I read with dismay how upset Terry Turner was about being wished a Merry Christmas. I hardly think a simple salutation can be described as a sermon. Instead of spewing venom, Turner might have appreciated the fact that this well-meaning employee was being nice! Are you offended by such harmful attacks as good morning, or have a nice day? If you are truly harmed by such actions, maybe it would be best for you to stay home. I read and hear many things on a daily basis that I don’t like. I turn the page or change the topic of the conversation. Merry Christmas, Terry. I love you!

Dirk Williamson

Santa Fe

This Sunday, I wake up to read The New Mexican and again find a letter of someone complaining about religious comments regarding Christmas (“Letters to the editor: Keep religion out of it,” Dec. 23). Christmas is the reason for the season with Christ being the subject. I suppose when people ask you where you live, you don’t tell them — as you do live in the City of Faith. That might mean you are spreading religion. Maybe a move to a non-religious named city would make you and yours feel better. Forget Los Angeles or Las Cruces, to mention a few. When we say, “Merry Christmas,” we share our feelings with people and are not lecturing. May you and yours have had a Very Merry Christmas. I hope that more cashiers are as friendly as the one you met.

Bob Guillen

Santa Fe

A skewed view

Considering the horrific shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, I couldn’t help noting the irony in Alan Gottlieb’s Looking In piece (“For gun owners, 2012 a good year,” Dec. 18). It might have been a good year for those supporting the unrestricted ownership of firearms, but it was a distinctly bad year for the innocent victims of more mass shootings. Perhaps Mr. Gottlieb’s views would have been more acceptable in another era, but today they are just plain sick and disgusting.

Ira Agins

Santa Fe

Address root causes

With faith leaders and communities throughout this country, we the pastors of the United Church of Santa Fe hold in deep prayer the people of Newtown, Conn., and all who seek to care for them in this tragic time. May God bind up their broken hearts and give them strength and courage in this time and in the days and years to come.

Moreover, as Christians who seek to follow in the way of Jesus, the Child of Bethlehem and Prince of Peace, we call upon our nation’s leaders — in both government and private spheres — to address the root causes of such violence, including reinstating the ban on high-capacity military-style assault weapons and providing increased access to mental-health care throughout our nation.

Rev. Talitha Arnold and Rev. Brandon Johnson

senior minister, associate minister

The United Church of Santa Fe