Whats your "personal name"

Apollonia

Widelats wrote: »

Aparently, because of a large number of Muslim people in Birmingham, the council were trying to get Christmas named as "Winter Festival" instead, until the Muslim leaders themselves said they really don't mind our country having xmas and it is well liked by many faiths, then the dumber than dumb and political correctness got dropped by the council - so in effect, it was up to the Muslim community as to whether christians in Birmingham could call it christmas or not ....


What a stupid, stupid, stupid set of people are running this country, i say sack them all.

No, no, no, no! This is a myth! The term was 'Winterval' and it was used to describe ALL the entertainment events in Birmingham during the 3 months of winter. The original campaign included Diwali (festival of Lights), Christmas lights switch on, BBC Children in Need, Aston Hall by Candlelight, Chinese New year, New Years eve etc. The Winterval season also included theatre shows and open air ice rink, Frankfurt open air Christmas market and the Christmas seasonal retail offer. Christmas (still called Christmas) was in the middle of Winterval.

Unfortunately the national press made wildly inaccurate and biased reports and the myth has become very well known.

Winterval would be the equivalent of the summer's entertainment plans being called 'Summerfun Season' or something.


In the words of Stephen Fry; "Any anecdote that begins with the word 'apparently', is unlikely to be true!"

Coopdivi

Can I be the first to say it's Political Correctness gone mad?

mrsmortenharket

LOL!!! I read this in the Echo last night as well!!!!!

It's madness isn't it!

Lisa

rl290

Not using "Christian name" seems to be fairly sensible in a multicultural society. Instead, "given name" or "first name" are far more appropriate. Imagine you were a devout Jew or Muslim, etc, and were constantly asked for your Christian name... the reaction would vary from mild bemusement through to downright offence.

People seems to be bashing this because of other examples of "PC gone mad". While many examples of political correctness ARE ridiculous, this one seems quite sensible.

R

Equaliser123

rl290 wrote: »

People seems to be bashing this because of other examples of "PC gone mad". While many examples of political correctness ARE ridiculous, this one seems quite sensible.

R

Why is it sensible? It's something that has been used in this country for hundreds of years. Who is likely to be offended?

The thing I've never understood is why would people who don't believe in Christ be offended by a reference "Christian name" or anything similar?

rl290

Equaliser, just because something has been done for hundreds of years, it does not mean that it is appropriate for today's society. The phrase was used at a time when the vast majority of people (in theory, everyone) were christened. In this context, a "Christian name" makes perfect sense. However, in today's secularised society it blatantly does not make sense. More importantly, it's just not that big of a deal...

You seem to imply that not using the term "Christian name" would be a great loss of tradition, or erosion of history. But it really isn't that big of a deal. In this case, perfectly good secular alternatives exist: "given name" or "first name".

If I thought this was really an erosion of cultures or values, then I might agree with you. But it's not a big point. In fact, I hate to point this out to you but... in my lifetime I have almost never been asked for my "Christian name" on forms and applications. I'm in my mid-20s, and know of none of my peers who don't talk about "first names". "Christian" names will just die out as the use of the term becomes less over time.

Don't get me wrong. I take no offence of being asked my "Christian name" on the few occasions that it has happened. But when I ask about others, I always ask for their first names - it fulfils the same function but does not have a basis in state-religion-history.

R

sagalout1954

15 years ago I worked in a GP's surgery. Once asked a patient for their Christian name, jeez they practically spat down the phone "I don't have a CHRISTIAN name - I have a FIRST name".

Tempted to give them an appointment time, then 'forget' to put it in the book, talk about bite my head off!

Equaliser123

rl290 wrote: »

You seem to imply that not using the term "Christian name" would be a great loss of tradition, or erosion of history. But it really isn't that big of a deal. In this case, perfectly good secular alternatives exist: "given name" or "first name".

If I thought this was really an erosion of cultures or values, then I might agree with you. But it's not a big point. In fact, I hate to point this out to you but... in my lifetime I have almost never been asked for my "Christian name" on forms and applications. I'm in my mid-20s, and know of none of my peers who don't talk about "first names". "Christian" names will just die out as the use of the term becomes less over time.


/QUOTE]

Not the loss of tradition at all. Believing in God makes me particular sensitive to this sort of thing. Why should something which has always existed change because some unquoted, unknown person MAY take offence.

Don't get me wrong - I couldn't really give a stuff whether someone asks me for my Christian name, first name, given name or otherwise. What I object to is "banning" an expression which is clearly not intended to be offensive to anyone.

I cannot see where the logical conclusion to this sort of PC'ness takes us.

Equaliser123

Have to say that I also find that the Police appear particularly bad at this sort of thing.

The other day I went past South Wales Police HQ. The Welsh flag was flying. Next to a rainbow (gay) flag. Nothing whatsoever against the Police being gay-tolerant (as they should be tolerant of all sexual orientations, races, etc), but why fly a flipping flag to say so?

shandypants5

They are trying to be SEEN to be doing something "PC".

I would prefer it if they just got on with BEING "PC" and caught some propper crooks.