A Christmas Gift from U.K. Religious Leaders

I actually began to tear-up a little at THIS STORY, sent by my sweet wifey.

According to the article, religious leaders of all different stripes in the U.K. are coming to the defense of Christmas and the right to celebrate it publicly without, ya know, being accused of Gross Religious Bigotry and Insensitivity, or something;

Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims joined Britain's equality watchdog Monday in urging Britons to enjoy Christmas without worrying about offending non-Christians.

"It's time to stop being daft about Christmas. It's fine to celebrate and it's fine for Christ to be star of the show," said Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

More eye-moistening excerpts;

"Hindus celebrate Christmas too. It's a great holiday for everyone living in Britain," said Anil Bhanot, general secretary of the UK Hindu Council.

Sikh spokesman Indarjit Singh said: "Every year I am asked 'Do I object to the celebration of Christmas?' It's an absurd question. As ever, my family and I will send out our Christmas cards to our Christian friends and others."

Muslim Council of Britain spokesman Shayk Ibrahim Mogra said "To suggest celebrating Christmas and having decorations offends Muslims is absurd. Why can't we have more nativity scenes in Britain?"

See, the careful planning of the social engineers will always be undermined by such common sense from common people. They are saying to the hyper-sensitive PC enforcers what Jed Clampett once said to Jethro - "Stop helpin' me, boy.".

Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and everyone else of genuine good will will not be offended at my public displays of faith for the same reason that I won't be offended by theirs... because we are not jerks. People who are offended at the mere sight of perfectly ordinary religious symbols or behaviors are the ones who have a problem with intolerance and bigotry. They are jerks, they are rude and they are the ones trying hardest to shove their beliefs down the throats of others. This is just becoming more and more evident as these bitter, carping, politically correct foot soldiers endeavor to push any display of religious faith further and further out of public view. The intention and unavoidable result of this kind of thinking is to eventually confine all religious behavior strictly to the private thoughts of the individual. Ironically, it can only end in forced education (or "de-programming"), book-burning and the like. Tyranny in the name of "tolerance".

A hearty "Thank you!" and Merry Christmas to all those U.K. religious leaders who had the spine to stand up and tell the anti-religion busybodies to take a flying leap.

Comments

[bill912]

Merry Christmas, Tim.

And to the sensitivity police, I say: Happy RamaHanaKwanzMas.

[Monica]

What??? Common Sense? What is the world coming to!

[Agellius]

Very, very heartening story, I'm so glad you shared it. The world has not gone completely insane after all.

It was good of the reps of the other religions to speak out like that. I suppose they realized that if the religion had to be taken out of public celebrations of Christian holy days, then their holy days would be next.

[J.R. Stoodley]

I had a chashier in my campus's Student Center dining hall say "Mer...Happy Holiday" to me today.

I was slightly amused. I don't blame her at all for (trying to) do the happy holidays thing, considering the campus is about 40% Jewish, and packed with liberals besides.

[Rashminder Kaur]

Hello Mr.Tim,

Merry Christmas...and I just want to say I am a Sikh from India..and I love Jesus from the bottom of my heart..as much as I have loved my own Guru...I love Buddha too and find the same light and love in all...i have learned from all of them...my heart delights in reading about their teachings and their journey...we are all children of the one lord..and those who are seeing differences..are just deluded...we should wish them guidance from the providence...I loved this post...thank you...and Merry Christmas :)