The truth is that many executives take compensation well in excess of the value they bring to their employers, and do so simply because they can.
It's doubtful that anyone wants to legislate an end to that practice.
But it would be nice to shame them into leaving some of that cash for employees and shareholders.
David Schwartz
Baltimore
Balance spiritual, secular celebrations
It is sad that some Christians feel threatened by the celebration of other holidays around the time of Christmas ("Christmas belongs to Christians," Opinion * Commentary, Dec. 17).
Historians who have sought to correlate the biblical account with astronomical and other records have made credible arguments that Jesus was born either in the Spring or the Fall. But there is not much evidence that Jesus was born in the dead of winter.
The early Christian Church decided to celebrate Christ's birth in December, in a deliberate effort to co-opt and suppress pagan celebrations of Saturnalia and the winter solstice, an astronomical event whose date is not subject to debate.
And, indeed, most of the symbols of the season - evergreen trees, mistletoe and holly - are pagan in origin.
Of course Christians may celebrate the birth of their savior whenever they want to, just as others are free to celebrate their holidays as they see fit.
But people of all religions must work, during this season, to balance their spiritual celebration with the omnipresent secular celebrations - which are sometimes crass and materialistic, but also a lot of fun.
Carl Aron
Catonsville
