Malta, Bulgaria, Greece and even New Guinea seem to be able to swing it without too much hand wringing.
Posted on 11/07/2006 1:44:20 AM PST by Mrs Ivan
BUNGLING mail chiefs were yesterday accused of taking the Christ out of Christmas.
They unveiled this year’s festive stamps – which ignore the season’s holy background.
Furious Christian politicians joined the Church of England to condemn the Royal Mail over its six faith-free designs.
Instead of biblical scenes like the Nativity, the Star of Bethlehem and the Three Wise Men, executives opted for secular symbols including snowmen, reindeer and Santa Claus.
Last night critics accused the Royal Mail of snubbing Britain’s Christian heritage in a politically-correct bid to avoid offending other religions.
A Church of England spokesman said: "Last year they came up with some very innovative designs which reminded people of the true meaning of Christmas, so we welcomed it.
"We regret that they haven’t carried on. I am sure lots of Christians will regret that they haven’t carried on in the same way as well."
Tory MP David Burrowes said: "It is a great shame that they are treating it as just another secular festival, because we have enough of those throughout the year.
"Christmas is about celebrating the birth of Christ and it makes sense that the Royal Mail does likewise."
Mr Burrowes, who represents Enfield Southgate and is a founder member of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, added: "It is strange how a country with a Christian heritage does not celebrate Christmas in a straightforward way.
"My constituency has a high proportion of Hindus and they are always asking me why, in a Christian country, we don’t celebrate Christmas."
Stephen Crabb, the Tory MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire and another Fellowship member, said: "Removing faith from Christmas is to neuter it as a festival.
"It simply becomes a festival of materialism and that is not what it was meant to be about. I am dismayed and disappointed by the decision of the Royal Mail."
Dr Christina Baxter, who sits on the Archbishops’ Council of the C of E’s General Synod, said: "I am deeply disappointed and I think a large majority of people in this country will also regret the Royal Mail’s decision."
Stephen Green, national director of Christian Voice pressure group added: "They probably did it to avoid causing offence to some – but I for one am deeply offended by this."
Last year’s religious designs also sparked fury among Hindus, who objected to an image of a woman with traditional Hindu markings pictured worshipping Christ as a baby.
Ramesh Kallidai, head of the Hindu Forum of Britain, urged his members and other Hindus to send unstamped protest letters to the Royal Mail’s headquarters.
This year’s collection, which goes on sale today, is the Royal Mail’s 40th set of Christmas stamps and the first festive set to include first and second-class stamps in two sizes.
Other traditions to be axed in Britain under political correctness include Christmas lights – banned by some health and safety officials worried about people injuring themselves while putting them up.
The stamp controversy is a result of the Royal Mail’s policy of alternating between religious and non-religious designs each Christmas. A spokesman said yesterday the festive stamp collections had always alternated.
"It is about celebrating all elements of Christmas," he said. "It is something that we have always done. I think people will see this year’s issue of stamps as a first class set of Christmas stamps."
...and Happy Festivus, too. :-P
Frankly, I'm heartened to see that anyone in Britain is still willing to criticize moves like this, especially in the Anglican Church.
Those folks in England are lucky. Here opponents of Christmas want to do away with BOTH CHrist and Santa.
My, how politically correct.
Malta, Bulgaria, Greece and even New Guinea seem to be able to swing it without too much hand wringing.
At least it's not a picture of Mecca or MoHamMed.
What! No Kwanzza stamps??!
WTF is Kwanzza?
Here's one from Ann Coulter Kwanzaa
I'd never heard of it.
Liberal stamps:
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Yet another reason to privatize the Post Office.
When did that happen? I suspect that this particular paragraph is incomplete - probably "banned in council offices" or something like that?
It was a commercial for Target.
Then they must ban window-washing or window-frame painting. Someone "might" get hurt doing this, even though their house may suffer from dirt and grime.
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