Anger over attack on Christmas
From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
By Ainsley Pavey

December 04, 2005

RELIGIOUS groups have launched an attack on Christmas - calling 
for it to be renamed and toned down.

A leading Islamic body says the use of the term "Christmas" is
politically incorrect because it excludes too many people in
multicultural Australia.

The Forum on Australia's Islamic Relations wants a community debate 
to find an alternative - suggesting the word "festive" as a possible
replacement.

And a Queensland Jewish leader has called for an end to the "automatic
imposition" of Christmas on the community, saying the season has been
reduced to a "shopping festival".

The attacks have outraged Christian churches, family groups and civic
leaders. Even other Muslim groups have slammed the call.

Islamic Council of Queensland president Abdul Jalal said Muslims have
"no right" to question what Christians called their religious
festival. 

Premier Peter Beattie said Christmas was an important celebration that
should "stay put". He said: "Christians should be able to celebrate
the festivities as Christmas."

Brisbane Anglican Archbishop Phillip Aspinall said Christmas should
continue to be celebrated as a "very important" date on the Christian
calendar.

Queensland Churches Together u representing 11 denominations including
Catholic, Anglican and Uniting churches - described the name-change
proposal as "absurd".

And Family Council of Queensland president Alan Baker described the
plans as "impertinent and intolerant".

He said: "No one is suggesting that other religions change the name 
of their celebrations, such as Ramadan for Muslims or Hanukkah for 
Jews."

Queensland local councils scoffed at suggestions they shun Christmas.

Townsville Mayor Tony Mooney said: "Christmas is not politically
incorrect and there is only a small group in the population that
believe it is - and they're nuts."

Caboolture Shire Council Mayor Joy Leishman said the call to rename
Christmas was ridiculous.

But the Islamic-relations forum director, Kuranda Seyit, told The
Sunday Mail it was time for Australia to fall in line with places 
such as the UK, where councils have renamed Christmas "Winterval" 
and replaced references to Christmas on signage with the words 
"Festive" and "Winter".

"Australia is now so diverse and there are so many cultures and
festivities, we need to acknowledge the need to be inclusive of 
our identity."

He expected his plan would insult some people, but urged a 
"step-by-step" approach.

"A word like Festive is a good word but the community should make an
effort to come up with an alternative to Christmas. Schools will take
a leading role in terms of political correctness. The younger
generation will grow up and say 'it's not fair'."

Queensland's Jewish Board of Deputies president David Paratz said 
the extent of Christmas celebrations and partying had got out of hand 
- as had the commercialism surrounding the festival. Christmas was
considered just a "shopping festival" by many people, he said.

"It can't be assumed everyone is a Christian. People should not 
be faced with the automatic imposition of Christmas." 

                             -==-

Source: news.com.au ("Sunday Mail" - Brisbane)
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,17454097-421,00.html


Cheers, Steve..

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