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'The Nativity Story' faces Chicago ban
The film's adverts have been banned at the Christkindlmarket festival.
Nov 30 2006
In a case of political correctness gone bonkers, the organisers of the German Christkindlmarket festival in Chicago have dropped New Line as a sponsor for fear that the company's adverts for 'The Nativity Story' will offend non-Christians.
The film, which details Mary and Joseph's difficult journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Christ, hits US cinema screens on Friday and is expected to do big business.
It had avoided 'Passion of the Christ' style controversy, but the ban has made national headlines in the States.
The Mayor's Office of Special Events released a statement saying the ads 'would not only be insensitive to the many people of different faiths who come to enjoy the market for its food and unique gifts, but it would also be contrary to acceptable advertising standards suggested to the many festivals holding events on Daley Plaza.'
In response, an understandably stunned New Line representative said 'We don't understand why our sponsorship would be rejected for religious reasons, particularly considering the fact that our film details the story that inspired the holiday season that the Christkindlmarket was created to celebrate.'
'The Nativity Story' is released in the UK on December 8, where it will doubtless be advertised everywhere.
User comments on this story
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- Stormy Knight said...
- They didn't want anyone to be offended. I say, if one can't exhibit the core of their religion at a festival honoring the day for which whom that religion is based....what's the point? Yes, there will be those who are offended, but you can't live in a democracy with freedom of speech and expect to not be offended by something. Get used to it and exercise your freedom of expression by please kindly shutting up! Posted on Dec 21 2006 18:51
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- Richard Fasam said...
- As an athiest i can still enjoy my children enjoying the meaning of Christmas. How about no advertising on religious buildings: no crosses, no stars, no towers- just call them all "places of worship" and let the ordinary folk get on with their celebrations. Posted on Dec 20 2006 12:11
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- TJ Shaw said...
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It is interesting to know that those of other faiths (those that the PC crowd seem to want to protect from such offense) are often unaffected by Christian expressions of celebration of the birth of our Lord Jesus and are often bemused as to why the PC crowd feel that they will be offended!!!
In truth it is the PC crowd and their agenda that is offended, NOT those of other faiths!!
It is the state of the western world in which we currently live and the result of the enlightenment/post-modern era that is the problem here - not the offense of those of other faiths.
As for me, all I say is, 'Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus.' Posted on Dec 09 2006 02:59 - Report as inappropriate
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- Lenard Bartha said...
- I'm not against any other religions, people have the right to practice any religion they wish to, but Christmas is a Christian holiday, and as Grace has said, if people of other religions don't like it, they can do their shopping another day. Posted on Dec 05 2006 07:10
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- Lenard Bartha said...
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This is nuts. Have people lost their common sense? Well, they have, this political correctness has to stop. As far as I remember, this is still a Christian nation, was founded as a Christian nation, not Buddhist, Muslim or any other religion, and Christmas is for celebrating the birth of Christ. So if you want to do a Christmas Festival, do it for Christmas, or rename the festival and call it something else...
Len Posted on Dec 05 2006 07:07 - Report as inappropriate
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- cheryl sajnani said...
- Gracefully said! Yes, what is happening to the so called forward thinking world??? All this Christmas shopping started because of CHRISTMAS - why can't the few fussy cry babies accept this gracefully? How about not offending the vast majority who DO celebrate Christmas and are not objecting to those who want to participate in the festivities of Christmas? Grow up!!! Christians are not offended when others make a religious display of their religion - after all we should all have the freedom of religious expression? Don't steal Christmas and make it something it IS NOT just to be more commercial - businesses ARE losing their ethics and common sense! Posted on Dec 05 2006 05:18
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- Grace said...
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I am sorry if people are offended by our religion & beliefs of this CHRIST MAS SEASON....they should probably do their CHRIST MAS shopping in another city...country... or on a different day of the year!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS
PRAISE THE LORD AND GOOD WILL TOWARDS MEN,
PEACE ON EARTH!!!!~
AMEN!
JOY TO THE WORLD & SILENT NIGHT!!! Posted on Dec 04 2006 17:07 - Report as inappropriate
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