By Donald H. Harrison

How do the words of that carol go?  "Peace on earth, goodwill to men"?  Two disturbing articles in today's (Saturday, Dec. 18) Los Angeles Times indicate that for some people, at least, there appears to be a silent proviso to these words.  They apparently believe the saying really is "... goodwill to all men who agree with our religious beliefs.  Otherwise, hit the road!  Go to Israel or wherever else you non-Christians may have come from!"

One story written by Ellen Barry from Raleigh, North Carolina, tells of a campaign to persuade merchants that if they use the all-inclusive "Happy Holidays" greeting instead of "Merry Christmas," they will be boycotted.  As Pastor Patrick Wooden of the Upper Room Church of God in Christ puts it, with a turn of phrase: "Our position is, If they want the gold, frankincense and myrrh, they should acknowledge the birth of the child."

In the same newspaper's Calendar section, an article by media critic Tim Rutten reports that L. Brent Bozell, president of the Parents Television Council, believes that Hollywood has "virtually no respect for religion."  Employing a rhetorical device to appear not to be saying what he really is saying, Bozell adds: "Is it because Hollywood is Jewish and taking care of its own? No, I don't think that.  In the general public and in Hollywood, there is an understanding that respect is owed to Jews. It's as simple as that.  That same respect ought to be paid to other faiths as well."

Rutten went on to report that earlier in December, Bill O'Reilly contended on his Fox radio show that "secularists" wanted to cancel Christmas.  To a Jewish caller, who voiced reservations about religious celebrations in public schools, Reilly responded "come on, if you are really offended, you gotta go to Israel then," Rutten reported.

To Pastor Wooden, I'd like to say "Merry Christmas" not because out here in California I fear your boycott, but because I respect your theological beliefs.  Like Jews all across this country, I don't share them, but I respect them. I sincerely hope that you and your family will derive "comfort and joy" from the teachings of Jesus. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I tend to associate his teaching with the Golden Rule—"do unto others as you would have others do unto you." 

If you were living in a country where your religious beliefs were not in the majority, but the minority, how would you feel if someone made a special effort to be inclusive—to acknowledge that both you and your religion make an important contribution to that country?  I imagine you'd feel pretty good about that.  Then, suppose, someone decided  to penalize people in that country for acknowledging the contributions of any religions but theirs. How would you feel then?  

I'd like to also wish L. Brent Bozell "a Merry Christmas." I fear that life has been quite hectic for him lately, so hectic that he hasn't noticed how many specials about Christmas fill the air waves. If he feels that the entertainment industry isn't addressing the religious beliefs of Christians, please let him count up the number of "Christmas specials" that will run before and through December 25th.  Then let him tally the specials about all other religions combined shown in any given year.  I'm sure he will realize that the Christian message gets far more air time in America than any other.  I have a suspicion that Hollywood understands the demographics of the American audience even better than he does .

To Bill O'Reilly, I'd also like to say "Merry Christmas." I read that Christmas is a time for people to take stock of themselves and to right any wrongs that they may have done to other people. I'm certain that O'Reilly didn't mean to suggest that people with views that may vary from those of the majority ought to leave America.  Was there not a time  when the majority in this country was opposed to any further immigration from Europe? An era when folks with good Irish names like  O'Reilly were unfairly reviled?  An epoch when popular opinion failed to appreciate the contributions that sons and daughters of diverse nations would make in building this country?

Oh, and another thought I'd like to address to these three gentlemen. When it rolls around again next year, if you'd like to wish me and my fellow Jews a "Happy Chanukah," or even "Happy Holidays!"  most of us would  reply to you the same way. "Thanks!"