| Has the world gone mad? | |
| Spitfire | What are other members views on the following statements taken from todays Sunday newspaper. Parents who read fairy stories to their children run the risk of them growing up with low self-esteem. After next Tuesday, people could find themselves in trouble with the law if they display Christmas cards with a religious theme. I`ve just checked and it isn`t April 1st. |
| Sandieh | Its going crazier and crazier Jim [:o)] Maybe some fault finding (very bored) person has come up with the idea that Christianity depicted on Christmas cards is offensive to other religions, lol..[:D] and should we say that Mary gave birth to a baby person in Bethlehem and three wise persons came bearing gifts. As for fairy stories, how can they give anyone low self esteem ? What next I wonder. |
| noel | I give up with these people Jim. None of my lads grew up with lack of self esteem,and I spun them enough fairy stories!, far from it. As to the religuous theme cards, there's one person here who will make sure his cards have a religuous theme. A couple of weeks ago, there was an article on TV saying bottled water was bad for teeth "because it didn't contain any added fluoride. " As i say, I've given up with these idiots. |
| Lady Griffin | Rules for Father Christmas are tightening here. NO sitting on knees NO hidden hands NO Ho Ho Ho -does this upset the Chinese? Definitely NO promises about delivery -which makes some sense NO big ears on the elves Etc Etc LG |
| William R | Hey Lady G, In Sheffield in one of the big stores, they have Elves stationed with Father Christmas, in his Grotto. According to the newspaper report, to keep an eye on him so that he doesn`t step out of line. Is this the end of Father Christmas? I`m sure if the do-gooders look into the Tooth Fairy they will make a case for theft from children, nicking their teeth. Wm.R. |
| magicman | As a professional children's entertainer of some 25 years in the business, this pc stuff worries me - for the sake of the children. I also run a Boys' Brigade Company and we are being squeezed tighter and tighter by the Children's Protection Act. BUT when you see the parents in actionat parties - they don't seem to have a care in the world about the safety of their children. I think it is all being taken too far by the 'do-gooders' - they mean well, but the constraints are strangling the real care that myself (as an entertainer) and my Officers and staff (as a BB'er)can show. How can you let a 5 year old child who has just hurt himself in a game stand there and cry and just talk to him - no more the reassuring arm round the shoulder. Or when they come to hug you 'goodbye' after a meeting - stand well away from the blue touch paper. I agree that there are those who may 'profit' from such a situation, but the odd bad apple should not be allowed to destroy the good the 'good apples' are doing. This is such an enormous subject, and one very dear to my heart, that I am willing to enter a discussion on this if anyone else is. Fairy tales=low esteem -- what next!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
| magicman | Sorry, I didn't answer the original question - yes, I think the 'world' has gone mad. |
| Lady Griffin | Nice to hear from you,Magicman.I can well understand the points you make. There is an icon here in Auckland -been here for a hundred years or more -used to always appear on the top of the Farmers Store at Christmas time.Everybody looked out for his appearance- Farmers was a huge Department store which goes back to early Auckland and always had a large Xmas parade with the entire work staff taking part. The icon is a very very large plaster figure of Father Christmas outside the top storey but this year someone has written letters of complaint because the figure has a moving beckoning finger-meant originally to encourage parents to come into the store with their young ones to meet Santa. Why is it no-one saw anything sinister in this before! I agree! The world is mad! |
| William R | he World IS mad! Has anyone noticed that the majority of shopkeepers and market traders are not English, (I hope that isn`t racist) The people I see selling the most Christmas goods from their Market stalls, are mainly East of Suez/South of the Med in appearance and making a living out of it. Do these people who are trying to stop Christmas, ask those they are trying to "protect" if they actually feel in danger from Father Christmas? Particularly as there is a tendency now to put a female behind the white beard and red cloak. To protect Martin and the Forum, it is my opinion that THE WORLD IS GOING MAD under the influence if bigots. Yes, Mr/Mrs Dogooder - you are a bigot, what will you ban next, free speech. William R |
| Spitfire | Perhaps there may be some logic behind this, if there is will one of you please point it out to me. As of this week, new EU legislation will make the sale of rocking horses over 60cm high illegal!! |
| Karen | Some years ago when this pc stuff started .... I declared, jokingly ... that I was going to open a school where I would train folks to be a 'Festive Season' figure called ........ 'YULE THING'. Both sexes accepted. No beard. Unisex red outfit with white trim. No Christmas Carols .. God Forbid! ...(Two strikes there!) or Santa songs. ANTHEM ...... "Yule Thing" Sing to "Wild Thing' with the obvious substitutions! Now, ... I think I may have been on to something!! Oh and also ban the use of the french language ... Sexist!! (That's sexist not sexy!!) ... all those gender defined objects! Karen. |
| Spitfire | Despite resolving not to allow these politically correct freaks to wind me up, I find steam coming out of my ears regarding today`s `Saturday Essay` in the Mail. `In High Wycombe, church officials have been banned fron advertising a Christmas carol concert in the local church lest it offends ethnic groups`. `The Red Cross has banned cards with a religious theme from its charity shops. However, cards depicting a lecherous Father Christmas swigging from a bottle and pinching a young ladies behind are quite acceptable`. ` The Scottish Parliament has ruled that the words `Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year` must not appear on any cards sent out by officials. I (could) but won`t bore you with my views on the subject, however I would like to quote two comments made and just wonder how these PC idiots would respond. Bashir Maan (a prominent Glasgow Muslim leader) expressed incomprehension, `It`s insane, this is a Christian country`. Hanzala Malic (chairman of the West of Scotland Racial Equality Council and a Muslim), `If someone sent me a card wishing me a Merry Christmas, I would reply and say Merry Christmas back. A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES |
| LDunlop76 | I heard about the High Wycombe story on the Today programme this morning - barmy, isn't it? The programme interviewed representatives of local ethnic groups and none objected to the church's carol services being advertised. Apparently the next carol service in the parish church at High Wycombe is 6.30 on Sunday 21st. Now, who have I offended by mentioning that?[}:)] |
| LDunlop76 | More than you could ever need to know about Duran Duran: [url]http://www.duranduran.co.uk/[/url] Our son listened to bands like Slipknot and Puddle of Mud and System of a Down (sigh......) and I used to joke that the music was very derivative of heavy metal in the 70's. He would scoff, but what is he listening to these days? All of Led Zeppelin's back catalogue! LOL! |
| William R | I read the article in today`s Mail, and thought as you think Spitfire. My good mate Linda G tells me to keep my cool and not to go white, (as I am apt to do) with these people. In the towm we recently had banners proclaiming "Happy Dewali" and shops decorated. Nobody complained, nor did I see notices in the press condemning it. It happened, and was tolerated, and passed into history, do-gooders should take note. I once had an elderly gentleman working for me who had a saying which I have remembered for years, and pass on to all readers as something to consider when they see a thing they disagree with - written, spoken or other - it is "GOOD FAULT FINDERS SHOULD BE GOOD FAULT MENDERS" Should it be my New Year Resolution to pass on to everyone? William R. |
| Lady Griffin | I noted again that Father Christmas did not have any queues of customers in Henderson.Maybe it is a little early yet but then again maybe the poor publicity hasn't helped. On the other hand the lady bus driver on this infrequent service round the Waitakere ranges was sporting Christmassy antlers last Friday and had put some decorations around the seats.Plus was playing a CD of carols for her select passengers. That one escaped the PC Brigade. LG |
| magicman | Oh, Karen, I love the French language, it is so rich and precise (wish I could say that in French!!). |
| Karen | 'Twas a joke Noel ... Though I still have nightmares about turning over a test paper and the first question being .... " Conjugate the following irregular verbs in the past participle" ... QUELLE HORREUR!!! Come to think of it .. what's a past participle?! Ciao Karen. |
| Lady Griffin | The World Mad! Well I guess I'm just getting a bit ancient!! Can't remember ever going to a Concert in the past -whether a Classical music one or a performance by a star like Cracie Fields and not expect to be entertained by music mainly. The recent open air concert by Robbie Williams in Western Springs Auckland had the curtain go up to reveal the star suspended upside down -arms outstretched. I believe the concert was an outstanding success. But can he sing well? Please tell me. Thousands of fans flocking there and paying big money must think so. Grouchy LG [:(] |
| LDunlop76 | Actually Robbie can sing a bit, Lady G - I have his first two albums. He also has a bit of a self-destruct button - tends to be his own worst enemy - so I've gone off him a bit of late. But he's the only one from "Take That" to go on and make anything of himself, so he must have some sense somewhere! |
| Lady Griffin | Thanks for the info LD.I l know I lag behind the times. Pleased to hear he can sing. I apologise unreservedly to any Robbie Williams fans out there. [:I] LG |
| Lady Griffin | Forgot to say that in the same program as Robbie W were Duran Duran. I don't know anything about them either -see I'm a Philistine [xx(] Can't find a dictionary to see if that's the right spelling. Sorry ! LG |
| LDunlop76 | Duran Duran - old has beens now, Lady G! They were at the height of their fame circa 1984 - did a James Bond theme. |
| noel | Simon Le Bon, probably his real name is Harry Webb, a match for anyone. (there's a cunning pun in there)The only song I remember them ever doing is...... ..... Blue Moon on Sunday???. |
| Lady Griffin | I have a feeling that Simon Le Bon came over here with a competitive yacht either in the Americas Cup or maybe the Whitbread Round the World Race. Anyway I had heard of him !!!!! Just!!!! LG |
| Lady Griffin | Just had a conversation with my 23 year old granddaughter re musos or is it muzos! Went something like -have you heard of Bic Runga ? or ? or ? or ? No course I haven't heard of these mods. On the tele at that very moment came an interview with the 'I'm a blue tooth brush You're a pink tooth brush'legend. Now 81 years old -still performing -has his own teeth -doesn't need Viagra-(his words.) Has she heard of him ? No. I feel I got some brownie points there. LG |
| magicman | A couple of years ago I was entertaining at a playgroup party. I do ventriloquism (amongst the magic, etc.) and I get one or two of the children up to 'sing with the duck' (my puppet). One particular child I got up, when asked what nursery rhyme he knew was stuck for words and one of the 'ladies' shouted 'Baa Baa white sheep'. Not easily shocked (an old stager, me - lol) we sang Baa Baa white sheep. At the end of my show that particular lady came up to me and said that no longer could we sing Baa Baa black sheep because of the 'inference' contained in the song. I guess that must have been four or five years ago - and it happened on 2 or 3 occasions immediately after the first. Since then I have not come across it and even then (and since) I have had black children up to sing with my duck and when asked for a nursery rhyme have proudly said "Yes, I know Baa Baa black sheep", and the child, along with the duck have sung it!! Personally, I think we should listen to the children and not let them have their minds twisted by 'adults'. Maybe I am just niave! |
| Spitfire | Magicman, I`d say that you are far from being niave. If children were left alone and allowed to grow up naturaly then they would not even be aware of many of the problems we experience today. Race and religeon being but two of them. The teaching of hatred (by adults) is the circle that needs to be broken. How to achieve that is the million dollar question. |
| William R | I may have mentioned this before, about modern day madness brought about by those eccentrics in our midst, the "do-gooders", and the taking of photographs at childrens parties. Some D.G. idiot in Sheffield has decreed that it is not P.C. to take photographs of children enjoying themselves at their Christmas party, because their parents may object. Take a picture, by all means, but first get the permission of the other child`s parents. What if little Johnny wants to be in on it? Should it be delayed whilst parental permission is sought and granted? Or should little Johnny be told to go out of the way for a minute whilst the deed is done? What if little Johnny went home and told his parents that he had been told to go away? - irate parents visiting teacher to complain? No, sanity has left the scene for the moment. I wanted to take a photo of the crowded street of Christmas shoppers. Do I have to get the permission of everyone in the proposed picture? Never mind, I`ll not bother. We can`t do candid shots now, I wanted to take a picture of the Crib outside the Town Hall, but I don`t know who to approach for permission - the Council, Police, I don`t know if we have a local Cleric of a non-Christian faith who may object. Perhaps I should not try to spread this non-P.C. symbol, but ask them to visit the Town quietly and have a look for themselves, but make sure they do not have a camera. I would like to tell you that I am looking after a neighbour`s cat whilst he is at the other side of the world. I can`t tell you if she is overweight or not, or what colour she is. I have to think of the Animal Rights people who may object, as to colour - she is non-white, non-tabby, non-barred, non-ginger, and when she goes out at night, I can`t see her, get it? I wonder if I can sue the Transport Executive for making me carry a photo of myself on my Bus Pass, surely its an infringement of my rights. No, the question was "Has the World gone mad?" Look around you, the answer is there for all to see, and we are powerless to do a thing about it. Oh! and I forgot to say, to protect Martin and the Forum, this is purely my opinion. William R. (that`s my alias) |
| Bill Rigby | William R, the obtaining of permission to take a photograph or photographs of people is not as far-fetched as you seem to imply. The fact is, if the photo is published the party or parties in the photo can claim a share of whatever fee the photographer obtained for the photo. I happen to be aware of this since I have an artist friend who has had problems painting from photographs where someone has recognized tehir 'portrait'. We live in a far more complex world than in the past where the chance of making a profit out of one's face usurps all other considerations. As for the tale of the banned advertisement of Xmas carols in a church, frankly I do not believe it! It smacks too much of yet another 'urban legend' instigated by the sensationalist press whose scruples about facts are also not what they used to be. Waxing indignant about absurdities seems to be a popular pastime in the UK: And I thought the home of PC - the US - was bad enough! However, it is not a form of PC IMHO to stop public monies being used to promote religious ideas - If a church wants to put a mythical crib scene in its grounds, who cares since it has the right? If the local council does it on public property then I for one object! I suggest my attitude is the opposite of a 'do-gooder' in this case! |
| Spitfire | I wonder which idiot decided that Christmas (both words and graphics) could not be mentioned or shown on the card sent out by the Avon and Somerset police. The photo on the front depicts a police beat bobby IN SHORT SLEEVES ON A SUMMERS DAY!!!!!!! |
| William R | Bill R. Whilst reading your recent offering I note with some dismay that you have doubts about an advertisement for a Carol Service being banned, as not being correct. As you so kindly put it , frankly you do not believe it. I have never been one to publish an untruth on the Forum, and politely refer you to the issue of the Daily Mail dated Monday, Dccember 15th 2003, page 27, cols 1-4. In this, Bridgit Adams of All Saints Church in High Wycombe, was told by the Library staff that they could not publicise the concert because of the religious content of the poster. She is also backed by the Churchwarden, Mr.Richard Locke who coments that he is surprised by this, as they have previously hosted a Muslim party. Further, Margaret Dewar, the Tory councillor responsible for Libraries, announced that she was "reviewing the Council`s rules on displaying posters" as it is a position she inherited which needs to be "re-visited". The article concludes with "In Birmingham, five years ago, the Labour authority replaced the name Christmas with Winterval to avoid upsetting religious minorities. The following year Father Christmas was replaced by a woman in Telford, Shropshire, to re-create the figure in a more maternal image. If you were to use your obviously extensive research capabilities, you will be able to read the full article, then perhaps take issue with the Daily Mail on their inaccurate (in your view) reporting. I did not wish to take issue with you doubting my comments, and do not wish you to regard this as an instrument for you to start another long lasting argument. Perhaps you should attempt to find another outlet for your extensive views on every known subject, not on this Forum which is enjoyed by many, despite the efforts of a few whose views can easily be read and forgotten. I bid you a polite goodnight, from a good country to live in, despite its failings, and wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a good New Year. William R. |
| Lady Griffin | Bravo, William R. LG [8D] |
| noel | Here here, I didn't read the post myself but well spoken. |
| Spitfire | William R, I`d just like to comment on your reply, I was pleased that you had made the point.
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| Bill Rigby |
As for my disbelief, I am afraid I am the eternal skeptic and for good reason. Now that you quote the source and the background, it may remove the 'disbelief' but does emphasize the trivial nature of the 'report'! The "library staff" said they could not advertize it! Gee, now there's an authority!
For what it is worth, I reciprocate your holiday wishes.
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| Martin | quote:Did you know that Duran Duran is a character from the Jane Fonda film Barbarella! |
| Spitfire | Martin, In future, if you feel that any of my postings require your red pen, I would much rather you remove them entirely. I would not be ofended at all if you did this. In editing the posting above you have simply left two meaningless comments, which convey none of the feelings I had at the time of the posting. Please don`t hesitate to remove (rather than edit)any posting from me that you don`t agree with - there will be no hard feelings on my part. |