I seem to recall writing about Nanny banning Christmas last year, how time flies!Anyhoo, Nanny's chums in Lambeth council have got rather nervous about the forthcoming Christmas celebrations, and the implications for harmony within the borough.
As such they have decided to call their Christmas lights "Winter Lights".
Advertisements for the switch-on of the lights in multi-cultural Lambeth have renamed them, apparently for fear of offending other faiths.
A spokesman tried to weasel out of it, by saying that it was an error by a junior official and not council policy.
In three of Lambeth's main town centres, the lights were referred to as "Winter Lights", while in a fourth they were called "Celebrity Lights".
The council spokeswoman said an official was concerned about people from other religions.
She said:
"It was a junior-level decision and it happened to go into print which was an error basically.
I think it was certainly not a council policy that we should call the lights winter lights."
Needless to say Nanny is trying to pretend that it is all just a mistake.
However, Lambeth were unable to give an assurance that some of its lights would contain Christian connotations.
Leaders from non Christian faiths have said that the ban is ridiculous.
Nanny fails all of her "charges", whatever their faith.
A demand should be made of the same council that next year when Eid al-Fitr rolls around, marking the end of Ramadan, that this feasting day be called "FoodFest Day" (or "Breakfast" day?) so as not to exclude or offend "other faiths."
ReplyDeleteNice touch liberranter, but thats not the way appeasement works.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally I've seen this story in a 'paper today with the phrase "Celebrity Lights" and I'm assuming the imbecile behind this plan meant "Celebratory Lights" but was too busy reading their copy of "Gossip about useless skinny footballers wives" magazine to get the spelling right. So not much chance of them understanding the spirit of Christmas.
Personally I think Winter Lights is much more acceptable then Christmas anyway. After all the celebration is more than likely a theft of the celebration of the Winter Solstice from the pre-Christian era.
ReplyDeleteIt is perhaps a shame for everyone that it did not stay that way.
Mind you the excuse sounds more lame than a one legged donkey so I'm thankful that I don't have my money stolen to pay council extortion in that borough. On the other hand I suspect my own local cash drain makes equally stupid and un-monitored decisions - too busy making up rate payer control scams to check on its own activities.
Nevertheless, someone ought to ask them just how 'junior' this person was and why their boss did not spot the potential error.
I wonder what they will call Diwali next year?
The following serious article was printed in my local paper last week, written by a lawyer:
ReplyDelete"Most employers and their employees are probably well advanced with planning party and holiday arrangements for the festive season.
Nearly two years ago, regulations were introduced prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of religion or similar belief. Employers need to be careful that they do not inadvertently breach these regulations as the festive season approaches.
Problems may arise if employers do not regard the fact that employees may be non-Christian. A party located in premises serving alcohol will pose a real problem for practising Muslim employees, whilst Jewish employees would find a Friday night party problematic. It is a balancing exercise to ensure arrangements suit everyone.
And closing the workplace throughout the Christmas period, forcing employees to take holiday may be problematic with non-Christian workers who may wish to take holiday at other times of the year."
As a white (that may be a banned word now!!) male who is the holder of a UK passport and who has been a UK citizen for the past 52 years, I find it quite offensive to think that even our long established Xmas party has now been rendered illegal by Nanny. I have to say that it seems the monkeys and men in white coats govern this country now.
Anyway, it lifted my spirits yesterday when one chucked in his resignation. Trouble is, another one will simply be put in his place.
Sopunds like an ambulance-chaser touting for business, to me: "Have your sensibilities been injured by the angel on the Christmas Tree? Have you been seriously spiritually wounded by being wished Happy Christmas? Get in touch with Sue Grabbit and Proffit, our no-win no-claims service four wounded feelings"
ReplyDeleteNice touch liberranter, but thats not the way appeasement works.
ReplyDeleteYou're absolutely right, Chris. I neglected to bracket my posting with the /sarcasm/ //sarcasm/ tags I normally use for such suggestions. Thanks for alerting me to the gaff.
Speaking of Diwali, I stumbled today across a copy of the local birdcage liner from last week in which someone of "subcontinental" extraction wrote a letter to the editor bemoaning the fact that there isn't a regional Festival of Lights for Diwali here in this county (seriously!) like there is at Christmas time. Apparently the notion never occurred to him that 1) the Christmas Festival of Lights is privately organized and funded (imagine that!) and 2) that he can get up off of his arse anytime and organize such a festival himself if he thinks there will be sufficient demand for it.
But it appears that we generous taxpayers of the majority demographic are expected to subsidize his holiday as a gesture of "tolerance for diversity."
L
Think I need a set of those tags myself Liberranter. Having read your second post I feel a "I'm not racist but..." moment coming on.
ReplyDelete/sarcasm/
Why don't the council just have a whip round for one way tickets for anyone who wants to see a Festival of Lights for Diwali.
//sarcasm/
Seriously it seems 2nd generation immigrants have picked up a local disease which makes them expect the benevolent state to provide for all their needs.
The following has been sent to me today -
ReplyDelete'After many British cities decided not to "offend" other cultures by putting up Xmas lights. After hearing that the Birmingham council changed its opinion and let a Muslim woman have her picture on her driver's license with her face covered.
This prompted this editorial written by a UK citizen. Published in a British tabloid newspaper.
IMMIGRANTS, NOT BRITONS, MUST ADAPT.
Take It Or Leave It I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks in London, we have experienced a surge
in patriotism by the majority of Brits. However, the dust from the attacks has barely settled and the "politically correct" crowd begin complaining about the possibility that our patriotism
is offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Britain. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and
apparently some born here, need to understand.
This idea of London being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Britons, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.
We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society,
Learn the language! "In God We Trust" is our National Motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Christian men and
women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the
world as your new home, Because God is part of our culture.
If ST Georges cross offends you, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, And we really don't care how you did things where you came
from.
This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our National Motto, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take
advantage of one other great British freedom, "THE RIGHT TO LEAVE". If you aren't happy here then go!! We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted. Pretty easy really,
when you think about it.'
I can only find myself in complete agreement with the author.
The sentiment's good spiv but the rant could do with a couple of edits.
ReplyDeleteLast time I checked the DVLA issued drivers licenses.
And I believe the motto "In God We Trust" belongs to our American cousins.
Cut and pasted it and just passing it on mate, just passing it on!!
ReplyDeleteTo Spiv's reposting on the message to immigrants, I would probably add a final caveat to the original rant text:
ReplyDelete"If you find the culture in [our nation] so intolerable, do yourself and your fellow countrymen a favor: GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND DO YOUR PART TO FIX WHATEVER PROBLEM(S) YOU BELIEVE AIL(S) YOUR HOMELAND THAT CAUSED YOU TO LEAVE IN THE FIRST PLACE! That way, you can spare yourself the agony of adjusting to a new lifestyle in our alien culture while doing something truly useful for yourself and your compatriots that will solve everyone's problem."