Downgrade Christmas
 

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

Well I for one will not be contributing to that one. Why can't they accept things as they are? If they can't do that tough!!

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

I do not stop people from coming to live in our country, and neither do I resent them having their own celebrations...they, of course are welcome to celebrate our festivals if they wish...but if they do not like us celebrating our traditions(some of which are older than christianity) then I would respectfully suggest that they go to wherever it is that celebrates the thing that doesn't offend them...no-one makes them stay here. Personally, I am fairly sure thaat the vast majority of immigrants do not take offence at us celebrating our festival.....it is the idiots at the government think tank that think they take offence. It is time someone out there gave them some proper work to do......counting the incomers would keep them occupied for a while methinks......and would allow the government to tell us how many people have really made their home in this country...rather than making absurd guesses.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

Extract from that link
It emerged in 2006 that three out of four employers were not putting up Christmas decorations in the workplace for fear of offending staff of other cultures.
That is right for the wrong reasons. The workplaces can be hazardous enough without increasing risks with trimmings. I was once called out at 3am to search Melbourne House with police (I was keyholder) and the search revealed one baloon had drifted down triggering the alarm system - I had all baloons removed - wouldn't you?

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

Got to agree that anything that is likely to set the alarm off or is going to compromise Health and Safety shouldn't be allowed but I do think people should be allowed to make the workplace feel a bit more festive with the appropriate decorations in the run up to Christmas. If someone finds them offensive the problem is theirs IMO.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

..oh god..

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

I work with a muslim guy and when it was Eid I got a card signed by the whole team and gave it to him as part of his celebration. He was actually touched that we acknowledged his celebration and his choice of religion despite being a majority 'Christian'[1] team.

Christmas is unfortuantely not celebrated for its real meaning anymore by a vast majority of people. Its just an excuse to get leathered, eat too much and blow lots of cash on stuff that you probably didn't want in teh first place.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

It emerged in 2006 that three out of four employers were not putting up Christmas decorations in the workplace for fear of offending staff of other cultures.

Thats crappy but work is work and you go there to work not celebrate christmas or "trim up" by putting tinsel all over the place. I wouldnt allow it if i was a boss as its not needed.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

wrong try Jesus :D

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

The only people who object to our celebration of Christmas are the government think tanks. They have to justify their overpaid, underworked existence somehow. Why not just send them all to clean NHS hospitals, it would give them something productive to do for a lot less pay and free up some money to put into local areas for services to support these immigrants. :D

This is going to be my first Christmas off in nearly 20 years and if I want to hang decorations, have a nice meal with my family and give a few gifts then no useless government think tank with nowt better to do is going to stop me...:swear8:

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

I'm with Margaret. I'm confident that the vast majority of immigrants do not take offence. As for the ones that do take offence......who cares?

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

either way i was always taught not to use the lords name in vane ;)

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

The words when in Rome spring to mind.....

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

.......................... NO i'm not going to say what I was gonna say, this is a family forum after all :mad:

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

I don't care whether or not immigrants into this country are offended by "Christian" festivities, which most of them are not anyway. They came here by choice and if this country's celebrations and practices offend them they should leave by choice. If I migrated to a country of another predominant faith I would not expect that country's citizens to abandon their feast days in case they offended me.

The point is, more often than not, it's Government agencies and the like who come up with these ideas. They are fostering tension and resentment in their ridiculous attempts to seem anti-racist/religionist. This is Britain and we are, at least nominally, a Christian country. Those who share our land must be encouraged to accept our traditions as we are encouraged, and often happy, to accept theirs. If this Government doesn't recognise that, it's time to replace it with one that does.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

say it but leave out the swear words... and don't mention shhhhhhh you know what .......... ho ho ho Merry Christmas , let it snow , let it snow let it snowwwwwwwwww

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

If I can't swear, and I can't say " you know what " I'll go back to plan A and keep mi gob shut :D

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

well all I can say is if they dont like it, then ****** off back where ya came from:D

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

We are culturally and historically a Christian country.

If people that come here have a problem with that, they are more than welcome to ****** off somewhere else.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

It's as stupid an idea as the Brits who go to live in Spain trying them to stop their festivals, that include carrying the Virgin Mary through the streets and letting off fireworks.

A visitor trying to change the cultural customs of a Muslim country, say having alcohol Saudi Arabia, will find themselves in jail, and could be faced with the death penalty.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

You mean if we Brits go to live in another country we have to live by their rules ? What a stupid system :rolleyes:

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

You called? Mind if I put you on hold:D:D:D

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

I remember that there was a lot of this bs in North America last year ... some were saying it was better to wish someone a neutral "Happy Hollidays" rather than "Merry Christmas." I don't remember it's achieving anything other than acting as fodder for stand-up comedians. Joyeux noel, eh, and bring on the Christmas hockey schedule.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

I agree. It's the meddling do-gooders who are creating tension. Many non-racist, ordinary people, are being driven insane by officaldom's interference. It's divise and patronising. I'm sure most non-Christians don't have the slightest problem with Christmas, just as many people don't have a problem with non-Christian holidays being celebrated here.

I was just going to complain about HBC's website, and offical forms, being in languages other than English, but having just checked, they've changed it.

Hurrah! About bloody time.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

I understand that a large majority of people in England do not consider themselves Christian, or at least not practising Christians. So, if atheists and agnostics can live with "merry Christmans (or Xmas if one prefers)" others should be able to adjust. Perhaps certain groups have "agendas" which run counter to "peace on Earth", and a vested interest in chaos and terror.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

we Have 2 asian families live nearby and they never miss sending us a Christmas card and wishing us Merry Christmas.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

Yes i agree with westender they should obay our rule,s like we would do if we was in there place.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

I also heard or read today that some clown is proposing that all religious festivals for all religions be given the same status a Christmas.

I wouldn’t as polite as you Margaret Pilkington. This is our country and it is a Christian country so if anyone doesn’t like Christmas and Easter celebrations then push off to a country that doesn’t have them.

I’m neutral about trimming up at work but can anyone remember a problem in days gone by. Even busses and trams were trimmed up.

Does this also mean that hospital wards will not be trimmed up?

Can you imagine a children’s ward without a tree and trimmings? The doctor’s and nurses wearing a bit of tinsel around the neck and Santa hats.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

It's not all about " they have to put up with it if they want to stay here ". It's like has been said, a hell of a lot of Muslims, Hindu's etc, couldn't give 2 hoots about what we celebrate.

It's likewise!! My sons celebrated Eid at their school not long ago.
They were allowed to go in own clothes ( like at Christmas ) and the children ate foods that Muslim children had brought in for the celebrations. The children really enjoyed it. And I didn't hear any " white " people complaining, but as I said, I haven't heard any Asian people complain about Christmas either.
Also I wished the man at the paper shop a ' happy Eid ' as he does to me at Christmas!!

Like as been said, it's all a load of tripe off the so called ' DO GOODERS ' that are not DO GOODERS, as they are causing hassle where no hassle is needed.:(

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

...which just about sums up the situation for most ordinary citizens of whatever persuasion. The only people this sort of thing benefits are the professional busybodies from the chattering classes who need to justify their existence and the extremists, both Islamist and right-wing racist, who have a vested interest in stirring up hated.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

I think it goes a bit further than that, I think it boils down to inciting racial unrest, and this is from a government that purports to want to quell such things by putting legislation into place to ensure equality.
The media do not help either...they report such things in a sensationalist way, together they cause disharmony when all we are trying to do is live together peacefully.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

Well, if its about complaining then, im spanish(with british nationality before you speak) and in spain we celebrate the 3 kings and not xmas, we always had xmas at home with the tradicional xmas dinner and family around,(loved it, my mum is english thats why we celebrated xmas0, anyway my complain was that im not happy that you dont celebrate the 3 kings, anyone has the telephone number of wichever you ring to complain???? (by the way is a joke)

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

We do celebrate them, we sing about them ......

We three kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts, we travel so far
Field and fountain
Moor and mountain
Following yonder star

Oh, star of wonder, star of might
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading
Still proceeding
Guide us to thy perfect light

Born a babe on Bethlehem's plain
Gold we bring to crown him again
King forever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign

Oh, star of wonder, star of might
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading
Still proceeding
Guide us to the perfect light

Frankincense to offer have I
Incense owns a deity nigh
Prayer and praising, all men raising
Worship God on high

Oh, star of wonder, star of might
Star with royal beauty bright
Westward leading
Still proceeding
Guide us to the perfect light :D:D:D

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

awwww thats so beautiful, thanks slinky

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

Ah, the memories of little children sweetly carol singing in the 60s.

We 4 lads from Liverpool are
John on a pushbike, George in a car
Paul on a scooter blowing his hooter
Following Ringo Starr.

:D


Sorry, Yolande. ;) What date do you celebrate the Three Kings, is it January 6th?

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

Slinky,I think i am on your wavelength,,,:eek:words fail me

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

It really bugs me that the so called PC brigade strikes again


who creates the divisions

the flippin PC brigade

There is not one single person that I know classed as an "ethnic minority" that has any issues with our christian festivals and they are just as fed up of being told they "could" be offended!!!!!!!

Ask the asian taxi driver who was told to remove the english flags from his taxi as it could offend...he just told em to **** off as their meddling offends more

christmas banned
 

did anyone see in the paper yesterday about labour wanting christmas banned, it upsets some minorities being the reason, i am not upset when said minorities are celebrating eid and ramadam etc, being brought up roman catholic christmas was and is part of my religion, we arent going to know our heritage soon and my grandchildren wont know what being british is about, luckily other parties have said there is no way christmas can be banned. whatever next.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

I think that [ WE ] are now the minority ...:(we are just too soft....:(
,

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

yeah we celebrate the 3 kings on january the 5th and the kids get their presents on january the 6th, when we're we kids we used to get presents on the 6th but then my mum realised that we never had time to play and enjoy the presents because just 2 days after we had to go back to school so she changed to father xmas hahahha

Re: christmas banned
 

Far be it from me to defend the present government, but where exactly have "labour" said that they "want Christmas banned"? As for upsetting minorities, can anybody show me an instance of any major immigrant organisation expressing this upset? It's just a report by a fringe "think tank"; I think rumours of Christmas's impending demise have been somewhat exaggerated!

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

i love xmas and cant wait

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

christmas should be upgraded and we should be given an extra weeks holiday everywhere should be shut and we should be made to party na d anybody who doesnt party should be sent to coventry:D:D:D:D:D:D:Banane25::Banane25::Banane25: :Banane25::Banane25::Banane25::Banane25::Banane25: :Banane25::Banane25:party party party cmon christmas hurry up:p

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

Maybe they find it annoying because its just a way for british people to be greedy legitimatly once a year and forget the true reasons behind xmas. Is it only immigrants with this viewpoint or is it also people who are british born and from other cultures too?

I mean, some immigrants tend to be very wholehearted about their own religious holidays, and aswell as enjoying a celebration, many strongly hold the religious element of their holidays still, and perhaps it just irrititates them that alot of british people dont hold any religious faith whatsoever until its time for xmas and all of a sudden every british person wants to celebrate xmas, of course excluding those from faiths that dont celebrate xmas, i.e jehovas witnesses.

Perhaps with the fact that for example, the muslim faith are brought up to be charitable and unselfish, maybe it just really annoys people to see us put up tacky decorations around the town and pretend we are really celebrating xmas, when in fact, alot of people are doing it simply for the greed of it all, and of course i'm not including younger children in this who have a genuine belief of 'father christmas' but from the teenage years, most people are doing it really so that people will give them presents.

How many of you know teenagers that go to the church on xmas eve/day to celebrate the birth of christ, or how many statues of st nick (the real one not the coca cola one) in people front rooms?

Me and my boyfriend where discussing this today except with bonfire night instead of xmas. How many people are actually celebrating bonfire fire night for the historical background of guy fawkes and so on compared to the numbers wanting to see the expensive firework shows and eat treacle toffee?

Obviously I enjoy xmas as much as the next person, and I was brought up catholic so rightly so, but perhaps the tackiness of it all rather than the real messages just irritate foreigners and see it as just another way for brits to show that its their country and they have their own traditions, even if they dont actually care about the true meaning of that tradition?

I mean on the other hand, I seem to recall that people werent too happy about putting up similar decorations up somewhere for eid last year, though I'm not quite sure where it was now, maybe blackburn or further away than that.

p.s I am not a british holiday hater, i am just trying to see if from the other possible viewpoint.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

The peoples of these sceptred isles have been greedily quaffing food and drink at this time, as well as trimming up, to celebrate the winter solstice, long before the baby Jesus was a twinkle in his father's eye.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

yes i agree work is to work not trimming the place up with tinsel all over the place causing a fire hazard.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

You don't own a company do you ? If you do can you let us know which one it so I never apply for a job there :)

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

I'm pretty sure thats what the Christian faith is all about too.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

We humanists, atheists, agnostics are decent people too, but we dont have hellfire to threaten us, nor 'dozens of virgins' to persuade us.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

It was an example, and indeed the main religious faith of england is said to be the Church of England, but I didn't use the christian faith as the example due to the steady decline of practicing christians in the country, and the lack of young followers attending church today, where as the muslim faith has a uch stronger hold on believers of all ages.

If anyone wants to see proof of this you only need to stand in a church entrance and tally how many say, over 50's there are compared to under 18's. Many would see that the only prominent times people of the latter age attend church is during xmas holidays (and probably just gone with the rest of the family to keep the peace) or during baptisms, confirmations etc of younger family members, which often are due to the reputation of the school they want to attend, not because their family are religious.

Currently I only know of one christian family who attend services on a regular basis as a family, yet I went to a catholic primary and high school. When I attended a more diverse college the amount of young muslims who attended their services and prayed regularly was much higher. And so that is why muslim faith was my example. Unfortunatly I also got the pleasant task of studying religion in a sociological sense so I have covered this issue before in an analytical sense rather just a peed off christian.

To be honest, it wouldnt even bother me if we didnt put up the xmas decorations in accy, because they tend to look really cheap anyway, but it'd be nice to have a proper grotto again where u can go inside and see santa rather than quickly go past him sat on a chair. Anyone remember the winfields santa grotto? That one was quite good.

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

Who, and how, is the Institute of Public Policy Research, the body that came up with the suggestion, funded?

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

These must be the idiots responsible.

ippr - Institute for Public Policy Research

Strange that they have an office in Newcastle, because I've just had a vision of Catherine Tate's Geordie Georgie. Perhaps she's the diresctor of IPPR who doesn't have her picture up.:D

YouTube - Catherine tate, MORNIN' MARTIN!

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

"The only people who object to our celebration of Christmas are the government think tanks"

But no Government Think Tank has suggested any such thing where is the evidence? Its just a ruse by a mischief maker i suppose to stir up anti emigrant feelings, i am sure most people of other cultures are not offended by any christian celebration, but some employers might take it into their own heads to ban certain things and blame racial intergration, i believe this sort of scaremongering rubbish was started last year and the Government firmly slapped it down shame on those who seek to stir up racial tension :mad:

Re: Downgrade Christmas
 

My muslim friends at college made alot of jokes about it when it was said in the papers about blackburn muslims wanted to put an end to the lights and stuff. They didnt know a single person who opposed our celebrations, and they made alot of comments about rainbow coloured sheep and twinkle lights too lol being sarcastic about it.