Appeal to keep the Christ in Christmas By Sophie Morris 01Dec03
POLITICAL correctness is killing Christmas - at least, that's what the Howard Government reckons.
On the eve of the festive season, Multicultural Affairs Minister Gary Hardgrave has called on schools and kindergartens to set up nativity scenes, throw Christmas parties and remember the story of the birth of Christ. "We should get out there and flaunt it rather than having people retreat from it," he told The Australian.
Mr Hardgrave is concerned that children are missing out on Christianity's core traditions and values, because schools and businesses are canning celebrations for fear they could offend those of other faiths.
"There is no way on earth people have to concede traditions that have been important to them and their family for generations," Mr Hardgrave said.
"A lot of kindergartens and schools and businesses have decided they have to ban things because they might offend others, and they've got it completely wrong."
As for celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah or the Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr at the end of Ramadan, Mr Hardgrave said that was a choice for each school to make.
Defining multiculturalism as built on a bedrock of Western Christian values and traditions, the minister said input from other cultures was welcome but this occurred in a framework established by past generations.
"Our culture, our tradition are something that has attracted people from all around the world to come and live here and be part of," he said.
"We have an opportunity to learn from the cultures they brought to Australia.
"But we were here first, our framework was in place because of all of the efforts of previous generations. Our framework is what made it possible for all those people to come, and we should never be afraid of it."
Despite not being a regular church-goer himself, Mr Hardgrave said he felt strongly that Australians "should be strong in our faith" and that a return to Christianity's core values would show how to accommodate other religions.
