LEST WE FORGET..

Despite not being very `religious,` I have been heartened in the run up to Christmas to read that, finally, some people are beginning to stand up against the pernicious political correctness that has the temerity to suggest that celebrating Christmas in the traditional way is somehow offensive and disrespectful to other religions.

I don`t know about you, but I`m as fed up with political correctness as I am with health and safety and the idea that we should go through life continually pandering to the perceived sensitivities of minority groups whilst undermining the traditions of the majority is frankly daft.  So it was good to see that the Archbishop of Canterbury has added his voice to defend Christmas against those allegedly marginalising Christianity.

Last week, the former Archbishop, Lord Carey, showed his support for the Christian Concern "Not Ashamed" campaign as he highlighted what he called attempts to "airbrush" Christianity out of public life. In particular, he referred to Christmas, saying that Christmas lights and nativity scenes had become something to be "ashamed" of.

Dr Rowan Williams, the current Archbishop,added, "The weary annual attempts by right-thinking people in Britain to ban or discourage Nativity plays or public carol-singing out of sensitivity to the supposed tender consciences of other religions fail to notice that most people of other religions and cultures both love the story and respect the message."

Nice one.  After all, as Homer Simpson once memorably recalled, "It`s easy to forget the real meaning of Christmas is to celebrate Santa`s birthday."