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cossie
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On fire! |
Location: Exiled in North East Engl...
Registered: July 2003
Messages: 1699
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Christmas 2006 has come and gone, but somehow this one seemed different.
Regular posters will know that I am an agnostic tending to atheism, but I'm also deeply interested in history, tradition and language. Christmas is a Christian festival, and in the UK and other nominally Christian countries it is steeped in tradition. Some traditions are ancient (the celebration near the winter solstice adapts a tradition that is much older than Christianity itself) and some are relatively new (the bushy white bearded Santa Claus in his fur-trimmed red outfit originated in a Coca-Cola advertising campaign in the first half of the last century) but, collectively, they are all part of what we call 'Christmas'. Except that, if the politically correct have their way, we'll stop calling it Christmas in case we offend those of other faiths.
I've been through our haul of well over a hundred Christmas cards. There are humorous cards, abstract cards, robins, cute animals, Christmas Trees, holly, snow scenes and other 'Christmassy' illustrations, but apart from the odd church included in a snow scene, there is not a single card with a Christian theme. No stars, no wise men, no nativity scenes - not even a picture of a group of carol singers. Over a third of the cards made no mention of the word 'Christmas'. And, speaking of carol singers, for the first time I can recall, no carol-singers called at our door this year.
Local Councils are holding 'Winter Festivals', and in most locations Christian symbolism has been avoided in street decorations. Public address systems churn out Christmas hits from the last half-century, but carols are nowhere to be heard.
I am saddened to see our national traditions suppressed in this way, for what I regard as crassly stupid reasons. The concept of a multicultural society is fine - provided that 'multicultural' simply implies mutual tolerance and respect for each other's beliefs - but it should be a part of a policy of integration. Ghettos, such as the Muslim enclave at Beeston, in Leeds, are never going to bring different cultures together. The UK spends some £80m (about $157m) each year on translation of government literature and communications for immigrants, so it is never necessary for adult immigrants to learn English. Some have lived here for 25 years or more without becoming able to conduct the simplest conversation in English.
I am all for integration and mutual respect; I see it as the only sane way forward. But mutual respect means that each group respects each other group, and that must mean that all immigrant or non-Christian groups have an obligation to respect the traditions of British society. In practice, they do; I have several friends of other faiths, and all of them enjoy Christmas and have no problem with Christian symbolism. Many of them send me Christmas cards.
It is not those of other races and faiths who are attacking our customs and traditions; our enemies are the talking heads of political correctness, most of whom are white Anglo-Saxons.
Despite my personal agnosticism, I loved the 'spirit' of Christmas when I was a child. I loved carols, especially - when at Grammar School - the traditional service of nine lessons and carols. I loved the (Anglican/Episcopalian) Midnight Mass. And I still do. I don't have to be a believer to appreciate a wonderful story. My resolution for 2007 will be to campaign against the talking heads, to urge that our national traditions (which happen to be Christian) should be revived and preserved, and that the teaching of the basic elements of the Christmas story should be restored to the first school syllabus - subject, of course, to an opt-out provision for other faiths.
Sorry to ramble on so much, but I think that some of the pillars of our culture are under attack from within, and it worries me deeply. What do you think?
For a' that an' a' that,
It's comin' yet for a' that,
That man tae man, the worrld o'er
Shall brithers be, for a' that.
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Another one bites the dust.
By: cossie on Thu, 28 December 2006 03:03 |
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Re: Another one bites the dust.
By: JFR on Thu, 28 December 2006 04:13 |
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Your e-mail was safely received ...
By: cossie on Fri, 29 December 2006 02:57 |
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Re: Another one bites the dust.
By: bon on Thu, 28 December 2006 04:22 |
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Re: Another one bites the dust.
By: Nigel on Thu, 28 December 2006 09:51 |
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Re: Another one bites the dust.
By: Aussie on Thu, 28 December 2006 11:23 |
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Re: Another one bites the dust.
By: NW on Thu, 28 December 2006 14:24 |
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Re: Another one bites the dust.
By: cossie on Fri, 29 December 2006 05:13 |
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Re: Another one bites the dust.
By: NW on Fri, 29 December 2006 11:46 |
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Umm. It seems to me ...
By: cossie on Sun, 31 December 2006 05:51 |
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