My letter to 106.7 LiteFM (New York's Christmas Station (or so they say))

Dear Sir/Madam;

There are 28 different versions of “Let It Snow”, originally recorded by Vaughn Monroe in 1945. I know this because I believe that I’ve listened to every one of them this week on 106.7. That and the 17 different versions of It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. I started to become suspicious when on my 40 minute drive to work, I heard the same “Christmas” song 3 times. Well, by three different artists of course, but 3 times nonetheless. It dawned on me right there that I had never heard the songs O Come All Ye Faithful or Silent Night on this - New York’s Christmas Station. Nor had I heard Little Drummer Boy or Hark The Herald Angels Sing. Why didn’t they play songs like that? What do all of these never-heard songs have in common? The words “Jesus” or “God”, that’s what. So I began to listen more closely. I listened for hours. I listened for days. Not once did I hear either of the forbidden words.

So, my question is this – who are you afraid of offending by playing actual CHRISTmas songs on your self-proclaimed “New York’s Christmas Station”? I’d almost gotten used to the fact that “Merry Christmas” is now unacceptable, long ago replaced by “Happy Holidays”, but now this? We can’t mention Christ in our Christmas Carols? Are they to be called Holiday Carols going forward?

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not pretending to be the most religious person that ever was, but I love Christmas and I love Christmas Carols and I refuse to be embarrassed by it or ashamed of it. I’m taking a stand. I will say MERRY CHRISTMAS from now on. I will say it to everyone. And if I offend someone, well then, be offended. It’s not my concern. I’m taking Christmas back.

Oh, and as for New York’s Christmas Station - I’ve downloaded real Christmas songs on my Ipod, so I won’t be listening to you anymore.

Merry Christmas!

Helen Washer