Your First Christmas E-mail

Written by Paul Fromm

Thursday, 10 November 2011 08:45

** *Your First Christmas E-mail* * **Twas the Month before Christmas** * *Twas the month before Christmas* *When all through our land,* *Not a Christian was praying* *Nor taking a stand.* *See the PC Police had taken away* *The reason for Christmas - no one could say.* *The children were told by their schools not to sing* *About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.* *It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say* *December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.* *Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit* *Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!* *CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-Pod* *Something was changing, something quite odd!* *Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa* *In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.* *As Targets were hanging their trees upside down* *At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.* *At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears* *You won't hear the word Christmas;* *It won't touch your ears.* *Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty* *Are words that were used to intimidate me.* *Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen* *On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !* *At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter* *To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.* *And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith* *Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace* *The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded* *The reason for the season, stopped before it started.* *So as you celebrate 'Winter Break'* *Under your 'Dream Tree'* *Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.* *Choose your words carefully, choose what you say* *Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,* *not Happy Holiday !* *Please, all Christians join together and* *wish everyone you meet* *MERRY CHRISTMAS* *Christ is The Reason for the Christ-mas Season.* *If you agree please forward, if not, simply delete.* Your First Christmas E-mail

 

John Crosbie's Joke Deemed "Inappropriate?

Written by Paul Fromm

Wednesday, 09 November 2011 02:03

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This email newsletter was sent to you in graphical HTML format. If you're seeing this version, your email program prefers plain text emails. You can read the original version online: http://ymlp237.net/zLGb57 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Crosbie's Joke Deemed "Inappropriate? The politically correct are a grim lot. Humour is suspect; most jokes are forbidden or "inappropriate." Now, one of the real characters of Canadian politics, former Mulroeny era Conservative cabinet minister and now Lietenant Governor of Newfoundland,. John Crosbie finds himself in trouble for what is now a rather well known Internet joke. John Crosbie is promising to tone it down after sparking controversy with a joke that involved depression, Pakistani call centres, suicide and an allusion to terrorism. Doing so means the colourful Newfoundlander known for his zingers while wearing many hats – as provincial politician, federal cabinet minister and now Lieutenant-Governor – will take on his toughest role: being boring.The unlikely metamorphosis came as word of his humour ricocheted around the world. Provincial politicians lined up to criticize the joke and local Muslims voiced their displeasure. 'There seem to be people who are so sensitive,' Mr. Crosbie said from St. John’s Thursday. 'If some people are going to be so sensitive, I’ll act accordingly. … I’m certainly going to be more circumspect.' He said he told the joke last week to leaven the tone after swearing in a new cabinet. 'You don’t want to be boring people to death,' he said. 'If I’m speaking, I like to say something that is interesting or amusing.' His remarks included cracks about the dire economy forcing Americans to sneak into Mexico and an energy company to lay off politicians. But it was another joke, which Mr. Crosbie said he received from a friend in the United States, that is receiving most of the attention. In it, a depressed American calls a help line and gets a call-centre in Pakistan. The zinger? “When I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited and asked if I could drive a truck.'" (Globe and Mail, November 3, 2011) And newly elected Newfoundland Premier Kathy Dunderdale denounced the joke as “clearly inappropriate.” "Mr. Crosbie maintains there was nothing offensive about the joke. He said it is well known that many call centres are located in South Asia, and that Pakistan is grappling with internal violence.“No one can say there isn’t a problem with terrorism in Pakistan,” he said. “Anyone with intelligence can see it week after week.'" Exactly. In his autobiography, Mr. Crosbie, scion of a prominent Newfoundland commericial family, slammed “the enforcers of thought and speech control." Sadly, the usually pro-free speech Globe and Mail urged the Newfoundland wit to ”shut up. ... Mr. Crosbie’s unique sense of humour is no excuse. It is derogatory. It is wrong for a Lieutenant-Governor to tell, in his official capacity or any other capacity, because it divides people and promotes laughter at one group in a way that fosters a negative stereotype. It is hurtful coming from the Queen’s representative. The Queen’s representative should stand up for all the people at all times, the Globe scolded. (Globe and Mail, November 4, 2011) Now, hold on, this rant is real nonsense. How is the observation that many services in the West have been outsourced abroad and that some Moslems support terrorist suicide bombings "a negative stereotype." The suggestion is that the statements are somehow not true. But they are true. Furthermore, Crosbie's joke that the economic downturn has driven some Americans to cross the Rio Grand into Mexico passes unnoticed. Apparently, it isn't "inappropriate" to poke fun at Americans. It's also interesting that no one at the reception of 100 people, including the hefty new premier, took exception at the time. Apparently, only when the voices of censorship started applying pressure, did she find, in retrospect, that the joke was "inappropriate." Paul Fromm Director Canadian Association for Free Expression _____________________________ Unsubscribe / Change Profile: http://ymlp237.net/u.php?id=gmjhqsqgsgbbqgujs Powered by YourMailingListProvider

 

John Crosbie's Joke Deemed "Inappropriate?

Written by Paul Fromm

Wednesday, 09 November 2011 01:57

*John Crosbie's Joke Deemed "Inappropriate?* The politically correct are a grim lot. Humour is suspect; most jokes are forbidden or "inappropriate." Now, one of the real characters of Canadian politics, former Mulroeny era Conservative cabinet minister and now Lietenant Governor of Newfoundland,. John Crosbie finds himself in trouble for what is now a rather well known Internet joke. John Crosbie is promising to tone it down after sparking controversy with a joke that involved depression, Pakistani call centres, suicide and an allusion to terrorism. Doing so means the colourful Newfoundlander known for his zingers while wearing many hats – as provincial politician, federal cabinet minister and now Lieutenant-Governor – will take on his toughest role: being boring.The unlikely metamorphosis came as word of his humour ricocheted around the world. Provincial politicians lined up to criticize the joke and local Muslims voiced their displeasure. 'There seem to be people who are so sensitive,' Mr. Crosbie said from St. John’s Thursday. 'If some people are going to be so sensitive, I’ll act accordingly. … I’m certainly going to be more circumspect.' He said he told the joke last week to leaven the tone after swearing in a new cabinet. 'You don’t want to be boring people to death,' he said. 'If I’m speaking, I like to say something that is interesting or amusing.' His remarks included cracks about the dire economy forcing Americans to sneak into Mexico and an energy company to lay off politicians. But it was another joke, which Mr. Crosbie said he received from a friend in the United States, that is receiving most of the attention. In it, a depressed American calls a help line and gets a call-centre in Pakistan. The zinger? “When I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited and asked if I could drive a truck.'" (*Globe and Mail*, November 3, 2011) And newly elected Newfoundland Premier Kathy Dunderdale denounced the joke as “clearly inappropriate.” "Mr. Crosbie maintains there was nothing offensive about the joke. He said it is well known that many call centres are located in South Asia, and that Pakistan is grappling with internal violence.“No one can say there isn’t a problem with terrorism in Pakistan,” he said. “Anyone with intelligence can see it week after week.'" Exactly. In his autobiography, Mr. Crosbie, scion of a prominent Newfoundland commericial family, slammed “the enforcers of thought and speech control." Sadly, the usually pro-free speech *Globe and Mail* urged the Newfoundland wit to ”shut up. ... Mr. Crosbie’s unique sense of humour is no excuse. It is derogatory. It is wrong for a Lieutenant-Governor to tell, in his official capacity or any other capacity, because it divides people and promotes laughter at one group in a way that fosters a negative stereotype. It is hurtful coming from the Queen’s representative. The Queen’s representative should stand up for all the people at all times, the *Globe *scolded. (*Globe and Mail*, November 4, 2011) Now, hold on, this rant is real nonsense. How is the observation that many services in the West have been outsourced abroad and that some Moslems support terrorist suicide bombings "a negative stereotype." The suggestion is that the statements are somehow not true. But they are true. Furthermore, Crosbie's joke that the economic downturn has driven some Americans to cross the Rio Grand into Mexico passes unnoticed. Apparently, it isn't "inappropriate" to poke fun at Americans. It's also interesting that no one at the reception of 100 people, including the hefty new premier, took exception at the time. Apparently, only when the voices of censorship started applying pressure, did she find, in retrospect, that the joke was "inappropriate." Paul Fromm Director Canadian Association for Free Expression