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Letters to the editor for Tuesday, Dec. 25

July 7, 2008 at 9:03PM

LETTER FROM SANTA CLAUS

Caring for one another

Greetings, all. I receive so many letters from you, and even though this is my busy season, I thought I would write to tell you what is happening. I do as many functions around the world as I can, but I have a great group of people who have found me to be a role model for our world and so they help me out. In fact, many people have found that being generous to others truly makes them as jolly as I.

The other day I was making an appearance at St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Blaine. The parish had prepared 213 boxes of food and presents for each one of the families. I am glad that I had all of their help, because that would have been a great deal of preparation for me and a few elves. My heart warms as I see the many churches and organizations that help me by providing for the many needy of our world.

My job for the day was to greet everybody with a hearty "Merry Christmas" and of course a few chuckles and "Ho, Ho, Hos." In addition, I had a table full of stuffed animals; each child who came through the door got to meet me, talk about who they were -- the most important part of my job is listening to others and getting to know them -- and pick out an animal. It is quite an experience to help children smile and learn what kind of great kids they are. What surprised me most, though, were the adults who stopped by to chat with me as well.

The first adult was a bit shy. She asked, "Santa, can I ask you for something this Christmas?" She had a big smile on her face and I thought she was joking. I said, "Sure, everybody has a bit of the child in them at Christmas time." Her face became more serious and she said, "Well, Santa, it has been a hard year this year. You see, my husband died about six months ago and since we lost his income I haven't been able to keep up with my house payments. They are going to take my house away from me at the end of the year, and I was wondering if you could make sure that didn't happen?"

It might have been easier if I just had one such request that day. But many adults stopped in to say that their relative was very sick, or they had lost their job, or they couldn't afford to fix their car and go to work, or their son is addicted to drugs and needs help. My heart immediately went out to each of these souls. I could tell that they appreciated someone who would listen and might care for them for a while, and that they had hope in something greater than themselves to help them out.

Here's my dilemma, people. I have recruited many helpers this season, and I do thank all of them, but I need more help. For every story that I heard that day, I know there are a hundred more. I need more people open to listening and walking with these folks as they go through this painful time. We might not be able to perform a "magic fix" on the dilemmas happening in our world, but we sure can make the dilemmas more bearable and possibly increase our own belief and hope that each of us is a part of that something bigger for another. These stories might help us as we spend our money, vote at the polls, or live our lives. I look forward to having you help me out, this season and beyond. Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!

I had Shawn Phillips send this in for me, thanks.

SHAWN PHILLIPS, CHAMPLIN

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FROM SCIENCE TO US

The gift of awe

The Source section article on astrophysicist extraordinaire Neil deGrasse Tyson ("His head is far beyond the clouds," Dec. 20), struck me as a perfect Christmas message for the 21st century.

Tyson's astounding facts about our universe -- that every breath we take contains molecules shared by all those who have ever lived, and the embracing singularity we share as stardust, filled me with childlike wonder.

STEPHEN POULIOT, VENICE, CALIF.

RELIGION IN PUBLIC PLACES

Better to keep it home

On Dec. 17 columnist Katherine Kersten took exception to a group that imposed its particular religious fantasy on the other students at Normandale College. On Dec. 20 she made it clear that the tradition of her preference should certainly be accepted with good grace at the University of Minnesota when imposed on others who do not share that disposition.

The overlying issue is that no religion should be forced on the general populace in public places. We should be just as free from the audio and visual abuse of our senses as we are from secondhand smoke.

R.H. DULL, MINNEAPOLIS

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So forgo the day off Regarding Katherine Kersten's Dec. 20 column, "Reader, beware: Seasonal creep threatening to break out at U": It's probably useless, but I feel it necessary to remind people like Dee Anne Bonebright and Julie Sweitzer that without Christmas there would be no holiday season to speak of.

First my tax dollars are wasted removing Christian religious symbols from public places, then they are wasted to construct a "meditation room" at Normandale College, and finally they are wasted on salaries for people like the University of Minnesota's Bonebright and Sweitzer.

Every year we have to go through another round of public Christmas "bashing" by the liberal elite. I hope all the anti-Christmas folks out there showed up for work today and Monday and refused to accept any paid time off for a "holiday" they would prefer to see banished from modern-day society.

MARK JASTER, ST. MICHAEL

LOVE EVEN IN A MANGER

The story comes to life

When our children were little, we wanted to bring the Christmas story to life in a real way. Philip, my husband, had a friend who owned a sheep farm and he invited us out to see his lambs.

He told us to put boots on the kids because it can get muddy out by the barn. The kids were excited as we bundled up with jackets and scarves. It was getting dark out and the wind was cold but the stars were shining brightly.

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On the way out to the farm the kids were asking one question after another. They all wanted to hold the lambs. We talked about Jesus being born in a manger and how this real farm might be different from the manger in their books or our Nativity sets.

The barn was warm from the animals and the sounds we heard were truly beautiful as they brought us back to a manger long ago. The lambs weren't snowy white like the little lambs they arranged in our Nativity set but a bit muddy and lively. Ben and Josh were the only ones big enough to actually hold them but Britta and Jake got to pet them.

Each Christmas, I remember that special night. It reminds me that Jesus came to us in a profound way ... a lowly barn. Even in his birth, there are lessons to be learned. But his greatest lesson was the love he brought to all of us. Jesus was always reaching out to the outcasts of the day and he was always speaking about the love we must have for one another.

May those lessons be the ones we hear this Christmas. May all who feel the pain of exclusion know that Jesus came most of all for them.

RANDI REITAN, EDEN PRAIRIE

John Edwards

Presidential demeanor

Tim O'Brien's Dec. 20 column reports the John Edwards campaign seems to "have a little heat behind him." I agree, but that shouldn't be news to anyone who's observed the Democratic debates.

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John Edwards is a superb, intelligent public debater who speaks from his heart, yet phrases his thoughts concisely and on point consistently. The man looks and, more important, sounds presidential. The good folks in Iowa and around the country feel this nation deserves to be led by a polished, proven, dyed-in-the-wool Democrat. The obvious choice is John Edwards in 2008. An Edwards/Obama ticket would be difficult to beat in November.

TIM MCDevitt, Falcon Heights

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