READERS HOTLINE -- Let there be light

I’m a Mariners school parent, and I spent all Saturday morning over at

Mariners school helping out with the family work day that involves a lot

of parents giving up their day off and their funds to go over there and

clean up the school and plant new plants and paint and fix sprinklers and

put up lights.

I think it’s appalling that Dana Black and others are complaining that

the lights are up. We’re a nondenominational school and there’s a lot of

different cultures and religions there.

We were just ringing in the season; it had nothing to do with

religion. When I read the article I almost cried thinking about the men

who worked there all day and had to go back and take their lights down.

It’s just ridiculous.

So what’s the message, to just say, “Hey, don’t spend your Saturday

over there because somebody’s going to complain?”

So if we’re not over there doing it and the school district’s not over

there cleaning up and fixing sprinklers as they should, who’s going to do

it then?

Is Dana Black going to go do it? So I’m just really disappointed that

the front page of the Daily Pilot says, “Holiday lights go out at

Mariners Elementary.” That is just pathetic.

ELIZABETH BARNES

Costa Mesa

Despite possessing a strong Christian faith, I must agree with the

inappropriateness of decorating an elementary school for Christmas. While

I love seeing my own faith represented, I wouldn’t want my child to

attend a school that was totally decorated for Hanukkah or any other

faith that was not my own.

I can imagine that this is how non-Christian’s must feel.

Part of what makes our country, our communities and our schools great

is the diversity of the people and students within them. We will all be

better people if we will be sensitive to other’s beliefs, and it is never

too early to teach our children to be tolerant of other’s feelings.

Our homes are our castles, and within them, we can continue to

decorate and worship as we please. Oh, by the way, 40 years ago I played

an angel in my public elementary school’s nativity scene. How times have

changed.

CARLA SCOTT

Corona del Mar

I was astounded at the story, “Holiday lights go out at Mariners

Elementary.” People that do not want the lights are probably very unhappy

people, and they don’t want anybody to be happy.

Christmas or no Christmas, it is a time to be festive. It’s the only

time of the year we get to really decorate and have fun. They are not in

the classroom, whereas we parents are in the classroom. We’ve got plenty

of books; we have plenty of pencils. It’s time to have a party for

whatever reason. Lights, color -- all it is is true happiness.

I feel sorry for those people that will not allow the lights and want

to talk about it at the grocery store. They have nothing in their own

lives; that’s why they’re unhappy. And they don’t want anybody else to be

happy.

PENNY FLEMING

Newport Beach

I just read about the holiday lights at Mariners Elementary at the

request of Dana Black.

Since we have lights on at the White House and at city halls and all

over, I see no reason there couldn’t be lights at the schools. I would

imagine that Dana Black should have other things to worry about other

than somebody telling her that they’re at it again.

After all, it seems to me that the Christmas lights don’t necessarily

reflect any particular religion.

They’re just a decoration. It certainly is a shame that we’ve gotten

so particular about what we have and where. Incidentally, it seems to me

that Congress is opened with a prayer that does not mention any

particular God, just God. I’m certainly disappointed that the school

board asked the parents to unplug the lights that they had put up.

ED BAUME

Costa Mesa