Stars and Stripes, the Defense-Dept.-authorized newspaper for the military, performed the admirable task of relaying holiday greetings between overseas military personnel and their loved ones. But no Merry Christmas about it. It was Happy Holidays all the way. Not a peep from the Religious Right that I've heard.

I should add, however, that their Letters section was filled with Christian frothing. The letters just weren't aimed at Stars and Stripes.