By BRIDGET COOK
CASEY council has urged the community to not play Grinch and steal the fun out of Christmas by trying to be too politically correct.
Councillors voted unanimously in favour of the council advising occupants of council facilities in the strongest way possible that Casey advocates the celebration of Christmas, as well as Easter and other religious festivals, in all of its facilities.
Councillor Gary Rowe, who raised the idea at Tuesday night’s council meeting, said political correctness had gone mad and asked all councillors to support his call to restore the true meaning of Christmas.
Cr Rowe said he raised the motion after hearing about organisations, such as childcare and community centres, in both Casey and neighbouring municipalities not celebrating Christmas in a traditional manner out of fear of offending other religious backgrounds.
“It’s something I picked up on last week – conversation that some centres wouldn’t be celebrating Christmas in the traditional way,” he said.
“We felt as a council, and I personally as a councillor, that we wanted to send the message to all of our community centres, preschools and childcares that they are expected to celebrate Christmas traditionally, as well as be inclusive with other religions and their festivals.”
Cr Rowe said political correctness had gone mad in this country.
“This nation was built on Christian beliefs from the days of the first fleet we have celebrated a Christian Christmas ever since,” he said.
“This is a country built on Christian beliefs and it should be celebrated.
“Recent figures from 2011 show that over 62 per cent of Australians are either Protestants or Catholic and only 6 per cent of Australians are other religions.
“We should also support the other religious festivals, those of all Australians along with Christmas and Easter.
“We are one nation for all people and religions.”
City of Casey mayor Geoff Ablett said councillors wanted to make a stand against political correctness gone mad at Christmas time.
“Christmas is a time of joy and peace, religion, and a time for reflecting and spending time with loved ones,” he said.
“For years, politically correct terms like ‘festive season’ have snuck into our vocabulary diluting the importance of Christmas.
“We are encouraging all Casey residents to celebrate Christmas by proudly displaying nativity scenes, hanging Christmas motifs, singing carols and using the word Christmas.”
