Show Christmas some respect
Marlboro, N.J.: Voicer Robert McKenna wonders why we can say “Happy Chanukah” but not “Merry Christmas” at this time of year. Does he know that the Gap and Old Navy have issued a statement that their employees can now say “Merry Christmas”? All of a sudden it’s OK? Pardon my suspicious nature, but is that because Chanukah came in November? We should be aware that countless people have part-time holiday jobs because of Christmas and no other holiday. So, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night! Betty De Simone Brooklyn: Has anyone walked down Court St. in downtown Brooklyn lately at night? It looks more like a Cinco de Mayo fiesta than the Christmas season — lit up with fuchsias, yellows, oranges and purples, and not the red, green, gold and silver of Christmas. This is the United States of America, and we still use the traditional colors for Christmas in this country. Jimmy B. Block
Greatness on film
Brooklyn: Nelson Mandela’s long, beautifully arduous life will serve as inspiration throughout the ages. He was wisest in uttering, “It is more natural to love than to hate.” Kudos to Harvey and Bob Weinstein for bringing the brilliant “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom” to our global consciousness at this time. In Oscar-worthy performances, actors Idris Elba and Naomie Harris have captured the spirits of Nelson and Winnie Mandela for generations. Roger French
Out of his league
Freehold, N.J.: Regarding Mike Lupica’s column on Dec. 6 (“He was Lincoln, King & Obama — all at one time”): Is he kidding? How can he mention President Obama in the same breath as Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln? Lupica, stick to sports and stop trying to be Pete Hamill.
Gene Zonis
No comparison
Lavallette, N.J.: I was stunned to see the headline on Mike Lupica’s column. We all know the contributions made by Lincoln and MLK, but to link them with President Obama is ludicrous. Obama up to now has been divisive — a cheap Chicago politician who misleads the American public with his oratory. He has three years to go and will probably accomplish zippo. His Affordable Care Act is a total failure. On foreign policy, the Russians, Chinese and Iranians see him as a soft touch they can push around. The U.S. is a laughingstock. Lupica, wake up.
Francis X. Quinn
Credit where due
Little Ferry, N.J.: Mike Lupica’s Thanksgiving column about Shannon Forde (“Thankful for this day,” Nov. 28) contained an error. The fund-raiser for Shannon was organized by 12 amazing women who have been friends since attending Ridgefield Park High School more than 20 years ago. The group, which includes Shannon, has been there for one another through all major life events, good and bad, since graduating. Ron Darling emceed the event and the Mets supported it, but those amazing women organized it. Mary La Valle
Remember ‘no radio’ signs?
Manhattan: Maybe writing this letter will help to quell my outrage. Just two weeks ago, my car was broken into while I was volunteering at St. Barnabas Hospice in the South Bronx. My (not expensive) sunglasses were taken. I was told by the repair shop that it happens at least three times a day. This morning, my car was on Central Park West parked near my home on the Upper West Side. I was stunned when I saw the window was again broken. This time, the punks took my GPS, tucked way back into a corner of a compartment. The feeling of violation is intense. What kind of person walks around with a weapon just to steal things from people? This is not a happy start to the holiday season, and I am still sorting out my feelings of outrage and anger.
John Cunningham
No laughing matter
Breezy Point: I hope Voicer Sandy Harris actually did buy a helmet on Black Friday — “just in case this knockout game is for real” — and wasn’t making a hideous attempt at humor or trivializing this cowardly and prejudiced act. I guarantee, if it happened to her, she wouldn’t think it was funny. John Carberry
Highway robbery
Brooklyn: Recently on Seventh St. in Park Slope, I witnessed a sanitation officer writing tickets for cars whose drivers had reparked for the 10:30 end of alternate-side parking and left. I couldn’t understand why tickets were being written at 10:28, 10:29 and 10:30. Another witness to this event — who was checking his cell phone for the correct time — commented, “He’s making his quota.” After the officer left, I read the handwritten tickets, and he had backdated the time to 10:21. The sad part is, the owners will be forced to pay because no one will believe them. Is this city so corrupt and heartless that it cheats and victimizes its own citizens for a buck? Joe Donato
Two’s a crowd
Woodside: Your paper’s ad presents the column by Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb as “brilliant.” I think not. I find the jumping back and forth between their initials tedious. On Thursdays, I turn their page quickly.
Jean Hampsas
Holiday horrors
Dumont, N.J.: I all but threw up my scrambled eggs when I saw that disgusting two-page spread of a supposed Christmas card involving the Kardashians (“Merry . . . Christmas? Um, OK,” Dec. 3). I don’t understand the interest in those pigs. What’s worse is it immediately followed sad coverage of those people who were killed in the train crash. Please concentrate on nicer things to print. I’m sure many readers would agree with me.
Mary Ann Oates
Styro-phony
Brooklyn: I find it interesting that Mayor Bloomberg feels so strong- ly about banning local businesses from using foam containers to serve customers. City school students are served daily, both breakfast and lunch, on Styrofoam trays. Bloomberg should do the math. If, on average, 500 or more trays are used daily in every school, that would add up to quite a bit that will “sit in a landfill for 500 years.” Fran DeVivo
You’re welcome
Copiague, L.I.: We want to thank the Daily News for the “Newsies” tickets you sent us for a recent show. It was a nice surprise to get them in the mail after we couldn’t make it to the first performance we won. Working with the guys in the contest department was a real pleasure, and we recommend the show to everyone. Those boys can really sing and dance! Thank you, Daily News, and Merry Christmas. Eddie and Carl Cruz-Hafner
Fact-based morality
Glendale: Voicer Linda Wyatt, I have news for you. Although Cardinal Dolan is a Catholic, his positions are based upon common sense, science and the laws of nature. Abortion kills a human life. If you don’t believe me, show me the evidence that a fetus is anything but a human life. It doesn’t exist. The so-called pro-choice position is based upon emotion, not science. So-called gay marriage is a joke. Everyone knows, based on the laws of nature, that it takes one man and one woman to procreate. Real marriage evolved based on this scientific fact. Thomas Murawski
Color blindness
Brooklyn: To Voicer Raymond McEaddy: You think blacks aren’t capable of being serial killers or mass murderers? Ever heard of the Atlanta child murderer? With him, the victims were the same color as their killer. Oh, and the D.C. sniper of a few years ago — what color were the perps? And the recent shooting at the D.C. Navy Yard, in which the shooter shot himself — what color was he? Cecilia Rivera
Kudos to Carrie
Briarwood: What is David Hinckley smoking (“Hills are live,” Dec. 6)? Writing about “The Sound of Music” production on NBC, he refers to Carrie Underwood as a “plucky underdog.” As a composer, pianist and vibraphonist, I thought Underwood was terrific — unlike so many of her contemporaries who lip-sync. Broadway has a potential superstar.
Ernest Ellis
Say it ain’t Cano
Spokane, Wash.: As a proud native New Yorker and a lifetime Yankee fan, I have to add my 2 cents: Robbie Cano, you made a mistake! You will be wishing you were back in pinstripes by June, when the Mariners take their dive into the cellar. Money cannot substitute for pride and tradition. There’s a joke that circulates here: Why doesn’t Spokane have a Major League Baseball team? Because Seattle would be jealous!
Christine Welch