Politcially Correct

Furthermore, it is not only words that are being prohibited. In November, Gordon Bridge, as Master Cutler, spoke on behalf of the manufacturing industry throughout the Sheffield region when he condemned political correctness as “a blight on our society”. He was outraged at the reports that the RAF Red Arrows display team has been banned from performing their fly-past at the 2012 Olympics especially as the decision was allegedly taken by “some minor civil servant” who thought it was likely to upset minority groups due to it being too patriotic. But why shouldn’t we support our own country? We should be proud of our traditions and be eager to present them to an audience of other cultures. When we travel to other countries we are pleased to acknowledge and learn of their way of life likewise are people travelling here interested in ours. So why must we listen to these “unrepresentative bureaucrats” who are attempting to snuff out many of our major attractions?

To cancel these major attractions is one thing but one of the most appalling examples of banned traditions is the ditching of the centuries old Nativity play. The Telegraph newspaper stated that “Only one in five schools are planning to perform a traditional nativity play this year”.

Many primary schools performed non-religious plays or did not put on a festive performance at all so as not to offend other cultures within the school. Some would argue that the nativity play should no longer be a feature as the schools are now ethnically mixed but Terence Copley, Professor of Educational Studies at Oxford University stated that the idea that other faiths would be offended by the nativity was “crazy”. He said:

“I have never met a single Jew, Muslim, Sikh or Buddhist who has objected to the commemoration and celebration of the birth of Jesus”

I believe that without the teaching of our Christian culture Christmas will revolve completely around the number of presents we receive and any traditions will be lost. Many of the children from different beliefs enjoy the nativity play just as much as the others and the play should continue for years to come. Do we really want our children to never experience the delight of being shepherds dressed in old sheets or angels with their halos made of tinsel?

So, in my opinion, our ever increasing politically correct society needs to re-examine itself. We should be able to relax about what we should or should not say. We should be able to look forward to new fantastic fairy stories in the future. We should carry on the traditions which make us who we are. I think that our community needs to resolve to be a little less PC. Do we really want to be gagged into submission like Desperate Dan? I don’t.