Comments on: Tories hoist by their own Christmas card

By: Matthew Huntbach

Matthew Huntbach — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:12:50 +0000

There are two separate issues here. One is the idea that we have to expunge all references to what until recently was the major aspect of this celebration, and that those who still view it in that way should feel forced to do it only in private – that is wrong, and can sometimes be done by people who are anti-religion but who find “but it offends Muslims/Jews/etc” a more acceptable line than ‘It offends me because I don’t like religion”.

The other is taking a little care with your Christmas cards. I myself do generally send cards with religious images to those who I know, as I do, celebrate this festival in its religious sense. I would take care, however, to send cards without such images and with the words “seasons greetings” to anyone I know who has an allegiance to another religion. It’s annoying that the card manufacturers often don’t pick this up, so you often find cards with religious imagery and yet the “season’s greetings” words, and cards which look nicely secular and yet have the word “Christmas” in them.

By: Winterval: the Christian media has more questions to answer than local councils

Winterval: the Christian media has more questions to answer than local councils — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:19:28 +0000

[...] This year, in fairness to the media (and perhaps partly a reflection of the growing power of blogs to embarrass journalists who find their names and errors plastered over the internet for their colleagues and friends to find?*) there have been not very many such stories so far. Probably the highest profile one – over the Christmas cards sold by the Conservative Party – did have the journalistic justification of being about the Conservatives being willing to make money out of selling the sorts of cards that David Cameron had previously mocked. [...]

By: Terry Gilbert

Terry Gilbert — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:44:56 +0000

I put seasons greetings or similar on mine because I am not a Christian, not because I think Muslims and Jews will be offended.

Happy solstice, everyone!

By: Mark Valladares

Mark Valladares — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:33:19 +0000

Jessica,

Thanks for your answer. As you well know, it’s all about context, and now I know more about you, I can place a more accurate value on your comments. By teasing you in this way, we now know that you are, at least, an acquaintence of the Conservative Party leader, and the nature of your original comment implies fairly strongly that your aim is to defend the Conservative Party from attack for having made a statement in one year to attract support and then acted entirely in contradiction to that stance two years later.

All perfectly legitimate, I suspect. And no, I don’t really care about the issue itself. I care about the principle of saying one thing and doing another for political advantage, whilst pretending that you’re being entirely consistent and criticising your opponents for behaving in the same manner.

And your sensitivity to the issue is quite enlightening too…

By: Paul Gurney

Paul Gurney — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:30:37 +0000

Why not concentrate what is on the front of the card and not what is on the inside. Who cares as long as the image is seasonal and fun. Don’t be so serious.

By: tony hill

tony hill — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:27:24 +0000

A few years ago I sent out a card to all my customers, from me personally, after Christmas, with no religious imagery, and saying Season’s Greetings. Nonetheless I got a rude letter back from someone accusing me of of hijacking Christmas for commercial ends. I don’t bother to send anyone a card any more.

By: fdp100

fdp100 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:53:18 +0000

Puts world recession and global warming into perspective.
If you really want to be serious, why not debate why all successful X-factor girls have legs like matchsticks and all the boys have very pretty faces.

By: Nick Hodder

Nick Hodder — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:40:26 +0000

“You’re talking about a split on the issue of the wording in Christmas cards?? Grow up.”

Are you saying that Christmas cards are not important issue? Then why did Cameron feel the need to comment on it? Seems like a major Tory split to me. :-p

By: Jessica Ashman

Jessica Ashman — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:00:01 +0000

Mark,

I do know what the Cameron’s personal Christmas card looks like, I have recived one from them for the last 3 years.

Your talking about a split on the issue of the wording in Christmas cards?? Grow up.

By: Mark Valladares

Mark Valladares — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:01:24 +0000

Jessica,

Are you claiming that there’s a split between David Cameron and his Party? Or are you just spinning madly on behalf of CCO? And do you know what David’s personal card looks like? Perhaps you might like to keep you head down on this one, whilst we note that, in this instance, the Conservatives say one thing for public consumption and do something quite different for profit.

By: Jessica Ashman

Jessica Ashman — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:32:25 +0000

You do realise that the cards metioned by the Times are those sold to the public at the Conservative parties online shop and not David Cameron’s personal Christmas card?

By: Simon Titley

Simon Titley — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:07:32 +0000

This won’t stop the Daily Mail and Daily Express running their usual faked stories about local authorities “banning” Christmas.