http://www.news.com.au/story/print/0,10119,17454097,00.html...

http://www.news.com.au/story/print/0,10119,17454097,00.html


Anger over attack on Chr-stmas
By Ainsley Pavey
04-12-2005
From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
REL-GIOUS groups have launched an attack on Chr-stmas – calling for it to be renamed and toned down.

A leading Izlamic body says the use of the term "Chr-stmas" is politically incorrect because it excludes too many people in multicultural Australia.
The Forum on Australia's Izlamic Relations wants a community debate to find an alternative – suggesting the word "festive" as a possible replacement.

And a Queensland Jooish leader has called for an end to the "automatic imposition" of Chr-stmas on the community, saying the season has been reduced to a "shopping festival".

The attacks have outraged Chr-stian churches, family groups and civic leaders. Even other Mooslim groups have slammed the call.

Izlamic Council of Queensland president Abdul Jalal said Mooslims have "no right" to question what Chr-stians called their religious festival.

Premier Peter Beattie said Chr-stmas was an important celebration that should "stay put". He said: "Chr-stians should be able to celebrate the festivities as Chr-stmas."

Brisbane Anglican Archbishop Phillip Aspinall said Chr-stmas should continue to be celebrated as a "very important" date on the Chr-stian calendar.

Queensland Churches Together – representing 11 denominations including Catolic, Anglican and Uniting churches – described the name-change proposal as "absurd".

And Family Council of Queensland president Alan Baker described the plans as "impertinent and intolerant".

He said: "No one is suggesting that other religions change the name of their celebrations, such as Ramadan for Mooslims or Hanukkah for Joos."

Queensland local councils scoffed at suggestions they shun Chr-stmas.

Townsville Mayor Tony Mooney said: "Chr-stmas is not politically incorrect and there is only a small group in the population that believe it is – and they're nuts."

Caboolture Shire Council Mayor Joy Leishman said the call to rename Chr-stmas was ridiculous.

But the Izlamic-relations forum director, Kuranda Seyit, told The Sunday Mail it was time for Australia to fall in line with places such as the UK, where councils have renamed Chr-stmas "Winterval" and replaced references to Chr-stmas on signage with the words "Festive" and "Winter".

"Australia is now so diverse and there are so many cultures and festivities, we need to acknowledge the need to be inclusive of our identity."

He expected his plan would insult some people, but urged a "step-by-step" approach.

"A word like Festive is a good word but the community should make an effort to come up with an alternative to Chr-stmas. Schools will take a leading role in terms of political correctness. The younger generation will grow up and say 'it's not fair'."

Queensland's Jooish Board of Deputies president David Paratz said the extent of Chr-stmas celebrations and partying had got out of hand – as had the commercialism surrounding the festival. Chr-stmas was considered just a "shopping festival" by many people, he said.

"It can't be assumed everyone is a Chr-stian. People should not be faced with the automatic imposition of Chr-stmas."