"It's PC gone mad!" Lambeth's Christmas Lights renamed "Winter Lights"

[William of Walworth]

Did anyone else see a spokesman from Lambeth on London Today a few minutes ago?

Apparently the brixton lights will be called Christmas lights after all

(although too late to be changed on the printed publicity).

Is anyone all that surprised, after reading Mr BC's post earlier?

The stupid decision appears to have been made by Lambeth Council Officers (possibly junior ones even) and Lambeth staff are scarcely notorious for efficient, sensible, in-touch, politically sensitive, residents' wishes focussed decision making.

Looks like they've now been overruled either by Councillors, or by slightly more sensible senior staff.

So the all powerful, traditional way of life threatening, ban happy, Politically Correct Thought Police Brigade have failed to 'ban Christmas' after all.

Not much of a story, eh?

 

[William of Walworth]

It's funny how people in this country suddenly become 'christians' as Christmas approaches, how many of the chavs I see frantically shopping at Lakeside even go to church?

Hardly any I'd say.

But I think the only ones who have a right to moan about Lambeth's lights are the regular church goers. The rest, who don't set foot inside a church unless it's for weddings and funerals should shut up moaning IMO>

Possibly a tad contentious but she has a point you know ....

 

[Donna Ferentes]

Surely other people who have a right to moan about Lambeth's lights are the regular users of Lambeth's streets?

 

[Jangla]

What could be considered an actual issue would be the fact that in a diverse society there is a single approach to holiday times, celebrations, weekly religious day etc. so that everyone, of whatever culture or religion, is forced to fit the Christian calendar. Whilst the UK remains a predominantly Chriistian country then I think it is entirely acceptable that the norm remains the Christian calendar. If you went to a country with a different predominant religion then you would accept their norms to fit with whatever the religion or culture dictates.

Maybe but we have several religious festivals celebrated round here and no-one would even consdier renaming the lights that go up during Eid, for example - there'd be a fucking riot! (and rightly so)

If anything it's coz our core religion is Church of England which is more of a hobby than a religion and will therefore bend to the will of anyone with an idea that's well presented, despite it's utter ridiculousness.

 

[Donna Ferentes]

an ex-Catholic writes...

I couldn't agree more, the Prods have no fucking idea what a real religion looks like....

 

[William of Walworth]

The term "Christmas Lights" cannot be considered offensive, in itself, to anyone, of any religion. I am not offended by anyone of any religion calling any of their festivals and associated material support whatever they like.

What could be considered an actual issue would be the fact that in a diverse society there is a single approach to holiday times, celebrations, weekly religious day etc. so that everyone, of whatever culture or religion, is forced to fit the Christian calendar. Whilst the UK remains a predominantly Chriistian country then I think it is entirely acceptable that the norm remains the Christian calendar. If you went to a country with a different predominant religion then you would accept their norms to fit with whatever the religion or culture dictates.

But there is no reason why imagination cannot be applied in allowing people of different faiths working to their own calendars alongside the Christian one. Sometimes this will not be possible, but, in my experience an awful lot could be done to accomodate others with little if any disruption (e.g. arranging work rotas so that people who want Saturday or any other day as their religious day get it, with any enhanced pay for working on it, etc. being exactly parallel to the Sunday deal for the majority). Likewise any funding, licensing or other matters which favour Christian festivals should be made available to the festivals of others on an equitable basis.

To say that we have Christmas so like it or lump it is (a) not really the way to build a genuinely tolerant multi-cultural society and (b) by definition, institutionally religion-ist. It should not, in my opinion be so.

But then again, this sort of hysterical, ignorant clap-trap does absolutely nothing to further the genuine and honest aims of multiculturalism. It simply gives the ignorant and the bigoted ever ore grounds for saying "It's all political correctness gone mad" ... as they do.

If this decision was actually as it has been reported then whoever took it should be sent for re-training with someone who actually understands the real (as opposed to imaginary) issues.

Top post, particularly the bit in bold ...

In my frequent, bad tempered fights with people on Urban 75 who persistantly crap hysterically on about 'PC', I've never denied that you'll sometimes find occasional cretinous examples of overzealousness an counterproductivity. This is one of them. Looks like it's Lambeth's turn this year to be stupid enough to satisfy the Daily Express and/or Mail's fervant lust to brainwash its readers with the constant threat of Political Correctness, going mad enough to threaten a way of life near them, soon ....

This Lambeth 'decision', apparantly now overturned anyway, is hardly repreentative** though.

**of the country in general, not of their own incompetence I mean

I refuse on principle to EVER get righteously indignant about 'Political Corectness' (however stupid the example eagerly seized on might be). The principle is a pretty sound if crude rule of thumb : 99% of the stuff the Express, Mail and Substandard get 'outraged' about is either made up, or distorted, or at least in some cases even worth supporting, if those papers and their readers are kicking up a fuss about it ...

It's all a storm in a seasonal wineglass ...

 

[Mr BC]

Here's an example of the charming correspondence the Daily Express has generated for me today:


"Shame on you and your fellow Councillors for denying CHRISTMAS in favour of those whose unspeakable religion breeds and harbours terrorists and suicide bombers.

What have you got to say for yourself?

You must retract your appalling blunder.

An agnostic."

 

[William of Walworth]

Surely other people who have a right to moan about Lambeth's lights are the regular users of Lambeth's streets?

Indeed, so long as any moaning is based upon the truth ...

The 'decision' appears to have been overturned now, so it's a nonstory, isn't it?

 

[William of Walworth]

Here's an example of the charming correspondence the Daily Express has generated for me today:


"Shame on you and your fellow Councillors for denying CHRISTMAS in favour of those whose unspeakable religion breeds and harbours terrorists and suicide bombers.

What have you got to say for yourself?

You must retract your appalling blunder.

An agnostic."

So there you go. That's the sort of company people who overegg the moaning about 'Political Correctness' risk putting themselves into, inadvertantly or not.

NB : See also what I said above about Lambeth and overzealousness and counterproductivity, though ...

 

[Bob]

So there you go. That's the sort of company people who overegg the moaning about 'Political Correctness' risk putting themselves into, inadvertantly or not.

NB : See also what I said above about Lambeth and overzealousness and counterproductivity, though ...

I think you've confused Mr BC with Mr BG (Bernard Gentry).

 

[William of Walworth]

I think you've confused Mr BC with Mr BG (Bernard Gentry).

I haven't, honest ... I knew the blameless Mr BC was quoting a message he'd had from some lunatic ... that was the point of my post

 

[Bob]

I haven't, honest ... I knew the blameless Mr BC was quoting a message he'd had from some lunatic ... that was the point of my post

Ah. I see what you mean now.

 

[IntoStella]

I like it! (but could you reduce it down in size please?)

Oops, sorry. Replaced with smaller one.

 

[IntoStella]

Haven't they been called WInter Lights in Brixton for yonks? Elections are coming me thinks and the redoubtable Bernard sallies forth,

Ohhhh, of course, *slaps forehead*.

If I didn't know better I would wonder if the ''agnostic'' abusing Mr BC's inbox was not unadjacent to a close friend of Mr Gentry's. It has the right tone (totally bonkers).

 

[IntoStella]

Here you go. Thread started in 2003 by yours truly. Those flamingos were freaky.

 

[detective-boy]

Maybe but we have several religious festivals celebrated round here and no-one would even consdier renaming the lights that go up during Eid, for example - there'd be a fucking riot! (and rightly so)

Er ... I'm not suggesting that. In fact, I'm suggesting absolutely the opposite ...

 

[bluestreak]

why don't we just put the lights up all year round and call them whatever is apporpriate for the time of year? everyone is happy then surely?

 

[supercity]

It's funny how people in this country suddenly become 'christians' as Christmas approaches, how many of the chavs I see frantically shopping at Lakeside even go to church?

Hardly any I'd say.
I can't be arsed with all this politically correct shite at the best of times but I think the only ones who have a right to moan about Lambeth's lights are the regular church goers. The rest, who don't set foot inside a church unless it's for weddings and funerals should shut up moaning IMO>

Tell you what, though, I never set foot inside a mosque, but if Ramadan were rebranded Slimming Time Sponsored by McDonald's I'd be right on the side of anyone pissed off about it. <p>
A free society based on equality means just that.

 

[Jangla]

Er ... I'm not suggesting that. In fact, I'm suggesting absolutely the opposite ...

Yea I know - badly worded post by me. Should have had an "and" and not a "but", I think

 

[PacificOcean]

why don't we just put the lights up all year round and call them whatever is apporpriate for the time of year? everyone is happy then surely?

They leave them up all year in Streatham (or they used too) I thought that was just cheapness on the part of Lambeth, but maybe the above was their ploy and Streatham was the testing ground?

 

[Giles]

Whichever council "officer" had the time to even sit there thinking "I know, let's come up with a new name for the Christmas lights this year", clearly has no useful job function and could be made redundant immediately.

That would be a fitting Christmas (sorry, Celebrity) present for him, wouldn't it?

Giles..

 

[RushcroftRoader]

its a bloody disgrace if you ask me.
All this PC stuff comes from those who think that those of other religions might be "offended" by the celebration of a Christian festival.
Eh, how exactly??? Have they strolled into a mosque and asked?
It seems to me that the only people who are offended by Christmas are those athiest cretins in Lambeth officialdom. And by that I don't mean they are cretins becuase they are athiests, but rather they are cretins who happen to be athiest.
It's sheer ignorance.
Lets re-name every festival in the calender something completely irrelevant to reflect this throwaway society we all live in - wouldn't that be great?! That way no-one could possibly be offended.
Except of course, all those people who believe in ANYTHING at all - anybody in fact who believes that festivals of any religion - might be about more than just shopping or chocolate!
Lambeth council would never dream of re-naming a Jewish or Muslim religious festival. So why bash Christian celebrations?
Not only is it ignorant, it is deeply patronising and insulting to those of different faiths who the council seem to think would be offended. A muslim or a hindu in Brixton can only assume that the council believes that his/her faith needs special protection. Surely those of any faith will not have their belief in their god shaken by a few lights on Coldharbour Lane!

 

[William of Walworth]

its a bloody disgrace if you ask me.
All this PC stuff comes from those who think that those of other religions might be "offended" by the celebration of a Christian festival.
Eh, how exactly??? Have they strolled into a mosque and asked?
It seems to me that the only people who are offended by Christmas are those athiest cretins in Lambeth officialdom. And by that I don't mean they are cretins becuase they are athiests, but rather they are cretins who happen to be athiest.
It's sheer ignorance.
Lets re-name every festival in the calender something completely irrelevant to reflect this throwaway society we all live in - wouldn't that be great?! That way no-one could possibly be offended.
Except of course, all those people who believe in ANYTHING at all - anybody in fact who believes that festivals of any religion - might be about more than just shopping or chocolate!
Lambeth council would never dream of re-naming a Jewish or Muslim religious festival. So why bash Christian celebrations?
Not only is it ignorant, it is deeply patronising and insulting to those of different faiths who the council seem to think would be offended. A muslim or a hindu in Brixton can only assume that the council believes that his/her faith needs special protection. Surely those of any faith will not have their belief in their god shaken by a few lights on Coldharbour Lane!

STOP FUCKING RANTING!!!!

Do you believe eevery sensationalist 'PC Gone Mad' story you ever half catch in a bellowing Mail and Express headline, as well?

This 'decision' has (apparantly) been overruled and revoked-- you could have done worse than have used your ranting-time to have read this thread properly ...

People who instinctively believe 'PC gone mad' headlines without even bothering to question whether they're really true, and without even bothering to question the source, and then go into rantacious 'these woolly liberal dogooders are threatening our way of life' mode, annoy the fuck out of me!

Gullible tossers!

I've already roundly criticised Lambeth for being idiotic enough to have even contemplated this one, but it would seem a JUNIOR officer, prematurely and with characteristic Lambeth-stylee incompetence and without consulting councillors or senior officers, planned this 'decision', but it looks like it never even got as far as implementation ... I'd rather believe Mr BC ( a Councillor) on this thread, than the SLP or the Mail/Express or Substandard ...

The over zealous junior officer was swiftly (and correctly, given the number of courtain twitching paranoiacs there are around) overruled it would seem -- it's a NON STORY!

'They' (the 'Politically Correct Brigade'? Or 'Thought Police'?) ) are not about to 'ban' your Christmas, so why not concentrate on something more important ...

 

[William of Walworth]

As far as 'Political Correctness' references on Urban are concerned ...

Implement Godwins Law NOW!!!!



copyright IntoStella

 

[William of Walworth]

Whichever council "officer" had the time to even sit there thinking "I know, let's come up with a new name for the Christmas lights this year", clearly has no useful job function and could be made redundant immediately.

That would be a fitting Christmas (sorry, Celebrity) present for him, wouldn't it?

Giles..

Just reroute to him all the green-ink letters, emails, etc. of the kind Mr BC received from a lunatic, and also all headlines and cuttings from the 'get gullible idiots outraged' press.

Make him read and reread them all, several times, and order him to THINK about all the overreacting idiocy he's provoked.

That'd be enough ...

'POLITICAL CORRECTNESS'? 'GONE MAD'? MY ARSE!!!

 

[IntoStella]

it's a NON STORY!

It also appears to have been blown out of all proportion in the media by a particular councillor who is increasingly a rather sad joke.

Sorry to repeat myself, rushcroftroader, but the 'Don't mention the C-word' mentality comes as much from the right as the left. I don't see Coca-Cola as some sort of corporate Clare Short. Do you?

Also, as I already pointed out, they were called "Winterlights" in 2003.

 

[RushcroftRoader]

touch a nerve did we???

 

[William of Walworth]

Christmas lights, winter lights, who gives a fuck what they're called? If Lambeth Council's decision outrages some Daily Mail readers, it can't be all bad...

On a mischief-making level, this strategy also has its attractions though ...

 

[PacificOcean]

touch a nerve did we???

Yes, you will find that brand of Daily Mail "Those bloody Asylym Seekers coming over here and changing our British way of life" hogwash isn't welcome round these parts.

 

[William of Walworth]

touch a nerve did we???

Yes -- read my posts, your rant wouldn't have been out of place in Richarsed Littlejohn's Daily Wail column. You gullible plonker.