Dear Editor:
Re: Festival cancellation unnecessary, Letters to the editor, The Record, Dec. 14.
Roland van Kaauwen had my sympathetic attention when he made the case for Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet. He lost me, however, when he took up the tired rant that suggests Christmas has been stolen from us by the insertion of "holiday" into our greetings. Surely the attempt at inclusion is for kindly reasons, and surely it has not been at the expense of Christmas.
A glance at the newspaper that allows his letter reveals: Free Christmas bandanas for your pooch, A Sparkling Christmas at a jewelry store, Donna Tays of Remax wishes us all "A Merry Christmas," Christmas Sparkles at The Royal City Centre, Peter Julian has a Christmas open house, Community headlines "Help fills needs at Christmas," "NWSS choirs sing for Christmas," Shiloh Sixth Avenue United has "Christmas services." I also read that the same goes for Queens Avenue United, New West Community Church, Anglican Church of Canada, Connaught Heights Pentecostal, Mt. Zion, St. Mary the Virgin - and, well, the list goes on - and on.
Every store I enter is playing Christmas music and carols, but I think - I hope - I have made my point.
Happy Christmas then to Mr. Kaauwen, Zwarte Piet and all who took the time to read this letter.
Jim Cowan, New Westminster
