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Title: Christmas should be 'downgraded' to help race relations says Labour think tank
Source:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk
URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li ... n_page_id=1770&in_page_id=1770
Published: Nov 1, 2007
Author: JAMES CHAPMAN
Post Date: 2007-11-01 07:38:25 by freepatriot32
Keywords: christmas, england, labour party
Views: 1316
Comments: 45
Christmas should be downgraded in favour of festivals from other religions to improve race relations, says an explosive report. Labour's favourite think-tank says that because it would be hard to "expunge" Christmas from the national calendar, 'even-handedness' means public organisations must start giving other religions equal footing. The leaked findings of its investigation into identity, citizenship and community cohesion also propose: • "Birth ceremonies", at which state and parents agree to "work in partnership" to bring up children • Action to "ensure access" for ethnic minorities to "largely white" countryside • An overhaul of Britain's "imperial" honours system • Bishops being thrown out of the House of Lords • An end to "sectarian" religious education • Flying flags other than the Union Jack. The report by the Institute for Public Policy Research was commissioned when Nick Pearce, now head of public policy at Downing Street, was its director. IPPR has shaped many Labour policies, including ID cards, bin taxes and road pricing. The report robustly defends multiculturalism - the idea that different communities should not be forced to integrate but should be allowed to maintain their own culture and identities. And it says immigrants should be required to acquire some proficiency in English and other aspects of British culture "if - but only if - the settled population is willing to open up national institutions and practices to newcomers and give a more inclusive cast to national narratives and symbols". It adds: "Even-handedness dictates that we provide public recognition to minority cultures and traditions. "If we are going to continue as a nation to mark Christmas - and it would be very hard to expunge it from our national life even if we wanted to - then public organisations should mark other religious festivals too. "We can no longer define ourselves as a Christian nation, nor an especially religious one in any sense. "The empire is gone, church attendance is at historically low levels, and the Second World War is inexorably slipping from memory." The report, written by IPPR advisers Ben Rogers and Rick Muir, calls on Ministers to launch an "urgent and upfront campaign" promoting a "multicultural understanding of Britishness". "Multiculturalism can be shown to provide for a fairer and more liberal society and does not necessarily lead to social division and community conflict, as its critics have claimed," it says. Councils must act to "ensure children mix and are able to form friendships with pupils from different backgrounds". The report adds: "Any liberal state should recast the civic oaths and national ceremonies, or institutions like Parliament and the monarchy, in a more multi-religious or secular form and make religious education less sectarian." The presence of bishops in the House of Lords, for instance, is condemned as an "anachronism" that should be removed. The system in which parents are required to register a new baby at a register office is dismissed as "purely bureaucratic". The occasion should be transformed into a "public rite", using citizenship ceremonies for immigrants as a model, the report says. "Parents, their friends and family and the state [would] agree to work in partnership to support and bring up their child." Rural Britain, the report complains, "remains a largely white place". Much more needs to be done to "ensure access" to the countryside for black and ethnic minority groups, disabled people and children from inner-city areas. Sayeeda Warsi, the Conservative spokesman on community cohesion, said: "Their comments betray a breathtaking misunderstanding of what it is to be British. These proposals could actually damage cohesion." She added: "You don't build community cohesion by throwing out our history and denying the fundamental contribution Christianity has played and does play to our nation. "As a British Muslim I can see that - so why others can't just staggers me." And she attacked ceremonies to mark the registration of a baby. "The thought of Gordon Brown sharing responsibility with me for bringing up my children sends a shiver down my spine. I thought we got rid of communism?" 
Nativity scene: Christian celebrations in schools could become a thing of the past 
National celebration: But could Christmas soon be 'downgraded'?
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Begin Trace Mode for Comment # 34.
#1. To: freepatriot32 (#0)
Festivus here we come.
Mongrels R us. mon·grel·ize (mnggr-lz, mng-) tr.v. mon·grel·ized, mon·grel·iz·ing, mon·grel·iz·es To make mongrel in race, nature, or character
Egad, here comes the yearly fray over why Christmas symbols and carols get banned from schools and other public places. I think I'll order in Chinese food for T-Day and be done with all that was Americana :) Signed,
Who is stopping minority religions from expressing their faith? Who is forcing them to sing Christmas Carols? This is absurdity, except that it is a way to start killing off the religion of the majority, the culture of the majority and the ideals and ethics of the still majority. What percentage of the population is Muslim? Jewish? Gives a damn?
There is clearly a Christian/American tradition bias. It's more government driven, than religious, IMO.
I see the govt tearing down Christian morals, not upholding them, and replacing them with half-naked Christmas nymphs dancing 'round a decorated fir tree; calling that imagery a religious symbol credit.
It won't end until all caucasians and Christians are killed off. If you can't see the endgame, you're already lost.
At this point in time, most Christians are not Caucasians, and Christians are a minority worldwide.
either lodwick or Red once told me that we would be a "little flock" oh well, if God is for us, who can stand against us? Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Luk/12/32.html the gates of hell shall not prevail: http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Mat/16/18.html Dan 2:44 — And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, [but] it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Phrase of Scripture Correlating Passages TSK Help in the days "Chal. in their days. That is, in the days of one of these kingdoms, (see Rth 1:1,) i.e, the Roman; in which the ""God of heaven set up"" the spiritual kingdom of the Messiah, which shall yet ""become a great mountain, and fill the whole earth.""" http://www.blueletterbible.org/tsk_b/Dan/2/44.html ========================================================= Hallelujah Chorus, Handel's Messiah: |: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! |: For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. |: Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The kingdom of this world Is become the kingdom of our Lord, And of His Christ, and of His Christ; And He shall reign for ever and ever, For ever and ever, forever and ever, King of kings, and Lord of lords, |: King of kings, and Lord of lords, And Lord of lords, And He shall reign, And He shall reign forever and ever, King of kings, forever and ever, And Lord of lords, Hallelujah! Hallelujah! And He shall reign forever and ever, |: King of kings! and Lord of lords! Neutral And He shall reign forever and ever, King of kings! and Lord of lords! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! words: http://ingeb.org/spiritua/halleluj.html / Midi: http://ingeb.org/spiritua/halleluj.mid ================================================== Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isa 9:7 Of the increase of [his] government and peace [there shall be] no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
would you please do me a favor, and check this link....it played fine from beginning until end before, but now it gets messed up shortly after the beginning. Thank you!
played fine, but I must object to a midi of the Hallelujah Chorus ;)
thanks, i'll have to add that to the list of things that don't work around here.... like video! can you explain briefly what you mean? thanks!
The midi file you posted a link to works fine; I just don't like it! So I posted a far better version of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus ;)
#35. To: robin (#34)
okay, thanks! I wish I could see/hear it!
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#4. To: Jethro Tull (#1)
#6. To: Cynicom (#4)
Mr. Internatale
#8. To: Jethro Tull, Cynicom (#6)
#12. To: robin (#8)
#14. To: Jethro Tull (#12)
#15. To: robin (#14)
#16. To: Johnny Jazz (#15)
#25. To: robin, lodwick, Red Jones (#16)
Christians are a minority worldwide.
#27. To: robin (#25)
Midi: ingeb.org/spiritua/halleluj.mid
#29. To: AllTheKings'HorsesWontDoIt (#27)
(Edited)
#31. To: robin (#29)
#34. To: AllTheKings'HorsesWontDoIt (#31)
Replies to Comment # 34.
End Trace Mode for Comment # 34.