Christmas No More
Whatever happened to Christmas Greetings? When I was young, only a few scant years ago, everyone wished everyone a Merry Christmas: Jews, Muslims, agnostics, atheists, Christians, Buddhists and others. It was a festive time of year. It was about peace, happiness, joy, good tidings and love for your fellow man. You didn’t have to be a Christian to wish someone a Merry Christmas and vice versa.
It was about “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Clause.” It was about "Scrooge" and the joy of giving. Christmas cards proclaimed “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.” There were Christmas gifts for adults and toys for children.
So what has changed? It is true we had the ACLU back then which was founded by communist Roger Baldwin, Crystal Eastman, Albert DeSilver and others in 1920. But at that time they were focused on Communism and not on attacking Christians.
True, Communism is a Godless society but only in recent years has members of the ACLU found bogus interpretations of the constitution with regard to separation of church and state. These interpretations have allowed them to conduct an all out attack against God in the school room, God in the pledge of allegiance, God on monetary coins, God on public property and yes, denial of God everywhere in America.
Now comes the post office and new postage stamps reflecting Christmas. Below is a copy of a letter written by Mr. Barry Navarre from Rayne, Louisiana. I don’t know Mr. Navarre but he writes a pretty good letter and is overly kind in his comments on some of these sleaze Americans who were instrumental in leaving Christmas off of the new postal stamps, including the post master general. His letter follows:

“Each year since 1962, the Postal Service has created a commemorative stamp for the Christmas season. That first 4-cent stamp depicted a green wreath with a red bow and the words “Christmas 1962” on the lower half of the stamp.
In 1966, the first of a recurring series of Christmas stamps showing various artists’ renditions of the Madonna and Child began. This series would run until 2004.
In 1974, a double Christmas issue began. The “traditional” stamp continued with its Madonna and Child depiction. The new "contemporary" stamp showed secular symbols—Santa Claus, among others. Although different in subject, they all had the word “Christmas” on the face of the stamp.
In 1980, the contemporary stamp began to change. The words “Christmas” or “Merry Christmas” were replaced with “Season’s Greetings”. In 1986, “Seasons; Greetings” was stricken from the contemporary in favor of the one word “Greetings”. In 1995, the contemporary changed again when “Greetings” was dropped in favor of no wording.
This brings us to 2005, when you no longer have traditional Madonna and Child Christmas stamps or the word “Christmas” on any stamps at your post office. For the first time in 48 years, the Postal Service has not issued a traditional Christmas stamp.
However, you will find the brand new “holiday issue” ---four 37-cent stamps of holiday cookies. The first shows a Santa. The second shows cookie snowpersons, one masculine and one feminine. Another shows a cookie angel. The last shows cookie elves, one a light sugar cookie the other a dark gingerbread.
The Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee, appointed by the U.S. postmaster general to delegate subject matter on postage should be duly recognized in approving this holiday series. The U. S. Postal Service Web site lists a few members: Jean Firstenberg, director American Film Institute, Dr. Henry Gates Jr., Afro-American Studies chair, Harvard University, Michael Heyman, chancellor emeritus University of California at Berkeley, and Karl Malden, actor.
These distinguished Americans are certainly very inclusive in regards to race and gender, and thoughtful enough to add mythical persons, Santa Claus and spirit persons---angels. At the same time, they bravely shield us from the offensive by avoiding any reference to “Christmas.”
My only question of the committee is this: Explain to me, please, exactly what “holiday” do these new stamps celebrate?
This year, maybe I’ll just send a Christmas e-mail instead.”
Signed; Barry Navarre, Rayne, Louisiana

I wonder how many readers noticed the subtle changes made to the Postal stamp through the years. I must admit, I didn’t. I also wonder how many of you will send Christmas cards that say Season’s Greetings, Happy Holidays or other cards that exclude “Christmas”.
I will not be intimidated and I am not ashamed to put “Christmas” back in Christmas cards. I would rather buy no Christmas card than to leave “Christmas” out. And I won’t buy from any store that says “Happy Holidays or “Season’s Greetings!” Christmas presents are for Christmas and not any other season! Nor will I buy the new postage stamps.
Bah, humbug: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my friends, even to those who don’t like me including the post master general and those sleazebags who deliberately removed “Christmas” from the postage stamps.
That’s Barry’s story and mine and I am sticking to it.

Milo A. Nickel is the former President and COO of Louisiana State Newspapers.

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