I have just reviewed the Dec. 24, 2008 edition of your paper. I have always appreciated the forum that you provide for the city’s youngsters to display their artwork and “get published.”

However, I was really disturbed to see how either those encouraging these young artists or the sponsoring merchants (or perhaps both) have created such a skewed collection. The collection is so unrepresentative of the general population that one is almost forced to infer that any interest a child might show in the traditional, ideological and historical core of Christmas, the birth of Christ, is discouraged, denigrated or forbidden.

Of the approximately 113 entries shown, about 11 are Jewish in theme or orientation. And of the balance, not a single one had anything to do with Jesus’ birth and the fact that Christmas is historically and essentially a religious holiday.

If the schools are at fault, they need to lighten up and not be so repressive of students’ right of expression. If it is the merchants’ fault, they need to show some courage and let this other aspect of Christmas be represented.

My concern is that the schools, the merchants (presumably), as well as your newspaper, have a commitment to pluralism and to giving various voices an opportunity for legitimate expression on what is, hopefully, a “level playing field”; but the end product, as represented by your young artists’ insert in your paper, indicates that that is being honored in word only and not in action.

Jon R. Sanford, P.A.