Leading article: A Christmas confection
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.When it comes to Christmas, this newspaper has always been more of a Mr Fezziwig than a Jacob Marley. Imagine our horror, therefore, to learn last week from assorted bishops, home secretaries and swivel-eyed columnists that the abolition of Christmas is under way. Children forbidden to sing the right words to "The Twelve Days of Christmas", the Royal Mail refusing to put Christian symbols on stamps, Birmingham City Council once changing Christmas to "Winterval", the Red Cross scrapping decorations, Job Centres ditto, the Scottish Parliament banning Christmas cards, "Season's Greetings" replacing "Merry Christmas" on government cards and, says a survey by a law firm, three quarters of companies banning Christmas decorations. All, we are told, in the name of political correctness.
But lo! Blow us down with a plastic whistle from a cracker, not a single story seems to withstand scrutiny. Especially the nonsensical claim by that law firm that 74 per cent of all companies had banned decorations "for fear of offending other faiths". Asked to name a single example three days ago, the firm has yet to oblige.
So is this confected indignation a fuss about nothing? Or could it be that there is some other agenda at work? Have, perhaps, the urban legends of Christmas bans become a stick with which to beat religious minorities and local authorities? Whatever it is, this mean and slightly sinister hysteria doesn't seem very Christmasy to us.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments