HAVE A VERY CHRISTMAS
AUSTERE
In our current economic times, is it possible for everyone to enjoy Christmas the same? What does this mean for those of us who live in comfort?
On Christmas Day, 2014, David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, all either partially or directly responsible for the economic hardships that millions endure in the UK, gave messages about Christmas hope and Christian values. Before going into the absurdity of these comments in depth, let's first consider the reasons why "Christian values" was so high up on the agenda of the Christmas messages. UKIP seems to be everywhere; listening to LBC Radio gives the impression that every other person votes UKIP; the comments below the line of newspaper articles from the Daily Mail to the Guardian are filled with anti-immigration frenzy and UKIP support, and the party is making momentous moves in the polls. This year, the news broke that the traditional nativity play has been banned/pushed aside/neglected (depending on the news source) in favour of "political correctness" and "collective guilt" according to the head of the Evangelical Allicance, Don Horrocks. Horrocks goes as far to say "perhaps it reflects a nation too embarrassed to face up to its Christian heritage". 1
Christmas is a political as well as spiritual tool. In the hands of far-right groups, the holiday is all what makes Britain Britain; what keeps the people British, and what maintains particular morals in British schools. No mention of Ethiopia, Mali, and other African countries practising Chritianity before the gospel reached British shores, or even how the figurehead of the religion is North African. And so, whenever immigration-based moral panics arise, Christmas will also be mentioned: how now we supposedly have to say "Happy Holidays" because it offends Muslims; or how "Winterval" is actually a real thing.
Without trying to demean whatever negative effects uncontrolled immigration may have on our society, the media spin has been powerful enough to not only create racial hostility on our streets, but lead people to a political group that has been opaque on
Christian values? The party leaders David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg having a chat (above) and below: the Love Activists, who succeeded in giving a free Christmas lunch to the homeless and needy in the former RBS building. The premises is currently being used as a shelter.
its other policies.
And so, when the party leaders gave their statements about Christmas, it was more than a feel-good message. These were pitiful reassurances to a public that has turned its back on mainstream politics. Alongside David Cameron's proposed immigration laws, these statements were to tell people that race, immigration and culture was high on the politcal agenda.
Surely the alledged Westminster paedophile ring should be higher?
1http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-30277344