Now then keep Essex out of this!
Signed, Essex Girl
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The Guardian would have us believe that only 'flaky' Christians are likely to be upset by Gregg's depiction of the Nativity, placing a sausage roll in the manger.
So, Christians are 'flaky" (oh so witty, not) to be upset?
I am no longer a church-goer but I was brought up as a Christian, as were many of us I suspect, and I am offended that Greggs think it is OK to offend as they have. Not only that, journalists like this oh so lofty sneering one place the blame for any offence on silly Christians who are obviously not normal if they have faith.
It really sickens me, this media hatred of certain groups when some are beyond criticism.
One journalist suggested all religions are open to parody and it is par for the course. I'd suggest otherwise. Make fun of Mohammed and you'll be blown to smithereens. Think Charlie Hebdo.
The hilarity the defaced manger scene has caused over the internet puzzles me. Greggs in their insensitivity have become the comic heroes and Christians, for believing in Christ's lowly birth, are the idiotic 'right wing' reactionaries, according to left wing media.
I am cross at the power of social media to dictate what we should think, but also on behalf of my truly lovely Christian friends. One told me she has 'turned the other cheek'.
How do you feel?
Now then keep Essex out of this!
Signed, Essex Girl
Have we become more tolerent when beheading people and shooting children is still considered the right idea ?
Unless they're from Essex, that is.
By the way, Elrel, Cornwall is going to get its first Greggs soon.
True inishowen, but the scots are mean and the Welsh get it too, the English are perfect in every way
Inishowen, the French, the Australians, Chinese are all joked about by the Brits who think they are superior.
different generationterribull my granny would have been frothing at the mouth...but we should have become slightly more tolerant since the middle of the last century..no?
Inishowen - who gets joked about depends upon the joker.
Plenty of Norfolk jokes. Jokes about the Cornish from Devon. Jokes about a specific suburb of towns and cities from London to Telford.
Belgium if you’re Dutch or French. Newfoundland if you’re Canadian. And so it goes on ...
Respect for all is what’s needed.
There are an awful lot of supposed Christians who worship mammon.
That places religions in a separate category when it comes to freedom of expression. Not healthy I would suggest.
Most people do not worship mammon. Mammon means greed or material wealth.
We can either make fun of all religions, or none. I suggest none.
I agree, Greggs wouldn't dare make fun of any other religion. While we're at it. I really hate the way it's still acceptable to tell Irish jokes. The Irish are a well educated nation, yet jokes inferring that they are thick are still told. I went on a cruise and the comedian's act was all about making fun of the Irish. What other nationality is joked about in this way?
Wasn't it a reverend who wrote a letter to the Guardian rather than the Guardian itself?
He had a point. Not being able to accept a certain amount of friendly mockery can lead to fundamentalism.
I think that it is a shame that Grieggs apologised. People shouldn't set out to deliberately cause offence but if people choose to be offended, that is a matter for them.
To those asking whether people would do the same to Islam, the answer is likely to be no, but surely most people see that as a weakness in that faith rather than a strength.
Trisher the Charlie Hebdo scenario has been covered way back in this thread. Diddy1 did you not read the original post in blue it pretty much encapsulates the issue.
I dont know what this is about, as I dont live in the UK and dont get adverts, Greggs or anybody elses but I am intrigued as to what it is about, please can someone explain, and put me out of my misery.
I wonder if those who are so offended realise that they are actually at the start of a sliding scale which escalates into the actions of the bombers of Charlie Hebdo? Of course they condemn these actions but in expressing such offence they are taking one step along the same road. It's a road that has led in the past to all sorts of conflict.
Better perhaps to turn the other cheek.
True we are not a country of Christians, we are a country with several million living in it.
As the bible tells us - you cannot worship God and mammon, the majority now worship mammon
Paddyann, I know when I was winding up my mother's estate after she died, she made many contributions to various charities. I also know that if she were still alive the Greggs ad would have offended her, that would have been her prerogative and in retrospect whilst I wouldn't have been sympathetic to that once I am now. I don't see that "getting all fired up about nonsense" precludes one from caring about issues such as the homeless. One man's nonsense is another man's deeply held belief. God knows we are surrounded by all manner of nonsense these days, but heaven forbid if you were to describe some issues as such.
We are not a Christian country - our values are rooted in the Christian-Judeo tradition - not the same thing at all
What on earth makes you think it’s backfired on Greggs?
I'm glad it has backfired on Greggs! Only an uneducated marketing idiot could have come up with something like this. I am a practicing catholic and find it absolutely offensive. We claim to be a christian country... well Greggs have just put paid to that theory!!
I didn't say ALL christians were uncaring or even the christians on here, just that they shouldn't be getting all fired up about nonsense when theres a world thats filled with issues that ARE offensive...like homelessness,like child poverty ,like the sick and vulnerable being targetted by the government of the UK .Anger is normal and allowed ..but in my book it should be channeled towards the things that would make a difference and not a silly ad that people will forget about...or would have if they hadn't made such a big deal of it. For you and anyone else 's information I grew up in a very christian family where caring for PEOPLE was the priority.I am not a believer ...but I still live by the guidlines of the parents who I was lucky to have .Although I call them humanist principles now not christian because I dont tag them onto a need for worship in or out of a church or filling the coffers of those churches who are inordinately wealthy while families in their parishes have to struggle to survive .
I too would respect their faith sunseeker as I respect all faiths and atheism
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