrated upon the teachings of Jesus by a large band of dupes and importers led by Paul, the first great corrupter of the teaching of Jesus.”

James Madison objected to state-supported chaplains in Congress. He also felt churches should not be given tax-exempt status. He stated: “Religion and government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.”

What does this have to do with whether we say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” in pursuit of consumer goods? Simply the pragmatic fact that the checker does not know which of my friends is buying from that store on that day.

Nobody has ever asked for God to be taken “out of our country.” Instead, they’ve asked that people worship in places not funded by tax dollars. To imply that we’ve gone “downhill” from the good ol’ days when thousands were slaves held in service providing labor for the development of this country, or when women didn’t have the right to vote, or when segregation ruled the South, or is wishing for a time I don’t want to go back to.

And it will not be the building of jail spaces for the immoral that will bankrupt this country. The complete financial irresponsibility of those currently in power is doing that as we speak, so not to worry.

With that being said, I wish everyone happy holidays!

CARRIE MARINO

Astoria