is it right that a muslim should deliver a christmas message? why are channel 4 doing this? is christmas not a christian holiday and should it not be respected in such a way? what are your thoughts on this?
2006-12-21 10:20:28 · 28 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Read about it here: http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1964510,00.html
2006-12-21 10:29:34 · update #1
Just in case some people aren't aware the "alternative" christmas message has always meant an alternative to watching the queens speach in the past and has always been a christian message.
2006-12-21 22:46:07 · update #2
So you mean that the sight of a Muslim woman wishing peace and greetings and happy holidays to non-Muslims is a bad thing?
...........................
*scratching head*
So just what would please you?
I suppose you forgot about the time the President hosted an Iftar dinner at the White House during Ramadan... as much as I dislike the monkey, this made me respect him just a bit more.
Edit: After reading so many answers, I see how rampant double standards are herer. On one hand, many Christians are bothered by the idea of dropping "Merry Christmas" to appease non-Christians. On the other hand, when a non-Christian (in this case a Muslim) comes to say "Merry Christmas," well then that's just the straw that broke the camels back! Is it just me or is this so disheartening to humanity?
2006-12-21 10:27:33 · answer #1 · answered by hayaa_bi_taqwa 6 · 6⤊ 6⤋
I find that to be totally fake and stupid. They are making a mockery of the whole thing. It is offensive to both Christians and Muslims, I would think.
Ok, after reading some of the other peoples' answers, maybe I was wrong. I guess it doesn't offend Muslims. I would have thought it would, because they don't celebrate Christmas. I guess it's ok for a Muslim to wish Christians a Merry Christmas.
I'm sure that the Muslim lady is trying to point out that she respects Christians' holiday, even though she doesn't celebrate it herself. That could be a good thing.
2nd Edit:
Ok, as I think about it more and more, I realize that this could be harmful to Muslim women. There will be those people who won't appreciate the tolerance of the Muslim woman who wants her Christian friends and fellow citizens to have a Merry Christmas. Instead, they will start to complain that Muslims are taking over everything, including a Christian holiday. Although that is of course not the case, there will be bigoted people who will feel that way anyway. So this is going to cause further division. They should just leave this alone, and let a Christian give the message.
2006-12-21 10:30:31 · answer #2 · answered by Developing Love 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You have a good point. Just as important is who wrote the message. I think it is important for the exclusiveness of Christianity to be maintained. There are fundamental theological differences between Christianity and every other religion (including Islam) which would make the broadcast almost a joke. I'm not saying the message should be culturally insensitive, in fact I think it should be sensitive. I just believe, like you, it looks much more realistic if a Christian reads a Christian message regarding a Christian festival.
2006-12-21 12:20:51 · answer #3 · answered by Bad bus driving wolf 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
While not being of any faith myself and not disrespecting muslims, I feel that it is ok for a muslim to read a christmas message on TV.But I do strongly disagree with the wearing of a veil. It is NOT worn for religious reasons but as a symbol of culture. I am a biker and wear a helmet due to law but also as a part of my culture.If I go into a shop I have to remove my helmet,muslim women however are not expected to remove the veil. I feel that a veiled muslim reading a christmas message on TV is just making a political statement and it is about time that our politicians grew backbones and outlawed the veil all together in this country.
2006-12-21 13:21:46 · answer #4 · answered by CHRIS P 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think you'll find the key word is 'CHRISTMAS' not 'alternative'. How can a Muslim give a Christmas message/speech? How disrespectful. I wouldn't go and give an Eid speech or anything of the sort, for a number of reasons, which must apply to a Muslim giving a speech on a Christian Holy day.
1) It is rude
2) I wouldn't even care to
3) I wouldn't care about what I was saying.
Can't we have anything to ourselves anymore in Christian England? Please leave us alone, let us celebrate our festivities our way. Stop bringing politics in to everything!!!!
2006-12-21 15:04:36 · answer #5 · answered by Nat 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Channel 4's alternative Christmas message will this year be given by a Muslim woman wearing a full face veil.
http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,1964510,00.html
The key word you missed is "alternative'
An alternative to riding is walking. An alternative to Christian is Muslim, Jewish, Islam, Atheism, or a cult.
2006-12-21 10:33:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Aren't we jumping the gun here a little.
Do we know what the message is that she will deliver?
If it's one of tolerance and good wishes to all, including those of a christian faith I don't see the harm. In fact I see it as a possitive thing. Surely it can't be insulting to anyone if this is the case.
If it's a muslim message only, to muslims as a defiant act against chrismas tradition then that's another matter. And CH4 ought to know better then to stir the big smouldering racial pot. Especially at this time of year. Tolerance should be the message, not segregation.
EDIT: Overcoming hatred: I am inclined to agree with your thought proesses on this too. I think it is a very difficult point to discuss because we all (christians and muslims) are unsure of what is the "correct" thing to do. Any dialogue in any direction will be deemed "insulting" by both camps, but also "welcom" by other members of each camp.
I think urgent debate, in frank terms without the fear of causing offence to anyone is needed. This whole "they can't do that" and "they must do that" culture that both sides have is quite dangerous.
2006-12-21 10:29:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
No it's not right, because she will not believe in what she says, nor will the people listen to her, I respect Muslims for the religion, but not this stupid veil thing, which has nothing to do with God, this is what a man wanted to keep women in there place and it's about time they woke to this, I will not be watching the message, and i think most people will turn it off
2006-12-21 10:59:20 · answer #8 · answered by ringo711 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Its not the Christmas message .It says the ALTERNATIVE Christmas message .I Can`t believe that every one answering here can`t understand what alternative means and there fore why a muslim in a veil might be giving it .My God and i thought i was thick .
2006-12-21 14:00:34 · answer #9 · answered by keny 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think you may have miss read it, i think it said it will be read by someone through a letter box, just to see how they like it ?. anyway how would you like to be called after a piece of cheese cloth ? calm down its only a joke, i was brought up as a Methodist and at the annual concert were not allowed to dance on stage and had to do steps instead...how silly is that ? I tend to find the ethnics without a sense of humour for some reason ?
2006-12-21 10:40:59 · answer #10 · answered by justice 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The muslims recognise the existence of Jesus...but do not think he is the son of God. Yes, Christmas is a christian festival...made up by the Catholic church to convert pagans to christianity...but it is all a big lie cause we don't know when Jesus was born. It doesn't bother me if a muslim does a speech on TV at Christmas...what does bother me is that the church has been farming out a basic lie for centuries.
2006-12-22 06:18:56 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋