[bordercollie]

In the same week as an ethnic festival of some kind has been openly celebrated and accepted by the population of the UK - one of our leading Councils has banned the use of the term 'Christmas Lights' and has instead decided to call them 'Winter or Celebrity Lights' in order not to offend the ethnic communities. Some of the large Banks are banning the use of ''piggy banks' (something which children have used for years to save their pocket money in) because of offending the muslim community who find pigs dirty and offensive! I always thought that the whole point of an international society was to bring different cultures together. It would seem that the british culture is being surpressed and causing segregation instead of integration. Just as a point of interest a good friend of mine is a Sikh and loves Christmas.

[Chicon]

Ridiculous ! There are Muslims living in UK for many decades and it seems they are now feeling offended by "piggy banks", "Saint Georges' cross flags", and so on ... because there are a bunch of radical zealots among them. The government should not yield to such behaviour. As it is, why not rename places like Whitechapel because it sounds Christian ?

[Raziel_Storm]

Yeah, I was reading about this earlier. Of the Muslims I know in this community, none of them have EVER been offended by the word "Christmas Lights". It seems ridiculous, and another example of PC going completely off the rails in this country. Not only is it turning into a nanny state, but sooner or later we won't be allowed to celebrate Christmas at all!

[TooBad]

Next the state of Indiana will have to change its name to Native Americana!

[Fizban]

Its totally stupid, I hate the fact that the UK goverment thinks the Union Jack is offensive, it gets taken down in colleges etc... If you look at somewhere like the US people seem to be really proud of the Stars and Stripes as it should be. There is nothing wrong with feeling pride in you're country, it does'nt mean you don't respect other faiths and cultures. This sort of nonsense just seems to create resentment and division and serves no good whatsoever. And for the record of all the people from ethnic minorities I have known through life have enjoyed Christmas if just for the time off work and the general public goodwill that Christmas generates.

[Raziel_Storm]

Originally Posted by Fizban

Its totally stupid, I hate the fact that the UK goverment thinks the Union Jack is offensive, it gets taken down in colleges etc... If you look at somewhere like the US people seem to be really proud of the Stars and Stripes as it should be. There is nothing wrong with feeling pride in you're country, it does'nt mean you don't respect other faiths and cultures. This sort of nonsense just seems to create resentment and division and serves no good whatsoever. And for the record of all the people from ethnic minorities I have known through life have enjoyed Christmas if just for the time off work and the general public goodwill that Christmas generates.

Exactly. But when you try to get those in power to see this, most of them think they know what is best for everyone in this country, no questions asked. Eeejits.

[DiSaidSo]

Originally Posted by Fizban

Its totally stupid, I hate the fact that the UK goverment thinks the Union Jack is offensive, it gets taken down in colleges etc... If you look at somewhere like the US people seem to be really proud of the Stars and Stripes as it should be. There is nothing wrong with feeling pride in you're country, it does'nt mean you don't respect other faiths and cultures. This sort of nonsense just seems to create resentment and division and serves no good whatsoever. And for the record of all the people from ethnic minorities I have known through life have enjoyed Christmas if just for the time off work and the general public goodwill that Christmas generates.

How is the Union Jack offensive? I read up on the history of it once, but you know... I guess I forgot to get offended so I don't remember...

[Chicon]

Originally Posted by DiSaidSo

How is the Union Jack offensive? I read up on the history of it once, but you know... I guess I forgot to get offended so I don't remember...

Because it contains the Saint Georges cross !

http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/G/Georg-S1t.asp

[Fizban]

Originally Posted by DiSaidSo

How is the Union Jack offensive? I read up on the history of it once, but you know... I guess I forgot to get offended so I don't remember...

It seems like the UK government at local council level keep banning the use of our national flag because they believe it to be offensive to other cultures living in the UK. Its stupid I know but they have been banned from Universities and so forth.
The best example that springs to mind is during the last European football tournament. When England are playing the whole nation gets behind the team and people where showing their support by sticking little plastic flags on their cars. Well the authorities didn't like that on bit they where immediately banned from taxi's and the normal motorist was pressured to take them off. Knowing the "offensive" line would not stick due to an increase in patriotism because of the tournament, the authorities claimed they "endanger Lives" because they could come off at high speed. They only weigh about 2oz, generally speaking I am more concerned about getting hit on the head with bird poo.


btw, I had a driving job at the time and I can remember seeing plenty Asian drivers proudly bearing the flag too.

[Glaswegian]

Originally Posted by TooBad

Next the state of Indiana will have to change its name to Native Americana!

Nice one!

Of course things have been heading this way for years. A blackboard in school should be called a 'chalkboard', you shoudn't say the rhyme Baa Baa Black Sheep because you'll offend God (Oooops! - sorry) knows how many people, and a real cracker recently - staff somewhere had to remove small Piglet beany baby dolls from their computers because their Muslim colleagues were offended - hello, Planet Earth calling!!! So now Winnie the Pooh and friends are heading for the banned list. Whose next? Well Shakespeare should definitely be banned, surely Shylock is anti-semitic, ditto Charles Dickens. The Oxford Dictionary includes the word 'pig' so it should be banned and all copies burnt immdiately. Oh no, I've typed 'pig' in this post - looks like this will be my last pos..........

[slickoe]

I thot the worst example of PC-ness gone overboard was when that one guy was slammed for using the word "niggardly". Which means stingy.

[Fizban]

Originally Posted by slickoe

I thot the worst example of PC-ness gone overboard was when that one guy was slammed for using the word "niggardly". Which means stingy.

could be. what do you think of this though:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4349726.stm

[Chicon]

Originally Posted by Fizban

could be. what do you think of this though:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/4349726.stm

They should STFU.

[bordercollie]

I think what Fizban actually meant was that the British Government are so afraid of upsetting other cultures they often remove the Union Jack from places where it may cause 'offence'. He didn't mean that the Union Jack was offensive. We Brits are CERTAINLY not offended or ashamed of the Union Jack - its just the Government who are over sensitive - often to the detriment of the british people

[DiSaidSo]

Originally Posted by Glaswegian

Nice one!

Of course things have been heading this way for years. A blackboard in school should be called a 'chalkboard', you shoudn't say the rhyme Baa Baa Black Sheep because you'll offend God (Oooops! - sorry) knows how many people, and a real cracker recently - staff somewhere had to remove small Piglet beany baby dolls from their computers because their Muslim colleagues were offended - hello, Planet Earth calling!!! So now Winnie the Pooh and friends are heading for the banned list. Whose next? Well Shakespeare should definitely be banned, surely Shylock is anti-semitic, ditto Charles Dickens. The Oxford Dictionary includes the word 'pig' so it should be banned and all copies burnt immdiately. Oh no, I've typed 'pig' in this post - looks like this will be my last pos..........

Hehehe That was funnay!

So to make sure we don't offend any Muslims, we should... pretend as if pigs don't exist? Man, wait till you guys see my Halloween pictures! Or will that be offensive too?

Yo homies, check it.... (dangit! I can't STOP BEING OFFENSIVE!) Thought this was pretty cool. Got it from this site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Jack