More on Santa

Editor’s note: The Warwick Advertiser continued to receive letters to the editor this week on the controversy over whether Santa is a religious icon. Here are a sampling of some of those letters; they appear in full online at www.warwickadvertiser.com: ‘Old Warwick’ My wife and I are what we refer to as “old Warwick” in that she was born and brought up here and I arrived as a kid in the 1930’s - which gives me something over 70 years as a resident. Not too many of us left. We both graduated from Warwick HS; our children all graduated here; and seven out of ten grandchildren are either attending or graduated from WVHS. Our classmates were of every religion, creed or color there was at that time. No problems whatsoever, and we had a great time in every way, no matter what background was involved. Is it safe to say things have changed? Let’s not name the ways. What bothers me most is that many people who have moved here did so because of the beautiful Township, our lovely Village, and a super educational system. Why is it, then, that so many feel that now that they’re here, things require changing? That suddenly we haven’t been doing things correctly? That their way is better? And my first question is (probably an age thing), if that’s the case, and we were doing such a lousy job, why did you move here to begin with? This latest Santa Claus fiasco is certainly a prime case in point. Ken Durland Warwick Acts and consequences The thought that religious bigotry would ever raise its ugly head in the Warwick community never crossed my mind. But it did, when the husband of a school parent read a letter at a PTA meeting that his wife sent to Dr. Frank Greenhall, superintendent of Warwick schools, demanding that religious inference be eliminated from the event. As is often the case, acts do have consequences; so it should come as no surprise that if come next May, people of faith view the elimination of the reason for the season (Christ’s birthday) from the event scheduled for Dec. 9 as a suppression of their religious expression and vote “no” on the next school year budget. Edward P. Scharfenberger Warwick Santa slayer Kudos to the anonymous parent who so managed to bring this town together during this holiday season. Thank you for showing us the true holiday spirit. Oh, wait minute: You did the opposite. You dampened our spirits all while hiding behind your husband and maiden name. I wonder, are you brave enough acknowledge the anger you have provoked, and to read all the letters to the editor that you have compelled people to write? Kim Rotello Warwick