h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

An odd little essay, that. I'm not sure what he's getting at, really. I would object (mildly) to Christmas trees and nativity scenes being paid for by my council tax. (The fact that I don't currently pay any council tax notwithstanding.)

The fact that there are no non-religious secondary schools in the area is also a small issue. I didn't want a Christmas tree in the school hallway, but the school advertised iteself as having "a Catholic ethos", so I couldn't really complain.

TRiG.

Morning TRIG

I think he is a bit like a trigger happy cowboy, - likes taking potshots generally - the target being a little irrelevant because it's the shooting which satisfies.

Novo

Not that Christmas trees are actually catholic, of course. Nor even Christian.

Glasgow City Council funds several Christmas-themed activities:
- Christmas lights in George Sq, the turning on of which is marked by a firework display on top of the City Chambers
- An ice skating rink and helter skelter in the square
- A Christmas market selling gluhwein
- Various big trees
- A small nativity scene

The purpose of these is not, I venture, to remind us all of the (alleged) birth of a religious leader, but to help pull the punters into the city's many retail establishments.

Given that the only religious element is a small nativity scene, I wonder why they don't just go the whole hog and call it (something like) 'Winterval'

(only kidding. 'Christmas' works fine for me. )

Morning FB

Yep, Stupid post, misunderstood - consider withdrawn.

Even I am a touch insane somedays!

Novo

No worries Novo, happens to all of us...

This programme covers much of the same ground as we have here, but features a far more intelligent standard of discussion than is found on h2g2:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/radio4_aod.shtml?radio4/downtheline

oops...bad link. Try:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/news.shtml?radio4/downtheline

Naughty EtB

Regarding the question on work and Christmas -

We are not allowed christmas decorations - they are a fire hazard.

There will be no company annual dinner this year, instead managers will be allowed to fund events for thier teams.

Against that we do have decorations in reception - though they are hardly christmassy - they're bronze and purple.

Also 4 of my shift will be working Christmas day - but that's always been the case.

Fanny - if you wish to prevent JW's knocking at your door I believe tha accepted way is to answer the door in your lingerie, whilst holding a whip and some chains. Just say "Oh, Jehovah's Witnesses, I've been looking forward to you lot coming round."

I haven't worked for a company that throws a christmas party for staff for about six or seven years.

There is a semi-organised night out where we have to pay for everything ourselves if we want to attend - not many people go.

I've not had a paid for Christmas party in years, either. But that - and the madness of misinterpreting SHE requirements - is hardly to do with the alleged 'banning' of Christmas so as not to cause religious offence. Is it?

Never said it was - though notice the Christmas dinner has become the 'annual dinner' - but that's because last year the cheapskates got it cheaper in February.

My company are having a Christmas bash next Friday, with lots of free booze, free food, and free stuff, in a hotel they've hired for the occasion. Still hate working for them though.

Hmmmm... We have xmas decoration but no xmas party.

The Archbish of York has been attacking 'aggressive secularism'.

"This aggressive brand of secularism is trying to undermine the cultural traditions of this country by using flawed arguments about 'multi-faith, multi-culturalism'..."
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/12/08/nxmas08.xml)

The bigger the lie, the more people believe it. Yes, Christmas *is* almost universally secular. But that's got nothing to do with 'multi-faith multiculturalism'. It isn't even the result of deliberate proselytization by us 'illiberal atheists' (I wish!). It's simply happening.

I've posted this link in the 'media lies' thread, but it's worth posting again here. Most of these 'banning Christmas' stories are either untrue, exaggerated, or grossly distorted.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/christmas2006/story/0,,1967367,00.html

O. thanks sooooo much for pointing that out! (although I'd have seen it in my dead tree later anyway). I hope SWL is taking note.

'And Chester council's "un-Christian" Christmas card says - as cards have done for decades - "Season's Greetings".'

They have a similar issue in the US. Presidential Christmas cards have for years said 'Seaon's Greetings'. One year, George Bush Snr was persuaded to say 'Happy Christmas'. Thereafter, the reversion to 'Season's Greetings' has been annually deplored as a break with tradition. See also the attempts to 'secularise' The Pledge "...one nation under God". God was only added in the McCarthyite 1950's.

One nation under a groove/ We're going to get dowwwwn/ Just for the funk of it.

Just to explain the comments the other day, as the recent trial with Nick Griffin of the BNP shows, calling someone a racist can be seen as libellous. At best, it's not helpful to namecall as it stifles debate and means that you're less likely to understand someone's opposing point of view - and more importantly, they're less likely to be able to persuade them to understand yours.

Please, don't descend to namecalling - specifically don't call individuals racist. It just leads to fighting and we may have to lock conversations to allow time for them to cool down, which is a pain for all concerned.

This post has been removed.