- TORONTO (Reuters) - Christmas
is becoming an endangered word in parts of Canada in a rash of politically
correct behavior -- such as renaming a Christmas tree a "holiday tree"
-- that even non-Christians dismiss as silly.
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- Toronto city officials began the flap last week when
they called the 50-foot tree set up outside City Hall a "holiday tree."
That sparked much derision and prompted the city's mayor to set the record
straight.
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- "Our special events staff went too far with their
political correctness when they called it a holiday tree," said Mayor
Mel Lastman. "They were trying to be inclusive and their hearts were
in the right place, but you can't be politically correct all the time."
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- The mayor plans to introduce a motion in city council
this week that will officially put the word Christmas in front of the word
tree in all future city documents.
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- The name change led to complaints from Christians and
left many non-Christians wondering what all the fuss was about. "To
take a generic term, slap it on a symbol that really only has significance
to one religion...and then say we're being multicultural does not really
fit," said Anita Bromberg of the Jewish group B'nai Brith Canada.
"Whatever you call it, it's still a Christmas tree."
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- "You're not being inclusive when you try to apply
one religious symbol to everybody. You call it what is."
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- Toronto has become the most multicultural city in Canada,
with communities from around the world and residents who speak more than
100 different languages.
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- "I'm not sure what they're trying to achieve,"
Ahmed Shoker of the Canadian Islamic Congress in Saskatoon said on Monday.
"Everyone has the full right to celebrate in their own way."
-
- Toronto is not alone in its efforts to stress a holiday
spirit rather than talking about Christmas.
-
- The Royal Canadian Mint has a commercial in which it
changes the old holiday standard "Twelve Days of Christmas" to
"Twelve Days of Giving." But Mint spokesman Phil Taylor said
the wording was merely meant to "position coins as a great gift for
the holidays for whatever faith."
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- "It's the same kind of over the top political correctness,"
said Bernie Farber, Ontario executive director of the Canadian Jewish Congress.
"There seems to be a fear within certain circles in Canada that people
are going to react to Christmas in a negative way. But it's not the case.
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- "It's time to sort of get on with life, accept everybody
for who they are and revel in their holidays as opposed to look for ways
to deny people's holidays. It's just plain silly."
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