Bringing the reason for Christmas out in open easier said than done

Reading through Rebecca Clough’s appraisal of the covert stripping of Christ from Christmas, I am bewildered by the relentless neo-atheistic push around us to undermine the most pivotal person in human history (“Christmas tradition no cause for shame”, 20/12). It is not progressive, it is regressive.

I have lived for more than a decade in the city of Hume in the far northern suburbs of Melbourne, where there are significant Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Islamic migrant populations from subcontinental Asia and the Middle East. Not once have I met or spoken to a citizen who is offended by the Christmas and Easter public holidays or stories.

While Santas, reindeer, elves and baubles seem to be ubiquitous, kudos to any shopping centre that still displays a humble nativity scene, sagely reminding people of the precise reason they are frantically shopping for presents in the first place.

Peter Waterhouse, Craigieburn, Vic

Rebecca Clough has rightly raised the issue of the loss of the real meaning of Christmas, but the phenomenon is not new.

My father, born in 1892, told me in the 1950s of a cartoon he had seen early in the 20th century where the tagline was something like, “Now they’re even trying to bring religion into Christmas”.

When I was young, yuletide and season’s greetings were common expressions and, of course, the commercialism of Christmas was a widespread lament as we emptied our wallets at food shops and department stores and we children waited for Santa Claus to deposit all sorts of goodies in our pillow cases.

On the positive side, I am encouraged at the number of nativity scenes that are still out there, along with many opportunities for people to sing carols in the open air and in churches and to hear Handel’s Messiah at various venues. It’s probably true many celebrating Christmas don’t want much to do with the person whose birth is being honoured, but there are still widespread opportunities to do so.

David Morrison, Springwood, NSW

Pesutto is different

John Pesutto joins the legions of those who do not learn the lessons of history (“Legal bill pain, Moira to come”, 20/12).

When John Gorton as prime minister declared a spill and the partyroom vote was tied, Gorton used his casting vote to cast himself out of office. Pesutto, having lost in the Federal Court and in the court of public opinion, chooses to remain for what can only be reasons of vanity. Another chapter in why the citizenry despair about the behaviour of politicians is written.

Julian Dowse, Melbourne

‘Kill ASPI’ review

Your leader comment (“ASPI cuts a further stain on foreign policy legacy”, 20/12) on the Albanese government’s attempt to throttle the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, together with the Peter Jennings’s opinion piece on the same topic (“Review will kill off fair, open policy debate”, 20/12) constitute a chilling insight into Labor’s desire to shut down criticism of its ongoing, unrivalled incompetence in the area of national security as well as its craven desire to appease a rampant communist regime to our north.

The public release of the government’s intentions, at a time when Australians are traditionally expected to lose all interest in politics in favour of cricket scores and endless discussions of politicians’ summer reading preferences, smacks of a socialist government on the skids and accelerating down the slope towards authoritarianism.

K. MacDermott, Binalong, NSW

Russia’s distinction

Having only ever seen jackals full-coated, Dmitry Medvedev’s name-calling of The Times writers as “mangy jackals” is rather nasty and, of course, comes from a place where independent thought and expression is ruthlessly crushed (“We stand with The Times writers”, 20/12). If the writers really had mange, they would be so affected as to likely be unable to think straight, let alone write. It sounds like The Times writers hit a very sore point with great clarity.

Claire Jolliffe, Buderim, Qld

Wrong path on Israel

Foreign Minister Penny Wong defends Australia’s votes at the UN by listing other countries that also support the motions. That does not make them right.

She is skating along a thin line bordering on outright abandonment of an ally while supporting every UN motion in favour of terrorist-led Palestinians. One more such action and Australia may find itself in the same position as Ireland, with Israel’s ambassador being withdrawn.

Julie Winzar, Palm Beach, Qld

John Spooner’s perceptive cartoon (20/12) of two battered Hamas terrorists hastily donning red MAGA hats shows Donald Trump is making a difference even before inauguration day.

Roslyn Phillips, Tea Tree Gully, SA