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Christmas Song Revives Religious Debate
Reuters ^ | 12/06/04

Posted on 12/06/2004 12:35:30 PM PST by nypokerface

ROME (Reuters) - An Italian teacher's efforts to make a Christmas carol more acceptable to young Muslim students by removing the word "Jesus" has rekindled the debate over religious symbols in the Roman Catholic country.

A middle-school teacher in the northern Italian town of Como set off a storm when she told Muslims in her class that if they preferred they could replace the line "this is the day of Jesus" with "this is the day of virtue."

"Jesus banned in Christmas songs" the daily Il Giornale, run by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's brother, said in a front-page headline Sunday.

"Substituting the word Jesus in a Christmas song is a serious mistake and an offence against the entire Catholic community," Como's mayor, Stefano Bruno, from the center-right Forza Italia (Go Italy) party, told Agi news agency.

Religion has been an increasingly prickly issue in Italy as immigrant communities grow.

A judge sparked a nationwide controversy a year ago when he ordered that a crucifix be taken off a school wall. Pope John Paul weighed in saying it was undemocratic and dangerous to try to erase a country's religious symbols.

Tension mounted again earlier this year when a nursery school refused to hire a Muslim woman, saying her headscarf could scare the children.

But before the latest standoff exploded into a full-blown controversy, the 10- and 11-year-old students resolved the issue by opting to stick to the original lyrics.

The director of the school, Pasquale Capria, told reporters on Sunday: "The foreign students themselves told me it wasn't a problem for them to sing Jesus."

Foreigners, many of them Muslim, represent about 20 percent of the students at the school. There are some one million Muslims living in Italy, a country of around 57 million people.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: christmas; christmascarols; islam; italy; muslim

1 posted on 12/06/2004 12:35:30 PM PST by nypokerface
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To: nypokerface
"Religion has been an increasingly prickly issue in Italy as immigrant communities grow."
2 posted on 12/06/2004 12:38:06 PM PST by BenLurkin (Big government is still a big problem.)
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To: nypokerface
It's only a matter of time that this will be an issue here (if it isn't already). If not this year, then next.
3 posted on 12/06/2004 12:38:20 PM PST by b4its2late (Early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.)
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To: nypokerface
And in the time honored classic tune, "Allah, the Merciful", simply replace "Merciful" with "Blood thirsty moon god". That shouldn't offend anyone, should it?
4 posted on 12/06/2004 12:39:05 PM PST by SampleMan ("Yes I am drunk, very drunk. But you madam are ugly, and tomorrow morning I shall be sober." WSC)
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To: nypokerface
Tension mounted again earlier this year when a nursery school refused to hire a Muslim woman, saying her headscarf could scare the children.

Since 9/11, it does have a tendency to make me look twice...

5 posted on 12/06/2004 12:39:44 PM PST by Corin Stormhands (These are the posts I forged in life...)
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To: nypokerface

Anyone seeing islamics bending over backwards to appease Christians?


6 posted on 12/06/2004 12:39:45 PM PST by lilylangtree (Veni, Vidi, Vici)
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To: b4its2late

It already is. Public school Christmas concerts are now Holiday concerts and in my granddaughter's school, no carols are sung, only santa and reindeer and that kind of song. It's so sad.


7 posted on 12/06/2004 12:40:45 PM PST by Marysecretary (Thank you, Lord, for FOUR MORE YEARS!!!)
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To: nypokerface

bump


8 posted on 12/06/2004 12:41:02 PM PST by PowerPro (DOUBLE W - He's STILL the one. Now don't that feel GOOD????)
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To: Marysecretary

Yep, it is.


9 posted on 12/06/2004 12:42:34 PM PST by b4its2late (Early bird gets the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.)
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To: lilylangtree
Anyone seeing islamics bending over backwards to appease Christians?

No, but if you do, I hope you'll post a link to the video! (Not holding my breath waiting for it)

10 posted on 12/06/2004 12:44:20 PM PST by hunter112 (Total victory, both in the USA and the Middle East!)
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To: SampleMan
"Allah the bloodthirsty moon god
Had a very frightening horde,
And if you ever offended them
You might get blown up or gored
Allah the other moon gods

Used to laugh and call him names . . . "

11 posted on 12/06/2004 12:45:41 PM PST by wideawake (God bless our brave soldiers and their Commander in Chief)
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To: wideawake

Used to laugh and call him names . . . "
They never let poor Allah
get it on with virgin dames!


12 posted on 12/06/2004 12:49:52 PM PST by FroedrickVonFreepenstein
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To: FroedrickVonFreepenstein

LOL!


13 posted on 12/06/2004 12:50:19 PM PST by wideawake (God bless our brave soldiers and their Commander in Chief)
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To: nypokerface

""The foreign students themselves told me it wasn't a problem for them to sing Jesus."


Then why push an obvious 'adult' agenda on them?


14 posted on 12/06/2004 12:51:20 PM PST by Bigh4u2
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To: lilylangtree

NOPE!!

And when did the muslim religion take on such importance?
I never heard anything about them and suddenly they are upfront and center stage and God forbid anyone should upset them after they all the have their "rights".

Yeh they have the right to leave ALL Christians ALONE!
And leave our CHRISTmas songs alone, etc etc.

Our Country was founded on Christianity not muslims.Especially radical ones.


15 posted on 12/06/2004 12:51:46 PM PST by stopem
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To: wideawake

Then one foggy Ramadan,Allah came to say,
"Mohommed with your turban so tight,
Won't you slay infidels tonight"


16 posted on 12/06/2004 12:53:49 PM PST by Ohiomedina
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To: Pookyhead
Ping!

( http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1295473/posts?page=102#102 )

17 posted on 12/06/2004 12:53:51 PM PST by EdReform (Free Republic - helping to keep our country a free republic. Thank you for your financial support!)
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To: Ohiomedina

Then how the mad horde loved him
as they shouted out with glee
Allah the bloodthirsty moon god
You'll blight human history!


18 posted on 12/06/2004 12:58:02 PM PST by FroedrickVonFreepenstein
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To: wideawake

...Don't forget those timeless classics like "We Wish You a Happy Ramabomb," "Frosty the Arab," "Hark the 72 Virgins Sing," "We Three Jihadists," and "Let it Blow, Let it Blow, Let it Blow." And if you order right now, we'll send you absolutely free of charge a very special holiday CD by none other than Moham and his Murderers...


19 posted on 12/06/2004 12:58:33 PM PST by Labyrinthos
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To: nypokerface

When the actions of immigrants begin to threaten the survival of a country-they have become a plague, and must be treated as such.


20 posted on 12/06/2004 1:00:58 PM PST by F.J. Mitchell (If you were still in the womb, would you trust your life to Specter the defector?????)
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To: Labyrinthos

And the little drummer boy: Rama bomb bomb, Rama bomb bomb!


21 posted on 12/06/2004 1:03:26 PM PST by F.J. Mitchell (If you were still in the womb, would you trust your life to Specter the defector?????)
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To: F.J. Mitchell

Amazing,
Less than 1 percent is allowed that much influence.(Probally to keep the leftists happy)

One Europe awakes(if it does). it will be bloody.


22 posted on 12/06/2004 1:04:29 PM PST by John Will
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To: FroedrickVonFreepenstein

...then one starry Ramadan
Allah came to say
Abu with your blade so bright
find an infidel to slay tonight

Oh yeah, just what the world needs: For us to bend over backwards to be sensitive to these murderers.


23 posted on 12/06/2004 1:08:09 PM PST by OhMike (He which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart...we would not die in that man's company.)
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To: Labyrinthos

How about "Away in a manger we hid the C4."


24 posted on 12/06/2004 1:09:41 PM PST by OhMike (He which hath no stomach to this fight, let him depart...we would not die in that man's company.)
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To: OhMike

LOL, this is too much fun.


25 posted on 12/06/2004 1:21:48 PM PST by Labyrinthos
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To: John Will

We are told that homosexuals make up only 1% of our population, but look how they have everybody with power and influence dancing to their tune.

Majority rule may adversely effect 1% of a population, but not nearly as adversely as rule by a 1% minority effects the other 99%.


26 posted on 12/06/2004 1:35:29 PM PST by F.J. Mitchell (We would love to get along with liberals, but not by placating to their childish tantrum fits.)
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To: nypokerface

It's Christmas isn't it? Not Mohammedmas! Although in Italian I think it's just 'Natale'.


27 posted on 12/06/2004 1:56:33 PM PST by Rummyfan
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To: FroedrickVonFreepenstein; wideawake
LOLOLOLOL!!!!
28 posted on 12/06/2004 1:57:59 PM PST by Rummyfan
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To: nypokerface

But Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet of God. Why would they have problem sing a song about him?


29 posted on 12/06/2004 1:59:20 PM PST by bird4four4
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To: John Will

It's starting in The Netherlands and Denmark. Hopefully the Awakening will spread.


30 posted on 12/06/2004 1:59:43 PM PST by Rummyfan
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To: nypokerface

That's right. Be nice to the muslims, they're going to be your rulers soon enough!


31 posted on 12/06/2004 2:02:33 PM PST by JesseHousman
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To: FroedrickVonFreepenstein
Too funny, guy in the cube next to me is probably wondering what all the snorting is about.

Political Correctness tip of the day. The sand gomers don't like it when you call them rag heads.

Best Regards

Sergio
32 posted on 12/06/2004 2:09:56 PM PST by Sergio (If a tree fell on a mime in the forest, would he make a sound?)
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To: bird4four4
But Muslims believe Jesus was a prophet of God. Why would they have problem sing a song about him?

Since they call Jesus "Isa" they would probably want to sing "this is the day of Isa" followed by wishing Christians "Merry Christ People-Of-The-Book-Mass" if they promise to obey the PC crowd, and become good dhimmis... that is if they are not Islamic purists and do not believe in singing songs or music in the first place. If so, they can always go look for the closest EU funded soccer stadium...

33 posted on 12/06/2004 4:32:09 PM PST by USF (I see your Jihad and raise you a Crusade ™ © ®)
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To: USF
Kind of a whacky belief system anyway. They claim to believe in Abraham and Moses as Prophets and Jesus and Mary etc. yet are commanded not to make friend with Jews or Christians.

If they claim that Judaism and Christianity are false religions, yet they predate Islam, and Islam claims their lineage as heritage, wouldn't that make Islam false too? As with so many other things about this religious cult, it just doesn't make any sence.

34 posted on 12/06/2004 5:42:42 PM PST by bird4four4
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To: bird4four4
The idea I got of them when I was posting on Islamic forums (and driving them nuts), was that the big hairy Mo was the last messenger, and what he said was Allahs revised message to replace whatever came before. Then again, they also contradict themselves by saying the message of Allah is constant ie, it does not change and is eternal. This does not make sense either because there are plenty of contradictions in the Quran.

It's further proof that the head pedophile Muhammed (pork be upon him) was a liar or their delusional rock god suffers from the very human condition of not being able to make its mind up and backtracking. Real hilarious for a religion with the concept of "din al-fitrah" (the original religion).

35 posted on 12/06/2004 6:04:52 PM PST by USF (I see your Jihad and raise you a Crusade ™ © ®)
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