BB FANS

LONDON, Dec. 5 British law firm Peninsula has said that nearly 75 percent of companies in the country are choosing not to display Christmas decorations.

The law firm said companies are avoiding yuletide displays in the workplace out of fear that an offended party could sue for discrimination, Sky News reported Tuesday.

Christmas trees and decorations may well be a thing of the past in many workplaces this Christmas as political correctness culture has spread to the workplace, Peter Done, managing director of Peninsula, told Sky News.
Although employers who are enforcing the ban are skeptical and dismayed by this trend, they feel they have little choice in the matter due to the threat of litigation, as they have to protect themselves, their reputation and their livelihood.

Copyright 2006 by UPI

*big sigh*

I agree cc.

nearly 75%? I find that a bit hard to believe.

I would have thought an offended party could only sue for discrimination if they were prevented from having a display proper to their own traditions, beliefs, etc.

If 'Christmas' decorations are considered to be 'Christian', then I think individuals should be entitled to have their own emblems and decorations for their festivals. This was always the case in the primary school where my children attended...every festival was celebrated, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Celtic, Pagan, and anything else anyone could think of.

Although very few decorations in the workplace, tinsel, snowmen, Santa Clauses, etc, actually depict anything specific to the Christian tradition.

My work desk is a no-tinsel zone, but I'm partial to a nice bit of real ivy.

Lawyers. What did people expect?

Calrissian: Denny Crane

Reid: Christmas ban is 'mad'

EFFORTS to ban Christmas traditions like festive decorations or even the word “Christmas” itself were today branded “mad” by Home Secretary John Reid.

Mr Reid said he was “sick and tired” of so-called politically correct decisions.

Some of which have reportedly resulted in tinsel and baubles being outlawed in offices for fear of offending non-Christian religious minorities.

He also spoke out against British Airways’ decision to suspend a Heathrow check-in worker who wanted to wear a cross over her uniform.

Mr Reid said: “Like the vast majority of people, I’m sick and tired of this sort of mad political correctness that said you can’t wear a crucifix on British Airways, or you can’t put up decorations for Christmas, or you can’t call Christmas ‘Christmas’.

“I think most people just find this completely over the top and I would rather have a bit of what I call PCS - Plain Common Sense - than PC - Political Correctness.”

Mr Reid’s comments echo those of fellow Cabinet minister Jack Straw, who yesterday urged people to “put the tinsel in the office”.

theSUN

Thought for the Season


--------------------------------

*sigh* here too.

I've yet to meet a member of any minority group who may be offended (being a member of a minority group myself). Personally I find it more offensive that people make these decisions in the belief that we may be offended .

However, I do agree to some extent. Tinsel should be banned purely on the grounds that it's garish, out-dated, cheap, and just plain tacky .

tf (in a tinsel-free zone)

totally agree about the tinsel - can't stand the stuff.

And also about all this pc-ness. Usually decided by people who haven't been near a church* since they were about five, if at all. If they are worried about offending minority groups, then they should take into account that Christians pretty much ARE a minority group in Britain now because even though people put "Christian" on census forms, only about six per cent of the population go to church regularly anyway.

*replace with mosque/synagogue/gurdwara/Stonehenge as appropriate