British Muslims Want Christ Back in Christmas

The Christian Science Monitor reported Wednesday that in the UK, sanity may start to prevail.

Muslim leaders joined Britain's equality watchdog Monday in urging Britons to enjoy Christmas without worrying about offending non-Christians.

"It's time to stop being daft about Christmas. It's fine to celebrate and it's fine for Christ to be star of the show," said Trevor Phillips, chairman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Mr. Phillips, reflecting on media reports of schools scrapping nativity plays and local councils celebrating "Winterval" instead of Christmas, worried the unintended consequences of secularizing the holiday would "fuel community tension."

Quite right. It's time to stop being daft in the U.S. as well.

Here's what leaders of some other faiths had to say about it:

Muslim Council of Britain spokesman Shayk Ibrahim Mogra said, "To suggest celebrating Christmas and having decorations offends Muslims is absurd. Why can't we have more nativity scenes in Britain?"

"Hindus celebrate Christmas, too. It's a great holiday for everyone living in Britain," said Anil Bhanot, general secretary of the UK Hindu Council.

Sikh spokesman Indarjit Singh said: "Every year I am asked 'Do I object to the celebration of Christmas?' It's an absurd question. As ever, my family and I will send out our Christmas cards to our Christian friends and others."

It's such a shame that great nations have to be told they're being stupid about Christmas, but at least Great Britain is being told. That's better than what's happening here in the States. My overall impression of the news stories I've seen is that schools and city governments are avoiding entirely the possibility that maybe somebody might conceivably be offended by the existence or mention of (gasp!) Christmas.

Last time I looked, Christmas was the official name of a federal holiday. December 25th hasn't been renamed to be "Winter Holiday" or just the generic "Holiday." People don't go back to work on the 26th and ask their buddies, "Hey, what did you get for Holiday?" But I'd be willing to bet that at some of the schools where the mention of Christmas is banned, teachers will be avoiding post-Christmas conversation as though the topic is as distasteful as the sudden appearance of fecal material on the classroom floor.

It's good to see that, at least somewhere, good sense is starting to prevail. Let's just hope they spread the good word. That word is "Christmas."