Peace

[Hank W.]

Stopping children from celebrating Christmas at school is a whole other matter than PC language. In my view, all religious celebrations of the students who make up a class should be observed. It won't kill the other children to learn about other religions and cultures and it still lets everyone celebrate.

In the USA this is I think mostly due to the "separation of church and state" - thing, but I remember this South Park episode on this ending up Cartman's infamous "Kyle's mom is a ... " -song. I'd agree all these should be observed; its like "banning [celebration]" is because of "those people [religion]" and I wouldn't say it is promoting understanding to different religions & cultures. Not to mention say in a Finnish school you've had a Christmas celebration since the schoolis built and now because you get some kids from somewhere else - they ban the party. Now I'd say that definitely doesn't make people "understand" the minorities, rather than label them as trouble. Or then do a knee-jerk, "OK, so if Christmas is banned lets ban your headscarves". Basically I think most of the things that go over are caused not by the minority parents, but the doo-gooders that imagine they know better, kind of condesending attitude. I'd say the richness of a country is to have all the cultures present and not inhibit them; in a democracy majority rules.

... heh, this was a real "let all flowers bloom" speech

[Hank W.]

The 12 Politically Correct Days Of Christmas

"On the 12th day of the Eurocentrically imposed midwinter festival, my significant Other in a consenting adult non-exploitative monogamous relationship gave to me:

"TWELVE males reclaiming their testosterone-poisoned inner warrior through ritual drumming,

"ELEVEN pipers piping (plus the 18-member pit orchestra made up of members in good standing of the Musicians Equity Union as called for in their union contract even though they will not be asked to play a note),

"TEN melanin-deprived testosterone-poisoned scions of the phallocentric patriarchal ruling class system leaping,

"NINE oppressed victims of masculinist hegemony engaged in rhythmic self-expression,

"EIGHT economically disadvantaged women coercively removing lacteal nutrients produced by enslaved Bovine-American mothers, thereby contributing to the malnourishment of their rape-engendered offspring,

"SEVEN endangered mute swans swimming on federally protected wetlands,

"SIX enslaved Fowl-Americans producing enclosed embryos to be illegally deprived of life and/or liberty before birth,

"FIVE golden symbols of culturally sanctioned enforced domestic incarceration,

"(NOTE: after delegations from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Animal Liberation Front threatened to obtain a Federal Injunction and to throw red paint at my computer, the calling birds, French hens, turtledoves, and partridge have been reintroduced to their native habitat after being provided with skills to enable them to survive in the wild. To avoid further Animal-American enslavement, the remaining gift package has been revised.)

"FOUR hours of recorded songs of whale species cruelly exploited for food and oil,

"THREE deconstructionist poets,

"TWO Sierra Club calendars printed on recycled processed tree carcasses and ...

"ONE Spotted Owl activist chained to an old-growth pear tree.

"Merry Christmas Happy Chanukah. Good Kwanzaa. Blessed Yule. Oh, heck! Happy Holidays!!!! (unless otherwise prohibited by law) *

*Unless, of course, you are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). If this be the case, please substitute this gratuitous call for celebration with a suggestion that you have a thoroughly adequate day."

[BAT]

Hank and Longtrav, thanks for the explanation of "X"-mas - I didn't know about it. I just recall some church groups kicking up a stink about it years ago.

Ace, it is the US that has been the leader in the creation and expansion of politically correct language. Canada has played a role too, but PC lang. caught on quickly from the States because of the similar situation with so many people from different groups making up the population of the country.

Hank, you crack me up. Love "The 12 Politically Correct Days Of Christmas"

[mita]

Merry Christmas