Happy Xmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hannukah
It may surprise Angela Morrissey (“Putting the ‘Christ’ back into Christmas”, Bendigo Advertiser, Letters 24 November) to learn that the holiday we know as Christmas only dates from the fourth century.
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Prior to this, 25 December was the date on which the Roman Empire celebrated the winter solstice, a celebration which long pre-dates the Roman Empire.
This date was symbolically chosen by the Emperor Constantine as the date of Jesus's birth as the time at which the days become longer. i
It is highly unlikely Jesus was born on 25 December as, among other things, shepherds would not have been watching their sheep outside in the middle of winter.
I suggest that Ms Morrissey “lighten up” and allow everyone to celebrate Christmas, or not, in their own way.
As an atheist, I will still wish others a "Merry Christmas" but I am very happy for others to wish me Happy Xmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hannukah or offer no greeting as they see fit.
James Proctor, Strathdale
The rubble left of Flora Hill Primary School
There is a poem, “Ozymandias”, by Percy Shelley, which tells of a once and mighty king whose mightiness is now a pile of rubble in the desert. I was reminded of him yesterday while walking past the open land where once stood Flora Hill Primary School.
In 1992 the then-principal gleefully seized on Jeff Kennett's ideological Schools of the Future.
Flora Hill PS would lead education into the 21st century. It and its principal would be the comets that blazed the way to modernising Bendigo's schools.
Well, Jeff Kennett is gone, his ideology is gone, the principal is gone, the very school is gone with not so much as a derelict garden shed to show it was ever there.
Kennett's regime should have been called Schools Of a Very Brief Future.
The fate of Flora Hill PS should be clear warning to politicians and faddists, they are both creatures of the present day.
Their ideologies do not endure.
At least Ozymandias left behind two giant stone feet.
Sandra Lacey, North Bendigo
Some treat Australia as ‘back-up girlfriend’
While many newcomers have fallen in love with Australia, some are treating her as a backup girlfriend.
They are exploiting her natural treasures and spoiling her beauty with ugly scars.
When they get their "pot of gold", they are going back in their native countries.
Fast growth of population and reckless exploitation are upsetting our harmonious coexistence with the nature.
Water, land and air pollution are increasing, carbon is building up.
Forests are being cut down, rivers drained dry, fertile land turned into dust.
Infrastructure is struggling to keep up with the increase of population.
Yet more people from overpopulated, fighting countries are trying to get in.
Our conditions are still better than theirs.
But at the present rate of growth it will not be long, before Australia becomes overpopulated and suffering the same economic problems as other continents.
Jiri Kolenaty, Rushworth
Have your say: Send letters to PO Box 61, Bendigo 3552 or lodge at bendigoadvertiser.com.au
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