Father Christmas

[galltin]

The Bullring Shopping Centre in Birmingham have announced that there will be no Santa's Grotto this year as they do not want to offend non Christians. Oxford Street have said the same but said it's due to lack of space - yes all the stores. Thoughts everyone?

[Oneeyedvic]

Absolutely ludicrous - don't see Birmingham stopping people celebrating Dewali (sp?) etc.

 

Easy thing to do - vote with your money. Don't shop in these places and encourage everyone else to buoycott it. They will soon go back to putting them in.

 

[ianess]

Is this not political correctness gone totally mad?

Even the majority of non-Christians celebrate at this time of year.....personally I prefer the Pagan thinking of the Return of the Sun after the Solstice  [or is it Equinox....I`m never sure], as opposed to the Coming of the Son [of God].

How long before we`re stopped being taken for a ride by the Capitalists who only want to make money at any opportunity?

[Wraith]

I have never taken my children to see a Santa at a shopping centre and never intend to do so. The use of a Santa is purely for commercial reasons. Children can't resist seeing him and drag their parents along where they are fleeced by the shopping centre.

 

The image I give my children of Santa is the one of a magical, kindly old man who gives good children a present. The idea of having to pay to see Santa is disgusting and contradicts everything we tell our children.

 

Before you think I'm a meany, I do take my children to see Santa at a local farm that helps injured animals. You pay a fee to get into the farm and get to see Santa whilst you're there. All of the money goes towards the upkeep of the place.

[Oneeyedvic]

Wraith - do you let your kids only watch BBC - most tv shows have commercials which are plainly used by companies to shamelessly advertise their products. And if you have to pay for a subscription (like all Sky programmes) it is just plain disgusting.

 

I also assume that you don't take your kids shopping where they may see toys in brightly coloured packaging. Apparently you have to pay for these things again. Commercialism gone mad.

 

I am sorry, but giving a child  the idea that a "magical kindly old man" gives them a present is possibly more ludicrous than banning them at shopping centres. What sort of lesson is this teaching a child?

 

Yes, Santa  is for commercial reasons, but so is nearly everything about Christmas. If you teach your children about a magical person called Santa it is hardly in the traditional Christian spirit, and little to do with celebrating the birth of the Son of God.

 

 

[tartanwiz]

I hate political correctness and I hate the age we are living in. The question is: who'll be next? I take it Birmingham have a Labour Council? That's Labour for you - humanist liberals who think they know better than the rest of us what's right and wrong. Why should the minority be dictated to by a minority who think they're right?

[cheyenne]

I wish i lived up there or in london,i would stand outside dressed as father xmas and protest.What a load of old B**locks!!

[FP]

Political Correctness and Discrimination Laws have become a total joke.  I am sure all the multitudes of non Christians (including myself) think it's a joke as well. 

 

I can't say any more as I get too angry!

[OBonio]

I wouldn't shop there anyway as its name reminds me of bull fighting, which, I think, is a cruel and inhumane sport (unless the dead bull is used to feast on afterward... mm... beeeef.... mmmmm).

[woofgang]

totally agree with vinny100, its pc gone mad

[woofgang]

as an afterthought, one of the few things I liked about living in New Jersey (USA) was the determination of the local shops and malls to celebrate all religious holidays to turn an honest buck. It may not have been from the best motives, but it sure was multicultural and fun!

[robbieh]

I take it Birmingham have a Labour Council? That's Labour for you
isn;t this a decision made by the people whom run the Bullring?? Therefore nothing to do with the Labour party?? Im sure there are other places in Birmingham where there will be a man dressed as Father Christmas

[creativeTECH]

Erm, what has Father Xmas got to do with Christianity?As an Elf I'm disgusted

[OBonio]

Very good point creativeTECH.  I thought he was borne out of the St Nicholas stories, not Jesus et al.

[Octavius]

What a load of baubles

[mike1222]

As a white, English, heterosexual male who believes in Father Christmas I feel more down trodden than ever now after hearing that news!!!!!!

[archbishop]

I used to be a Santa Christmas. My best memories are the young mothers that used to sit on my knee.  

[sweetheart]

As a non-Christian Brummie, I too can say this is PC totally gone mad! What's being offensive got to do with it? I don't understand. However, the 'magical man' will still be alive and kicking at the Birmingham Nature Centre. Not that it makes it ok, but there you are.

[sweetheart]

I suppose they might stop selling Christmas cards soon. Oh.. and what about Christmas lights?

[jimmer]

Have they indeed. Doing a quick search on google today i managed to find out a few of the delights santa has instore for birmingham shoppers during the festive period. On 21 November there is a Santa Run with pressies for the kiddies, starting from.... you guessed it, the bull ring. Oh and there is a santa train that sets off from centenary square several times a day to take the liddle 'uns to santa's groto at cadbury world ( sponsored by the bull ring ). That lot took me 35 seconds to find.My suggestion to you: stop reading the sun, they talk b******s.

 

jim

[kaz35]

Wraith, i'm sure everyone respects that it's your choice not to take your children to a shopping centre to see Santa - however, that's precisely the point, " CHOICE " is the keyword here.  What HAS happened to everyones right to choose?? Non -christians are not forced to take their children to see Santa in his Grotto - they can walk on by.  Why should others have that choice taken away from them?  Society has gone completely mad, I for one think that this is one of the most ridiculous things that i have ever heard. I agree with Oneeyedvic - the only way to bring the so-called managers of these shops to their senses is to buoycott the places and try to make our views heard, and that's what i'll be doing.