London in New York

Today is Christmas Day, a high holiday for Christians worldwide. Amidst our politically correct efforts of inclusiveness to all cultures and religions at this time of the year, it is easy to forget the meaning of Christmas. On this day which is the holiest of holy days, Christians observe and celebrate the birth of Christ by promoting goodwill, sharing and compassion. This season Pope Benedict XVI appealed for the respect of the “dignity of children” during Midnight Mass attended by thousands at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome and watched by millions more on television. In America it has, however, become an important part of a national shopping season central to the economy and the annual profits of retailers. In New York City, my hometown and the center of capitalism, the most prevalent symbols are the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree and crowded department stores and boutiques from Madison Avenue on the Upper East Side to 5th Avenue in midtown down to Soho and Tribeca throughout the month of December. (PHOTO CREDIT: �Manhattan Society.com by Christopher London)

Ironically at the center of the universe in Manhattan, across the street from Rockefeller Center is St. Patrick�s Cathedral. One who needed a reminder of the meaning of Christmas need only wander into this magnificent cathedral to witness the many visitors who make their pilgrimage to New York City to visit friends, family or the city itself. Those who make certain to stop at this temple of Catholic worship to pay their respects seem to even pray more intensely.

Christians do not celebrate Ramadan with Muslims nor do they celebrate the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the high holidays for those respective religions. With all due respect to secularists who prefer the label �Seasons Greetings� or those who seek interfaith understanding, god bless you all as you do mean well. BUT please recognize that such labels distort and undermine the significance of this day and its meaning to Christian�s worldwide. I wish all of my friends who celebrate Hanukkah and Kwanzaa the best wishes for them this time of the year. But today, I wish all those who observe it, a very MERRY CHRISTMAS.