I am writing because I have heard over and over from the Christian parents at my children's school, and other parents from other district schools, about how their schools only allow "Happy Holidays" as the greeting for the Christmas holidays.

Those parents feel the loss of their specific holiday festivities. I do understand their predicament and I also understand the need to assign the greeting "Happy Holidays" due to the cultural and religious diversity that exist now among all of us.

But let's be straight: Dec. 25 is in place due to the belief of a religion - that Jesus was born that day and hence the celebration.

I am a Muslim by title, born and raised in Pakistan, where they celebrate Eid as the major festival for the nation. Even those who are not

Muslim celebrate the same because they like to. If I were living there still and that country would no more be an Islamic country, I would feel the loss of my festival too. It would hurt me.

As for Muslims, they believe in Jesus anyways; what harm is there, therefore, to celebrate in Jesus' name when they celebrate in Muhammad's name?

The Quran has specified to make no distinction among the messengers, and that includes Jesus and Moses too. From that respect, Muslims should celebrate Jewish holidays too, like the recent Hanukkah.

I drove by yesterday and saw all the beautiful lightings, and it just filled me up with joy.

Living for 18 years now in Canada, it is my country and I personally do not find anything wrong with calling this festival by its true identity: "Merry Christmas to all of you!"

Humera Ahsanullah Coquitlam