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Political correctness could have made Christmas disappear from general view in Britain.
No more office parties. Someone might be offended.
Over recent years “politically correct” (PC) nervousness has seen the word “Christmas” disappearing.
The season has morphed into “winter holidays” instead.
The Christmas festival has been saved being thrown into in the PC archive by UK Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chairman David Isaac.
He’s told employers not to worry about offending other faiths by acknowledging Christmas.
It’s not the first time Isaac has argued against PC interfering with religious views.
Last year Isaac argued an advert, with Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and others reading lines from the Lord’s Prayer, should be allowed to be played before “Star Wars. The Force Awakens”.
Nonetheless, the UKs three largest cinema chains, the Odeon, Cineworld and Vue, refused to air the advert.
“Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right and it shouldn’t be suppressed through fear of offending”, Isaac said.
An upcoming EHRC report comments citizens in the UK don’t have a “right” not to be offended.
It continues: “in our view, respect for people’s right to express beliefs with which others might disagree, is the mark of a democratic society.
“We are concerned that a single supplier is effectively able to control a very large proportion of the market and effectively impose a blanket ban on advertising of a religious nature.”
The cinemas attract about 60% of the UK cinema customers.
Isaac is firmly of the opinion that corporations should not suppress religion.
“Lots of employers have now become really worried about doing anything discriminatory regarding their Muslim or Jewish staff.”
He notes many employers don’t understand the law. This makes them unsure how much support to provide staff to accommodate specific cultural or religious practices.
It’s a matter of balance, he says.
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