Blair's PC Christmas card (British PM sends card in 2 versions - one doesn't mention Christmas)

The Sun (U.K.) ^ | November 28, 2004 | SIMON HUGHES

[Stoat]

Blair's PC Christmas card

Ringing the changes ... card shows Tony and Cherie casually dressed
 

By SIMON HUGHES

 

TONY Blair is sending out two official Christmas cards this year — and one does not mention Christmas at all.

The card intended for non-Christians like Britain’s 1.6million Muslims simply reads: “With best wishes for the New Year.”

A second version bears the full traditional message: “With Best Wishes For Christmas And The New Year.”

A Whitehall insider revealed: “There’s two editions. Both have the same photo on the front cover. The card’s supposed to be top secret until it goes out.”


 

  

 

Snap haunts PM

 

 

Haunting ... Blair at Oxford
 

TONY Blair has admitted the picture above still haunts him nearly 30 years after his days at Oxford.

The PM, 51, said in the university mag Isis: “My time at Oxford is usually coupled with a photograph of me with long hair and a boater. I must have thought I looked cool.”

[Paul Atreides]

What is the point of sending out a non-Christmas Christmas card? If the person does not celebrate CHRISTmas in the first place, why send that person a card?

[Aussie Dasher]

Perhaps "Happy Decapitation and New Year"?

[jocon307]

And why these casual photos, the non-holiday photos, those really annoy me. I got one from a co-workers a few years ago, their two daughters on the train platform. I'm not sure if would be art-photog hubby was trying to be creative, or what, but it wasn't a good photo and it had nothing to do with Christmas. It would have been a pretty good photo for the two girls to put on a "we're running away from home" card, but that was about it. This Blair photo is just as bad. Couldn't they at least have included their children? And if they didn't want to, why a pic of them? I love Tony, but come on, who cares?

[Stoat]

What is the point of sending out a non-Christmas Christmas card? If the person does not celebrate CHRISTmas in the first place, why send that person a card?

In this case, it's probably more of a matter of the PM not wanting to 'offend' any non- Christians who might receive the card.  To that I would suggest that any who are offended are of the 'professional whiners' category who really need to get a life and get that chip off of their shoulder.  I send Christmas cards to my Jewish friends every year (have for decades) and they are not offended; they are delighted to hear from me and they tell me so.  They also wish me the best for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Similarly, they send me Hanukkah cards and I sincerely thank them and wish them a Happy Hanukkah as well.  This is a concept called 'getting along with your neighbors and friends' which seems to have become unfashionable for many, unfortunately.

[Paul Atreides]

They have to prove that they are one of the "little people," by dressing down.

[Stoat]

And why these casual photos, the non-holiday photos, those really annoy me. I got one from a co-workers a few years ago, their two daughters on the train platform. I'm not sure if would be art-photog hubby was trying to be creative, or what, but it wasn't a good photo and it had nothing to do with Christmas. It would have been a pretty good photo for the two girls to put on a "we're running away from home" card, but that was about it. This Blair photo is just as bad. Couldn't they at least have included their children? And if they didn't want to, why a pic of them? I love Tony, but come on, who cares?

Agreed...I too am put off by these "Christmas" cards that have nothing to do with Christmas.  It baffles me also as to why the PM didn't include his children in the photo....just astonishing.

When I get cards from liberal friends that are of 'winter scenes' or a wolf in the snow, I just shake my head in amazement at the lengths that they are going to in order to avoid using the word "Christmas".  They are the same ones who greet me with "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas".

 

[Paul Atreides]

When I get cards from liberal friends that are of 'winter scenes' or a wolf in the snow

I once got a Christmas card from a liberal friend that had a verse about hoping for peace and no more discrimination and all the usual liberal obsessions. I sent back a simple Christmas card saying Merry Christmas.

Never did receive any more Christmas cards from that person.

[Stoat]

 

I once got a Christmas card from a liberal friend that had a verse about hoping for peace and no more discrimination and all the usual liberal obsessions. I sent back a simple Christmas card saying Merry Christmas.

Never did receive any more Christmas cards from that person.
 

It's so sad, the endless hypocrisy of the Left.  They shout and scream, oh so grandly, about how 'inclusive', 'non-judgmental' and 'open minded' they are, but when it comes down to the realities of getting along with others of different viewpoints in their own lives, they fall flat on their faces.  They would prefer to lose a lifelong friend than to interact with anyone who doesn't embrace Leftist ideology as their religion.

Although I'm sorry that you experienced this loss, it may be beneficial in that it seems the person was 'testing' you, and you 'failed' their silly little test.  Good riddance I say, as such a person would not have been a true friend: someone who appreciates the person that you are rather than whether or not you meet their ideological criteria.

My hope is that you have since been Blessed with better friends.

[Opposites Attract]

Your friends that do not believe in Christmas send you "Christmas cards" because YOU do believe, and they DO sincerely wish you happy holidays.

When it is YOUR birthday, and your friends are aware of it but do not celebrate their own, should they not say "Happy Birthday" to you, or maybe you would prefer that if they see you they not mention your birthday?

[jocon307]

"Never did receive any more Christmas cards from that person."

That's sad, but hopefully it wasn't really political. Just was advised by a good (and very liberal) friend of mine that they wouldn't be sending cards this year, and I shouldn't feel slighted.

[Stoat]

Your friends that do not believe in Christmas send you "Christmas cards" because YOU do believe, and they DO sincerely wish you happy holidays.

Actually, my friends who are not Christian typically don't send me Christmas cards, because it's not part of their belief system, which is fine with me.  As I mentioned, they send me Hanukkah cards, for which I am quite grateful.  They are also very congenial and accepting when I send them Christmas cards.  I don't send them Hanukkah cards, and they've never been offended.  If I see them or speak with them on the phone, I wish them a Happy Hanukkah, however, because I care for them and wish them the best.

When it is YOUR birthday, and your friends are aware of it but do not celebrate their own, should they not say "Happy Birthday" to you, or maybe you would prefer that if they see you they not mention your birthday?

I must confess that I am baffled by this question.  Could you possibly rephrase it?  As far as birthdays are concerned, which are a different sort of day than Christmas, my friends will generally send me a birthday card and I will sincerely thank them.  Similarly, I send them a card on their birthdays, and they are generally quite gracious about it as well.

 

[celtic gal]

She looks like she is wearing a bath robe

[Paul Atreides]

I don't think the libs are in a festive mood, this year.

[richmwill]

Have to agree with the PM on this one. I am a Christian, and I would never send a Jewish friend of mine a "Merry Christmas! Jesus is the Reason for the Season!" card. I always send my non-Christian friends a "Happy Holidays" card.

To people who would question this- would any of you like to receive a "Happy Ramadan! Praise be to Allah!" card this year?

[Stoat]

Have to agree with the PM on this one. I am a Christian, and I would never send a Jewish friend of mine a "Merry Christmas! Jesus is the Reason for the Season!" card. I always send my non-Christian friends a "Happy Holidays" card.

By disclosing my personal preferences, I didn't mean to imply that everyone needs to do everything exactly as I do.  If you have found that this approach works best for you, then full steam ahead and best wishes to you.  If your friends have indicated to you that they would be offended by learning of your appreciation of Christmas in the form of a card and of your extension of a sentiment of goodwill to them based upon your religion, and you wish to interact with them in this non-religious way then that's great if that's what brings you happiness.

I, however, have never told anyone that I would be 'offended' by anything at all and so I am baffled when I am sent cards that make no mention of Christmas or the purpose of the Holy Day.  In my case, it seems to me that there are some who wish to remove the entire meaning of Christmas, and turn it into just another day off.   Actually, I'm not one to parade my faith publicly and so most of these sorts of cards I get are from people who have no idea where I stand on Christmas one way or another.  They are assuming that I am, like them,  a PC liberal, and this I find unfortunate, that there is this arrogant assumption at play as well.

To people who would question this- would any of you like to receive a "Happy Ramadan! Praise be to Allah!" card this year?

I don't have any Muslim friends (at least to my knowledge) and so this hasn't come up, but I would welcome any card expressing friendship and goodwill.  If it's expressed in the context of their religion, then so much the better.

[CzarNicky]

To people who would question this- would any of you like to receive a "Happy Ramadan! Praise be to Allah!" card this year?

is the card going to self destruct in five seconds?

[Opposites Attract]

My apologies, my remarks should have been aimed at Paul Atreides. Bottom line, my point was simply when a friend/acquaintance bothers to take the time to wish you happy holidays, I don't understand why that should be offensive.

The birthday remark was lame, but a reference to Jehovah's Witness who do not celebrate birthdays.

[Stoat]

My apologies, my remarks should have been aimed at Paul Atreides. Bottom line, my point was simply when a friend/acquaintance bothers to take the time to wish you happy holidays, I don't understand why that should be offensive.

I didn't mean to imply that the act of a kind wish of goodwill was 'offensive' in and of itself, but I find the act of consciously making an effort to remove all vestiges of Christendom from Christmas is bordering upon the 'offensive' , although I am generally loathe to use that much-overused and abused word.  It seems that, for many, we have a situation where people are taking the occasion of a Christian Holy Day to send sentiments of goodwill and friendship, but are also consciously taking great pains to avoid any reference to Christmas.  To me, this is very strange.   In my view, if you aren't Christian and don't choose to celebrate Christmas in your own life, that's fine but why involve yourself with a near-approximation of the trappings of Christmas?  I guess that what I find odd is that it seems some people only want to go 'half-way'...the act of using the occasion of Christmas to send a card that doesn't reference the day in it's appropriate context is rather baffling to me, but then again much of Liberalism is baffling to me as well.

The birthday remark was lame, but a reference to Jehovah's Witness who do not celebrate birthdays.

No apologies necessary, I just didn't understand.

 

I

[Martin Wellbourne]

"Couldn't they at least have included their children?"

This would cause the Bliars a problem - since they have told the press not to photograph their children, even if they have been arrested, to maintain their privacy. To put their children on the card would therefore look odd.

I agree with many though - the card looks very tacky.