Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Arrowman · 11-27-2002, 05:43 PM

<a href="http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,5573711^661,00.html" target="_blank">Kinders slap ban on Santa</a>

Quote:

More than a dozen centres across Melbourne yesterday said they will not let Father Christmas in the door this year.

Some, including a Croydon childcare centre run by the Swinburne University of Technology, will substitute a clown for Saint Nick to avoid offending minority groups....

...Swinburne spokeswoman Jenni Austin said staff had decided that Santa was not appropriate.

"As a university, we have to be sensitive to the views of minority groups," she said.

Actually, as a university, I would have thought their first job would be to think clearly.

Quote:

There will be Santa Claus segregation at Batman Park kindergarten, in Northcote. He will visit only one of four groups.

"There is a Muslim family in one of the groups and we didn't want to offend them," a worker said.

No, not with Santa being such a Christian symbol and all.

Jesus H Christ on an Australian Standards Approved Child Safe Pogo Stick!

How are we to promote any kind of realistic tolerance and diversity in our society, when these morons are making this sort of decision? This sort of ignorant and uneducated action is just the sort of thing that the Religious Right feed on with their "Death Of Our Culture" propaganda. And quite frankly, when crap like this is going down, who can blame the talkback radio set for believing them?

The reaction from government to this lunacy?

Quote:

... a Government spokeswoman said ... "We would hope that common sense would prevail because all children love Santa."

"Common sense"? How about "Demonstrate an IQ bigger then their shoe size"? How about something a little gutsier and more to the point - like maybe "The government is very disappointed that people entrusted with the care and education of our children could make such a wrongheaded and ignorant decision. It is particularly galling that a university, supposedly one of the havens of educated and clear thought in our society, should fall for this stupidity."

I wonder if anyone will listen to the "horse's mouths"....

Quote:

But Australian Arabic Council chairman Roland Jabbour said the no-Santa ruling was going too far.

"Santa's part of the Australian way of life. We don't know how such a thing could be offensive."

Jewish Community Council president Grahame Leonard agreed.

"We're all about celebrating cultural diversity, not repressing it," he said.

Sorry guys - we (the white middle class) know what's good for you in the name of equity. Shut up and let us patronise you.

[ November 27, 2002: Message edited by: Arrowman ]

Doubting Didymus · 11-27-2002, 06:11 PM

I hate santa. The less I see of fat ugly men in cotton wool beards and cheap costumes the better. Of course it is stupid to ban santa for fear of 'offending minority groups' (which ones?). But I would be in favour of banning him because he is annoying.

As for replacing him with a clown, how many phobic little children (and adults) is that going to offend?

lunachick · 11-27-2002, 06:30 PM

Whoopsie daisies.

[ November 27, 2002: Message edited by: lunachick ]

Egoinos · 11-27-2002, 06:49 PM

My university made the mistake once of getting a lecturer to dress up as Santa for the kids' party. He refused, and decided to dress up as St Nicolas (the bishop) and then gave a lecture to the kids on the history of the concept of Santa!

academics...

Devilnaut · 11-27-2002, 06:56 PM

Quote:

and I believe he is really Satan

Earth to Gemma, but Santa Claus is a fictional character that was based off of St Nicholas. He is *made up* ok? He can't "really" be anything. He is just whatever we imagine him to be.

That said, what we imagine him to be is a kind and altruistic man who rewards good behaviour and gives to the less fortunate.

If you believe that the concept of such a character "separates people from God", then.. I dunno what to say.

[ November 27, 2002: Message edited by: Devilnaut ]

Orestes · 11-27-2002, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gemma therese:
Santa is not from God. He separates people from God, and I believe he is really Satan. I'm sure there's is a quote in the Holy Bible(tm) that specifically disallows Satan in schools. This is a good thing. Santa is not a man of the Good Lord.

Amen.

In that case, let us have even more Santas in the schools of the world.

Devilnaut · 11-27-2002, 07:03 PM

Wait a second: is someone impersonating Gemma Therese?

Gemma Therese
IIDB Regular
User # 6943

gemma therese
IIDB Regular
User # 8096

I smell a troll...

Ok it's lunachick. heh. Thanks for wasting my time.

[ November 27, 2002: Message edited by: Devilnaut ]

lunachick · 11-27-2002, 07:09 PM

Sorry about that. I blame the moon. And boredom. Oh, and the heat.

crazyfingers · 11-27-2002, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Devilnaut:
Wait a second: is someone impersonating Gemma Therese?

Gemma Therese
IIDB Regular
User # 6943

gemma therese
IIDB Regular
User # 8096

I smell a troll...

Ok it's lunachick. heh. Thanks for wasting my time.

[ November 27, 2002: Message edited by: Devilnaut ]

Hmm yes. I just spent the laswt 20 minutes looking into it...

Devilnaut · 11-27-2002, 07:11 PM

You better be careful, I think you might be a lycanthrogemma.

11-27-2002, 06:30 PM	#3
lunachick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NZ Posts: 7,895	Whoopsie daisies. [ November 27, 2002: Message edited by: lunachick ]</p>

11-27-2002, 07:03 PM	#7
Devilnaut Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 374	Wait a second: is someone impersonating Gemma Therese? Gemma Therese IIDB Regular User # 6943 gemma therese IIDB Regular User # 8096 I smell a troll... Ok it's lunachick. heh. Thanks for wasting my time. [ November 27, 2002: Message edited by: Devilnaut ]</p>

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11-27-2002, 06:11 PM	#2
Doubting Didymus Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: East Coast. Australia. Posts: 5,455	I hate santa. The less I see of fat ugly men in cotton wool beards and cheap costumes the better. Of course it is stupid to ban santa for fear of 'offending minority groups' (which ones?). But I would be in favour of banning him because he is annoying. As for replacing him with a clown, how many phobic little children (and adults) is that going to offend?

11-27-2002, 06:49 PM	#4
Egoinos Regular Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 423	My university made the mistake once of getting a lecturer to dress up as Santa for the kids' party. He refused, and decided to dress up as St Nicolas (the bishop) and then gave a lecture to the kids on the history of the concept of Santa! academics...

11-27-2002, 07:09 PM	#8
lunachick Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NZ Posts: 7,895	Sorry about that. I blame the moon. And boredom. Oh, and the heat.

11-27-2002, 07:11 PM	#10
Devilnaut Regular Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Posts: 374	You better be careful, I think you might be a lycanthrogemma.

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