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Have a Very PC Christmas: Britons Scare Over 'Erosion' of Christian Holiday
Yahoo! ^ | December 19, 2004 | Agence France Presse

Posted on 12/19/2004 1:04:10 PM PST by quidnunc

London – Carol services banned, religious references carefully excised from cards: to read Britain's press this year, you could be forgiven for thinking the politically correct brigade are set on taking the Christian out of Christmas.

A string of stories have appeared in recent weeks detailing the activities of killjoy bureaucrats over-eager to avoid offence to other religions in multi-ethnic Britain during the festive season.

At the vanguard of the movement to keep the festival's religious underpinning has been The Sun, the country's best-selling daily paper, which has launched a typically vehement "Save our Christmas" campaign.

According to the paper, "politically correct jobsworths" are on a mission to avoid offence to Britain's Muslims, Hindus, Jews and others by outlawing carol services, nativity plays and the like.

"So is this the most offensive image in Britain?" it fumed, next to a picture of a nativity play, the traditional Christmas event when schoolchildren dress up to re-enact the story of Jesus's birth.

A London radio station has also been eagerly gathering listeners' horror stories, such as an office Christmas celebration re-packaged as a "festive meal".

Some places have gone to extra lengths to ensure a more religiously neutral season. A public library in southern England, for example, refused last year to put up a poster advertising a carol service as it contravened guidelines banning religious notices.

Prime Minister Tony Blair is also being careful this Christmas, sending two types of cards, according to belief.

One, to non-Christians, carries the message: "With best wishes for New Year", while the majority of the 6,000 recipients get told: "With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year".

-snip-

(Excerpt) Read more at story.news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; United Kingdom
KEYWORDS: antichristmas; pc; politicalcorrectness; secularization

1 posted on 12/19/2004 1:04:10 PM PST by quidnunc
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To: quidnunc

They are just NOW becoming concered with the erosion of Christmas?


2 posted on 12/19/2004 1:07:09 PM PST by escapefromboston (manny ortez: mvp)
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To: quidnunc

ah, yes, newyearmas....that sounds lik a GREAT holiday...


3 posted on 12/19/2004 1:09:04 PM PST by wildwood
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To: quidnunc
"Prime Minister Tony Blair is also being careful this Christmas, sending two types of cards, according to belief.

One, to non-Christians, carries the message: "With best wishes for New Year", while the majority of the 6,000 recipients get told: "With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year".
"

As much as I appreciate Mr. Blair's support and efforts in the WOT, I think this is lame and weak.
4 posted on 12/19/2004 1:20:56 PM PST by Texas_Jarhead (I believe in American Exceptionalism! Do you?)
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To: Forgiven_Sinner; Constitution Day; Pokey78; Eurotwit; free me; Tolik; Slings and Arrows; Cicero; ...
quidnuncus excerptus fixus anyone?

Merry Christmas!

FMCDH(BITS)

5 posted on 12/19/2004 2:04:34 PM PST by nothingnew (Kerry is gone...perhaps to Lake Woebegone)
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To: wildwood

Have a happy Ramahanakwanzmas


6 posted on 12/19/2004 2:08:41 PM PST by NeoCaveman (Happy December 19th, Impeachment Day)
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To: dubyaismypresident

HAPPY FESTIVUS!!! (in my loudest George Costanza's dad's voice)


7 posted on 12/19/2004 2:14:00 PM PST by superiorslots
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To: quidnunc
I just proctored a university exam on Saturday with about 500 students. I told every student 'Merry Christmas' when they handed in their exam, this included Muslims with headscarf's on. And all sorts of people I could tell would kick dirt on a nativity scene.

That's my contribution to this problem, if we all pitch in like this then what can the lawyers do? Many hands make for little work.
8 posted on 12/19/2004 2:14:47 PM PST by demecleze
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To: dubyaismypresident
Have a happy Ramahanakwanzmas

"... it's the PC time of year...
"..Oh, by golly, can't offend no body at **BEEP** this year."

9 posted on 12/19/2004 2:15:41 PM PST by yankeedame ("Born with the gift of laughter & a sense that the world was mad.")
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To: yankeedame
Have a holly jolly RamaHanaKwanzMas
It's the best time of the year
I don't know if there'll be snow
But have a cup of low sodium, fat free, farm vegan cheer.
10 posted on 12/19/2004 2:18:01 PM PST by NeoCaveman (Happy December 19th, Impeachment Day)
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To: superiorslots
HAPPY FESTIVUS!!! (in my loudest George Costanza's dad's voice)


11 posted on 12/19/2004 2:26:57 PM PST by NeoCaveman (Happy December 19th, Impeachment Day)
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To: demecleze

I hear you...I've been saying "Merry Christmas" to just about everyone I work with at a very large politically correct financial institution...I'm waiting for the stern warning from senior management (assuming they have any gonads...they generally don't)or the denial of a promotion, limited bonus, etc..oh, yeah, I'm the most politically incorrect species walking the earth (i.e., white, European roots, practicing Christian, married, with children, heterosexual male), oh well.


12 posted on 12/19/2004 2:51:22 PM PST by john drake (roman military maxim: "oderint dum metuant, i.e., let them hate, as long as they fear")
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To: quidnunc
Here, I'll fix it.

Dear Corporate World:

Kill Christmas, you kill Christmas giving. Kill Christmas giving, you kill Christmas buying. Got it? Then do something about it.

13 posted on 12/19/2004 3:30:40 PM PST by McGavin999 (Senate is trying to cover their A$$es with Rumsfeld hide)
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Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: quidnunc
It's a happy Xmas - oops - I said happy.

Merry Christm . . oh, can't say that.

Christ - four letter word?

Happy Cuvazza? Is that a drink?

Merry holidays . . oh, holy, and in holy days. That's next on the list.

I guess what all the Scrooges who seem just one offense away from throwing punches that we are meeting in these dark corporate hallways and big-box aisles in these most surprizing weeks REALLY WANNA say is - . . . well, now you really can't say that.

15 posted on 12/19/2004 6:56:14 PM PST by sevry
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