ciphergoth: (Default)
Paul Crowley ([personal profile] ciphergoth) wrote2010-09-18 12:22 pm

Not the bloody War on Christmas again

there was a banner saying Merry Christmas across the front of the council house, Christmas lights, Christmas trees in the main civil squares, regular carol-singing sessions by school choirs, and the Lord Mayor sent a Christmas card with a traditional Christmas scene wishing everyone a Merry Christmas
-- Birmingham Council, on their 1997 and 1998 event "Winterval". See also Ten years on from the Winterval row by Mike Chubb.
zotz: (Default)

[personal profile] zotz 2010-09-18 11:54 am (UTC)(link)
Ah. I see. From someone who should know better, too.

Incidentally, have you been to Westminster Great Hall? It's really very fine.

[identity profile] ciphergoth.livejournal.com 2010-09-18 12:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Know better? Why would the Pope prefer truth over prejudice? Not that he specifically invoked Winterval, but it comes up a lot in these discussions and I thought I'd just puncture one specific myth.

Do you mean here? If so, no!

[identity profile] alextiefling.livejournal.com 2010-09-18 12:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Yesterday's Evening Standard made me very grumpy. I held it up in the office, pointed to the headline, and said 'Ah, shit - there goes our plan to abolish Christmas, then!'

But then - as you'll have gathered from my recent posts - I think that the Pope is one of the utterly worst things about contemporary Christianity.
zotz: (Default)

[personal profile] zotz 2010-09-18 12:58 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not surprised he takes that point of view, but he ought to know better - he's an intelligent educated man with good access to news and information. His ignorance is willful rather than unavoidable.

Not that Great Hall, no - this one. It's a public place, so (although you'll have to go through the security frisking) you can just walk in to see it.

[identity profile] ciphergoth.livejournal.com 2010-09-18 01:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah yes, saw that when Lil spoke at a meeting - it's very impressive!

[identity profile] valkyriekaren.livejournal.com 2010-09-18 03:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, walked through it the other day, on my way to a meeting. Very impressive. They had it all Pope-ready with gold chairs and everything.