WARREN D. GRANT: Tom Purcell’s satire of media coverage of Nativity was in poor taste

Page Two has never kept count of how many articles make it to print. If this makes it to print, I will be surprised.

I write this as I’ve read several squawks about Tom Purcell’s article concerning the so-called coverage of the birth of Jesus. Apparently, Mr. Hendricks felt that the article was humorous. Maybe it was to him and other people, but to me it was insulting. Mr. Hendricks does not have to answer to me or anyone else, but the bad taste from the article is only accompanied by the bad smell it left.

I have to wonder why so many articles do not make it to print. Does Mr. Hendricks feel that somebody will be offended? I was offended by Mr. Purcell’s article. I read it trying to understand why anyone would print it.

It’s bad enough that Christmas has gone from being about a baby who was sent to be brutally murdered for no reason other than to fulfill God’s promise. Christmas is now a commercial industry and has nothing to do with Christ. It should be the other way around. Stores put out Christmas merchandise in October to be the first to get that almighty dollar. People go great distances to give presents to others and celebrate what, the coming of Christ? No, it has become so commercialized the economy depends on it. Everyone says, “Merry Christmas” and for what reason? They are certainly not referring to Christ. It’s just what you’re supposed to do at Christmastime. How many families get together and talk about the sacred moment of Jesus’ birth?

No one. I’m guilty, too. Our children know the word Jesus but do not understand why they are flooded with presents instead of instructions about what Christmas stands for. A lot of people attend church and teach their children about Christ, and many children are in Sunday school for that reason. It isn’t long before the conversations turn to what did you get for Christmas? Everyone knows what Christ got. As far as I’m concerned, it wouldn’t be too bad for Mr. Purcell, considering his mockery of Christ’s birth.

WARREN D. GRANT

Albany