For the third consecutive year, someone has posted signs emblazoned with the wording “It’s OK to say, Merry CHRISTMAS” around Redmond.
Six of the green signs with white lettering stand on Northeast 85th Street and 160th Avenue Northeast near the Redmond Regional Library and the complex that houses the Redmond Police Department and the Redmond Senior Center. The Reporter also discovered one sign in front of St. Jude Catholic Church on 166th Avenue Northeast and two signs nearby where Northeast 104th Street intersects 166th.
Underneath the main message, in smaller letters, there’s a quotation from Romans 1:16 of the Bible: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes; first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.” A lengthy verse from the Gospel of Luke follows in tiny lettering.
Father James Johnson, pastor at St. Jude, said he doesn’t have anything against the signs and doesn’t know who posted them.
“I think the signs express a fine sentiment and the joy of the season that is being celebrated,” he said. “I certainly support any efforts to respect the role religion has in our society. At the same time, we should also remember and wish members of other religions well on their significant holy days, which most often do not coincide with Christmas.”
The Reporter discussed the signs — which were posted over the weekend — with two library patrons on Monday morning:
“It doesn’t bother me. ‘It’s OK to say, Merry Christmas,’ you know, it’s that time of year and people who are not religious at all celebrate Christmas. So I think, to me, it’s pretty generic. I think what they’re trying to do is make it religious,” said Ann Creighton of Sammamish.
Added Jan Edmunds of Redmond: “I think it is great that you can say ‘Merry Christmas,’ not ‘Happy Holidays’ or whatever. I’m glad to see Christ in Christmas — that’s the reason we have it.”
Edmunds approves of the Bible verses, as well.
“As a Christian, I’m glad to see all this — and people will see it,” she said. Everyone will not agree with the verses, she noted, “but this is what America was built on.”
“The ‘It’s OK to say, Merry CHRISTMAS’ signs are a form of free speech, much like political signs,” noted Redmond Mayor John Marchione. The city has no plans to remove the signs, he added. Since the signs began appearing two years ago, those placing the signs have removed them by New Year’s Day.
One Redmond resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said they weren’t sure yet of their stand on the signs, but they are outspoken on the scenario.
“You have to think how much money, time and effort has gone into this, so my question is, ‘Is this good use of resources or would this money, effort and time have been better spent on doing something tangible for others?’ I think it would depend on who is putting them up, why they are putting it up and what they are trying to accomplish,” the resident wrote in an email. “Each year, this is getting bigger and seems to be spreading. This year, they added cards that they want people to take and spread around and these cards are very evangelical. Is this as far as they are going, or are they planning to go even bigger next year?'”
