Charles Krauthammer, whose column is syndicated by the Washignton Post, may be the best columnist in the nation. That is to say that he makes strong arguments, in simple English, integrating rational argument and emotions. The result is almost always powerful.
His views are something else; I disagree 100%.
Today, however, I am forced to retract that last statement. I heartily subscribe to the views he expresses in today's piece in the Albuquerque Journal. He says it's time to stop "....the attempts to de-Christianize Christmas...."
he's tired of "Season's Greetings" and "Happy Holidays."
First, he argues, it's silly to ask the majority to "stifle ints religious impulses in public.." Secondly, he says America is uniquely capable of not just tolerating different religions but celebrating them.
Great. I do wish he had made one more point, namely that the biggest force behind the neutering of Christmas is business. But that's asking that he write my ciolumn, not his.
Another point, please. Today's Albuquerque Journal gives us not only Krauthammer, but Jim Hoagland on Iraq, Sen. Joe Biden on Israel and the Palestinians, John Fleck (the paper's science writer) on science and politics and William Kristol on Rumsfeld. True, that is three conservatives to a single liberal, but so what.
Hoagland, who knows a lot about foreign policy, educates. Kristol represents a significant part of the GOP, so his attack on Rumsfeld has a special resonance. Biden's piece is a plan to end the Israeli-Palestianian impasse. And Fleck wants to help us read stories about science and public policy.
I have no idea who is running the Journal's editorial and Op Ed operation, but he or she is doing very good work.