Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
There. I said it. Not happy holidays, but Merry Christmas.
It’s Christmas time here and around the world. Throughout our region, families are shopping for festive meals and gifts, decorating, and anxiously awaiting the moment they see “long-lost” family and friends.
It’s a time where children and adults express wishes, not just for gifts from Santa Claus, but also for happiness and prosperity for friends, family, and sometimes even mankind. And while Christmas is a decidedly Christian holiday, all creeds have wishes this time of year.
Indeed, many people from all walks of life, religious persuasions (or lack thereof), cultures, and colors are sharing in the optimism brought on by Christmas. So, I was a bit surprised this year when some schools declined to participate in our annual Letters to Santa publication.
Each year, we ask schools around our five-county coverage area to let youngsters – typically between kindergarten and third-grade – express their wishes in a short letter to the jolly old elf. We often receive hundreds of letters and print multiple sections.
But while parents were battling mask mandates and critical race theory this past year, the inclusivity Grinch snuck in the back door of some public schools for a new assault on Christmas.
A Medical Lake School District employee at Hallett Elementary School suggested we refrain from asking young students to write letters to Santa because the exercise isn’t inclusive.
Endicott Elementary School secretary pre-empted her school’s participation, emailing our staff, “Our 3rd graders don’t write letters to Santa.”
Then there were other schools that just didn’t reply.
That unfortunate attitude likely explains why we have fewer letters to Santa this year from area children.
What a shame. Having students express their wishes is a great writing exercise. It’s also an uplifting exercise for youngsters in this time of needless shutdowns and mandates.
At least that negativity isn’t conveyed to students in many Eastern Washington communities. We received letters to Santa from schools in Cheney, Davenport, Odessa, Ritzville, Lind, Sprague, Harrington, Oakesdale, Colton and Rosalia. Some schools even contacted us to make sure more children could participate.
I can’t speak for you, but I love reading the letters – spelling errors and all – and trying to decipher the writers’ hopes, dreams, and wishes for Christmas. (No, we don’t edit the letters, however a few participating teachers might.)
This year, there were the usual requests for video games, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels, trucks, and more. There was even a request for a chinchilla. And, one letter writer asked for wine for a parent.
Believe in Santa or not, it’s easy to see our young letter writers are hopeful this holiday. Heck, even older children still enjoy the magic of the season.
That excitement spills over into adulthood, too. (As the saying goes, you’re never too old to believe.)
For me and my family, there’s a lot of optimism. And while we didn’t write the jolly old St. Nick a letter, he certainly knew what our family members wanted. (I know because I’ve had to ante up.)
Regardless, I’m glad to see Christmas magic is alive and well. It’s a very welcomed aspect of life, especially after almost two years of coronavirus gloom-and-doom, lockdowns, and mandates.
Around our family, the lights are up and we’re already running the “Polar Express” train under the Christmas tree. We’ve purchased the soon-to-be “roast beast,” to quote Dr. Seuss.
And we’ve already begun watching our favorite Christmas movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “Home Alone,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Many more are on deck for this weekend.
It’s time to sit back, take a deep breath, shed the challenges of modern-day life – even for just a long weekend – and enjoy the magic of Christmas.
If you know somebody alone, take time to reach out and share the magic in your life. You could be the “Santa” they need right now.
From me and my family to yours, we wish you a merry Christmas.
Roger Harnack is the co-owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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