Have yourself a merry little holiday

Reuters Oddly Enough ^ | Nov. 26, 2002 | Reuters

[jwalburg]

TORONTO (Reuters) - Christmas is becoming an endangered word in parts of Canada in a rash of politically correct behavior -- such as renaming a Christmas tree a "holiday tree" -- that even non-Christians dismiss as silly.

Toronto city officials began the flap last week when they called the 50-foot tree set up outside City Hall a "holiday tree." That sparked much derision and prompted the city's mayor to set the record straight.

"Our special events staff went too far with their political correctness when they called it a holiday tree," said Mayor Mel Lastman. "They were trying to be inclusive and their hearts were in the right place, but you can't be politically correct all the time."

The mayor plans to introduce a motion in city council this week that will officially put the word Christmas in front of the word tree in all future city documents.

The name change led to complaints from Christians and left many non-Christians wondering what all the fuss was about. "To take a generic term, slap it on a symbol that really only has significance to one religion...and then say we're being multicultural does not really fit," said Anita Bromberg of the Jewish group B'nai Brith Canada. "Whatever you call it, it's still a Christmas tree."

"You're not being inclusive when you try to apply one religious symbol to everybody. You call it what is."

Toronto has become the most multicultural city in Canada, with communities from around the world and residents who speak more than 100 different languages.

"I'm not sure what they're trying to achieve," Ahmed Shoker of the Canadian Islamic Congress in Saskatoon said on Monday. "Everyone has the full right to celebrate in their own way."

Toronto is not alone in its efforts to stress a holiday spirit rather than talking about Christmas.

The Royal Canadian Mint has a commercial in which it changes the old holiday standard "Twelve Days of Christmas" to "Twelve Days of Giving." But Mint spokesman Phil Taylor said the wording was merely meant to "position coins as a great gift for the holidays for whatever faith."

"It's the same kind of over the top political correctness," said Bernie Farber, Ontario executive director of the Canadian Jewish Congress. "There seems to be a fear within certain circles in Canada that people are going to react to Christmas in a negative way. But it's not the case.

"It's time to sort of get on with life, accept everybody for who they are and revel in their holidays as opposed to look for ways to deny people's holidays. It's just plain silly."

[jwalburg]

. "They were trying to be inclusive and their hearts were in the right place, but you can't be politically correct all the time."

But you sure can try, I guess. Next step: Get rid of all trees.

[jjm2111]

"I'm not sure what they're trying to achieve," Ahmed Shoker of the Canadian Islamic Congress in Saskatoon said on Monday. "Everyone has the full right to celebrate in their own way."

What's this a Muslim with a brain? Somebody promote that man and give him Ibrahim Cooper's job.

[mitchbert]

What's this a Muslim with a brain?

A Palestinian Canadian I used to do business with told me once the biggest problem with the Middle East is that anyone with a brain gets the heck out as soon as they can.

[jjm2111]

Why would someone with even half a brain live in an economic cesspool?

[mitchbert]

Oh, c'mon. The Loonie isn't in that bad a shape ;-)

[NEWwoman]

I read in another article on FP, Canada was referred to as Canuk-istan.
The way they are going, Christianity will soon be a hate crime, if it isn't already.

[RoseofTexas]

You don't have to go across the border to see the STUPITY of the POLITICAL CORRECT crowd!! I just got a call from a friend of my who told me that Wal-mart will NO LONGER greet the public this holiday with MERRY CHRISTMAS, instead they'll greet you with HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! She read it in our local paper and she IMMEDIATELY called the wal-mart main center to ask if the article was legit! The receptionist said that it was. They have been instructed to DROP the MERRY CHRISTMAS greeting!! She voiced her anger and was told that there was nothing my friend could do to reverse the decision the head hunchos have made...CLYMERS!! I BET you the founder of wal-mart is spinning in his grave! I SAY ENOUGH!! I bet thousands of us spend in the MILLIONS OF DOLLARS at Wal-mart and they need to hear from us! C'MON FOLKS, LET'S GIVE THEM AN EARS FULL!! IF we don't stop them and voice our OUTRAGE, slowly but surely the POLITICALLY CORRECT BASTARDS will have removed GOD completely from the USA! PLEASE CALL THEM ALL 1-800-925-6278! Or email them at WALMART.COM!! LET THE FREEPING BEGIN!!

[Billthedrill]

What's with this "merry" stuff, anyway? These people are discriminating against the unhappy, that's what! "Merry Christmas" is right out! Now, "holiday" ("holy" day, you can't fool me) discriminates against atheists, so we're going to shorten that do "day," but that, of course discriminates against night workers. Silence. That's the only politically correct approach - at least it doesn't discriminate against the deaf and dumb. I mean, the "differently sound enabled..."

[NEWwoman]

LOL!

[Snowyman]

Actually it's one word. Canuckistan. The first reference to it appears to be from one Ernst Zundel , the Jew hater and Holocaust denier. He didn't like the way we treated him.

[NEWwoman]

Thanks for the info on Canuckistan. Didn't know who coined the word or may have used it first, until you told me. I suspect other people may have used Canuckistan since it seems to fit our neighbors up north so well.

[Snowyman]

Yup, we kind of like it but it is a bit of a mouthful especially if you slur your words like Pat Buchanan does . Too bad we can't shorten it like you guys did with 'Merkin.. Oh ,Well. Buchanan likes to used it and that can't be all bad. You don't think Ernst and he,,,nah,,

[jwalburg]

Any time a Wal-Mart greeter says "happy holidays," I'll stop, look em in the eye and say WHAT holiday?

[LiteKeeper]

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