The basic flaw in John LaFleur’s diatribe against multiculturalism (“Retailers sold out Christmas to be politically correct,” SN 11/30) is the consistent and repeated misuse of the word “usurp.” Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Taoists, Sikhs, Parsis, Americans who choose to commemorate their African roots, Wiccans, followers of any other religion, or even atheists, have no desire to require Christians to observe Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Ramadan or to prevent Christians from observing Christmas by forcibly seizing the holiday and replacing it with their own observances. What they do want is recognition that minority religions exist and that not everyone wants to celebrate Christmas.

In a multicultural society such as the United States, and particularly in a university campus that draws students from all over the world, it is desirable to create an atmosphere of mutual respect for the beliefs of all. This respect may include inviting people of other religions to share in celebrations they may not be familiar with, or even publicizing these events on television. Blaming religious minorities for ruining Christmas is the most blatant example of small-minded bigotry that I have seen recently.

That everyone does not celebrate Christmas should not diminish your enjoyment of the holiday. However, since the Constitution prohibits the establishment of a state religion, religious observances should remain in homes and places of worship, and not be imposed on everyone in public places.

If anything has usurped Christmas, it is, as you correctly note, the crass commercialism that has destroyed the spirituality of the holiday and turned it into a buying frenzy. Are religious minorities responsible for this? They are not the ones thronging to the malls to buy Christmas presents.

If you want to recapture the spirit of Christmas past, start haranguing the Christian community and leave the rest of us alone.

Diane Wolfe Levy
Okemos resident