Xmas Cheer?

Many papers have focused on the De Xmasfying of Christmas over the last few days,in particular the Sun,The Mail and the Telegraph have highlighted numerous stories where humbugs or Pc conscious officials have clamped down on Christmas celebrations.

The Sun in particular has launched a campaign which it has christened "Kick them in the Baubles" which this morning claims the backing of the Leader of the Commons Jack Straw.

"COMMONS Leader Jack Straw yesterday praised The Sun’s “Kick ’Em In The Baubles” campaign.
The Blackburn MP said he wanted a “big conversation” with whoever suggested that decorations should be banned from offices.
And he believes the “politically correct nonsense” is led by people wrongly “second-guessing” how sensitive others are about the issue."

This morning it reports that

Baubles banned in Job Centre

"A JOB CENTRE boss has banned Christmas decorations — because it might make the unemployed MISERABLE."

The Mail launched a similar campaign last week

"Campaign for a real Christmas: Religious leaders unite against political correctness“A campaign to save the traditions of Christmas from the interference of politically correct town halls was launched by an influential coalition of Christian and Muslim leaders yesterday.Leaders of the two faiths warned that attempts to suppress Christmas bring a backlash and Muslims get the blame."

The Telegraph has also joined the campaign,today is editor Jeff Randle writes of

"In the United Kingdom, this time of year is a Christian festival — as it should be. It is part of our heritage. You don't have to be a fire-and-brimstone evangelist to respect a faith that still underpins traditional British values and institutions, even though much of its spiritual message was lost long ago in a fog of consumerism. Jettisoning Christmas-less cards is my tiny, almost certainly futile, gesture against the dark forces of political correctness. It's a swipe at those who would prefer to abolish Christmas altogether, in case it offends "minorities". Someone should tell them that, with only one in 15 Britons going to church on Sundays, Christians are a minority."

Then for the opposite view I recommend that you read Oliver Burkman's article in the Guardian titled

The phoney war on Christmas

http://www.guardian.co.uk/christmas2006/story/0,,1967367,00.html

In which he argues that you need to look closely at some of these campaigns.

In the same paper Mark Lawson tells us

"The story of this December, if you believe the reports, has been the flinch that stole Christmas. The UK is allegedly too PC to celebrate JC. Three-quarters of British small businesses questioned in a survey claimed that they would not be decking the halls with holly this year from fear of offending non-Christian employees and customers. In council buildings, we're told, tinsel-detectors have more or less been installed at the doors and staff are being randomly blood-tested for evidence of abuse of plum duff or other prohibited substances."


"However, guerrilla forces - the Santa-nistas or the Snowy Path perhaps - are fighting back. Following an avalanche of emails and phone calls, the BBC's Breakfast programme has brought forward by a week the seasonal dressing of the set. Furious viewers apparently noted that commercial rivals GMTV had already got out the trees and the fairy lights, and so the BBC studio will now go grotto on December 11 rather than on the 18th as planned."

Finally a good story in the Sun

"SANTA was sent packing from a church carol service — by the vicar.
Henry Cuff, 64, turned up in red robe and white beard to entertain the children.
But the Rev Tim Storey told him dressing as Santa was not in keeping with the traditional Christian meaning of Christmas.
The vicar demanded he remove his costume.
But Henry, a Lions Club member, who had been handing gifts to children, refused and instead grabbed his sack and left. Scores of kids and parents saw the row at SS Peter and Paul Church in Blandford, Dorset.
Henry, who has played Father Christmas for 30 years, said: “The children would have been upset if I had changed into my ordinary clothes.”
Furious local Janice Cox said: “This was the church which earlier this year screened the World Cup.”
The vicar was unrepentant. He said: “I’ve nothing against Father Christmas, but he should not be part of church services any more than Santa’s grotto should have a manger or baby Jesus.”