‘Peace on Earth and in Warwick, too'

To the editor: Excerpt from The Flying Eagle, a small gazette, published in England on Dec. 24, 1652: “The House spent much time this day about the business of the Navy, for settling the affairs at sea; and before they rose, were presented with a terrible remonstrance against CHRISTMAS DAY, grounded upon divine Scriptures ... in which Christmas is called Anti-Christ’s masse, and those Mass-mongers and Papists who observe it, etc. “In consequence of which, Parliament spent much time in consultation about the abolition of Christmas Day, passed orders to that effect, and resolved to sit on the following day, which was commonly called Christmas Day.” Last week in Warwick, New York, the School Board was required to delete Santa Claus from the seasonal menu for being - in violation of the law - a religious figure. I guess that offs Rudolph and his fellow reindeer as well. Peace on Earth and in Warwick, too. Jude Roche Warwick