They're (Not) Banning Christmas. Part 1

We're not even in December yet, and the "You can't celebrate Christmas because it might offend Muslims" stories are beginning to creep in the newspapers, like a festive equivalent of reindeer shit at the bottom of a Christmas stocking. These stories will never go away - ever. They are as much a part of the festive season as mince pies, crackers and a fifty minute episode of a popular comedy that is passed of as a "Christmas special." This one concerns light displays in Rochdale that were put up to celebrate both Eid and Diwali being kept up alongside the traditional Christmas lights. In short a non - story. I think it is a rather touching move on the part of the council, I don't know why it is just - nice. It's an unpretentious non patronising and understated inclusive thingy that is quite a pleasant touch. In short you'd have to be a bit of a tit to object. So try telling this to perennial muppet Philip Davies; Tory MP for Shipley (not in fucking Rochdale):

"I’ve no idea why local authorities up and down the country are so ashamed of celebrating Christmas.

They aren't. Get your facts straight.

‘All this kind of pussyfooting around is done in the name of not offending other people from other faiths.

‘But it tends to be done by white middle-class people with some kind of bizarre guilt complex."

I'm pretty sure Davies is just taking at face value, secondhand information about a story he knows nothing about. I actually believe if you told him that the full moon offended Muslims in Britain as it was an affront to their symbol, so in response Burnley council are going to sell their own town to China to buy enough antimatter to blast it to a permanent crescent shape -he'd believe you, and give a really nice soundbite for the right wing press into the bargain.

I'm sure the Daily Star will exercise that rigorous impartiality in regards to a "Muslim" story, that only a downmarket tittyfest run by a prono wonk can achieve.

"CHRISTMAS IS HIJACKED BY MUSLIMS AND HINDUS"

Or not. Yet more lies to pander to racist boneheads. All we need.

This is pretty ominous stuff. There is simply no amount of integration or meeting half way that minorities (especially Muslims) can attempt that will seemingly stop this kind of stuff. Or any cross community project that is sneered at as "political correctness gone mad, sucking up to Muslims". Is it simply that you are damned either way? These sorts will simply have a pop whichever way you go? What a bunch of pricks.

Merry Winterval.