Tony C. Cutajar, San Ġwann
European Union’s year without Christmas
Two items in the World Briefs drew my attention. The Tourism Ministry in Israel decided to help holiday firms plan pilgrimages to sites where Our Lady lived and travelled, including Nazareth. It’s true that this is done to attract more Christian tourists to the Holy Land but it’s great news all the same.
The next news item is deplorable to say the least. The European Commission has issued three million copies of an EU diary for schools but in its wisdom has left out mention of Christmas and yet included Jewish and Muslim festivities.
Is this part of the current anti-Christian campaign to remove mention of Christmas altogether?
I suggest we join forces with the French Minister of European Affairs to protest about this state of affairs. I want to echo his sentiments when he said: “Are we ashamed of our Christian identity? Are we ashamed that the Europe of church towers was the base of our European identity?”
Our own Minister of Foreign Affairs and our five representatives in Brussels should let the Commission know Maltese schools don’t need their diaries.
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Joe Xuereb
Jan 18th 2011, 02:46
Joe Zammit. Quote: 'about 2011 years ago lived God mad Man: Jesus Christ'. You forgot the E for Emmanuel Joe. Please don't tell me it's a Freudian Slip Joe. Calm down Joe. Take it easy Joe.
I have to admit I am a bit confused over this issue. The first report gave us John Dalli kicking up a fuss over what he saw as a 'suspicious?/deliberate? omission. The next day he was apologising I'm not quite sure for what. Can someone enlighten me before I scoop the lot (diaries) and recycle them with some lighter-fuel and a matchstick.
Mario Grungo
Jan 17th 2011, 20:37
It is indeed sad to see European bureaucrats throw away their christian heriatate so as not to upset other religious minorities. In my opinion, if these useless bureaucrats firmly believe that Christmas is not a religious holiday, I suggest they give up their Christmas break altogether and go in for work-if they ever work-during the Christmas break. The vast majority of the nations of the EU are christians. By secularising the states we did not detach ourselves from our christian heritage. But to do away with our religious heritage so as not to offend a few thousands is going over the limit. There are things which make Europeans act like non christians, to mention but one-abortion-which is murder under another name We tolerate, like true democrats, and respect other peoples' beliefs but not at the expense of abolishing my heritage. Would other denominations, when they are in a majority respect Christianity? One only has to look at what happened in Egypt lately. Something deplorable like this would never happen to a minoirty holding different belief in civilized Europe. Let us wake up to our responsibilities and morality and uphold our Christian belief. Otherwise heave help us all!
Robert Callus
Jan 17th 2011, 18:29
What a ridiculous storm in a teacup. It must be a mistake since the reason for omitting Christmas could not be secularism or political correctness. Otherwise they wouldn't have published Jewish, Muslim and Hindu festivities! EU is anti-Christian? Not when the absolute majority of both common people and MEP are Christians themselves! Shame especially on John Dalli - for opening the floodgates for GMO's in the EU - now concerned with Christians forgetting when Christmas is!
Franco Farrugia
Jan 17th 2011, 12:52
Oh, for crying out loud, give us all a break!!!! Didn't you read Commissoner Dalli apologising profusely for the oversight? Isn't it enough for you or do you want to see blood flowing? How pathetic!
W Spencer
Jan 17th 2011, 18:50
What IS pathetic, is the guy " forgetting " all about Christian festivals, and then claiming an " oversight " !! Typical EU Imagine this Government sending out diaries without any Christian festival dates, just other religious festivals, would you accept that as an oversight ?? No you would not !!
Joe Zammit
Jan 17th 2011, 10:23
Including Jewish and Muslim festivities is praiseworthy, but it is a sign of immaturity indeed on the part of the European Commission not to include Christmas.
Of course, Christmas is universal. The date itself 2011 shows and proves Christmas: about 2011 years ago lived God mad Man: Jesus Christ.
Maltese representatives in the EU should make their voice heard in protest to this sign of immaturity on the part of the European Commission.
Thank God, in Malta and Gozo the religious celebration of Christmas is getting stronger and stronger every year: the presence of Jesus in Christmas is seen and echoed in every corner of our Catholic islands. The great numbers who took part in the midnight Mass continues to confirm the importance Christmas still has in the heart of the great majority of Maltese and Gozitans.