Mailbag:

I read Russ Niewiarowski’s Sounding Off: “You can’t take Christ out of Christmas” (Dec. 24) with mounting horror.

I understand Niewiarowski’s point about the importance for many of not taking Christ out of Christmas; however, he fails to consider how offended many people are when greeted in December with a “Merry Christmas,” rather than “Happy Holidays.”

It shocks me that someone can be so narrow-minded as to insinuate that Christmas is the only holiday that matters, given the ethnic melting pot of humanity that is the United States. The author clearly has no idea what it is like to be a minority in our country.

For just one moment he should imagine how he might feel if the president, on the dawn of Christmas, said to the world, “Happy Hanukkah” or “Have a Wonderful Kwanza.”

I am sure Niewiarowski would then think the president was narrow-minded. Wishing everyone “Happy Holidays” by no means indicates that President Obama is “ashamed to proclaim the true Prince of Peace.” Please.

The president is obviously being socially correct and sensitive. As everyone should be. Happy Holidays to everyone everywhere. May we learn to not only proclaim peace but to live in peace and harmony with the diversity that defines our fellow human beings.

Jil Wexler

Newport Beach

Righeimer is right on adding trees

Politically, I am often on the other side of the argument from Jim Righeimer. I normally find him an ideologue with a narrow point of view that is hard to reconcile with the pragmatism required for local issues.

So, with that in mind, I have to give him praise for his column (Rigonomics: “City should plant trees for future,” Dec. 19). I appreciate that he can support an issue that is normally associated with left-leaning politics because there is common ground.

We need this attitude of meeting on common ground openly in today’s us-versus-them, scorched-earth politics. It should be easy to agree on these win-win issues.

It’s OK that I want more street trees for aesthetic issues, and he wants them for bottom-line issues. In fact, I’d suggest he go all the way to bring in those folks by running the numbers on comparable houses on streets with many mature trees, versus those without, and give us the number on what a mature tree adds to the sales price of a home.

I’d like to see all our leaders be able to agree readily and openly to solutions that have common ground to drain a little poison from politics. Just being for the opposite of what your political opponent suggests is no way to lead.

Chris Kerins

Costa Mesa