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OK, I'm going to throw a controversial topic out there, and see how it goes.

It's all about a media myth which has been circulating since 1998, and has grown into a monster since. Those who are my Facebook friends may have seen the note I posted earlier about this subject, which in turn was prompted by one of my Facebook friends posting one of those moronic things that do the rounds every year.

The myth is as follows: Councils and Government are trying to outlaw use of the word "Christmas" for fear of offending ethnic minorities, especially Muslims.

I'd be interested to see what people think of this. But remember, as always that this is a public forum. I will be keeping a very close eye on this topic given the nature of posts we have had in the past few weeks, so play nicely.

You may find it useful to visit this website first, and download the PDF entitled "The Winterval Myth". It's free (although one can make a Paypal donation if one wishes). You will be directed to a download site which is virus-free and 100% safe. The PDF is an essay explaining how this whole myth grew up from a local council creating a marketing idea for Christmas to the point where we're not allowed to celebrate it in case Muslims bomb us (yeah, some people really think that). It's well worth the time it takes to read it.

http://www.thedisinformed.co.uk/2010/12 ... rval-myth/

What do YOU think?

I'd much rather they ban Halloween

Now there's a worthwhile cause.

A classic case of not believing everything you hear.

I have found that most councils address the balance by recognizing other religious festivals. Rather than banning the use of Christmas.

I would back the banning of Halloween (extortion by any other name).

Looks like the newspapers are still trying to pass off the "Christmas Myth" as fact even after 12 years!

8 November 2011 The Daily Mail issued an apology for using the term 'Winterval' in a article it ran on 26 September 2011, stating:

Winterval was the collective name for a season of public events, both religious and secular, which took place in Birmingham in 1997 and 1998. We are happy to make clear that Winterval did not rename or replace Christmas.

And yet I remember an episode of QI a few years ago, in which the story of 'Winterval' being an attack on Christmas, was stated as complete rubbish!

The Mail issued that "clarification" back in 2006, or something like that, probably buried in a small corner on page 32.

Unfortunately, 12 years of drip, drip stories fed into the public's collective conscience has led to people still believing it.