Principal apologises for saying "Christmas" , by JESSICA LAWRENCE (11 Dec 05) Sunday Mail Online Newspaper, Queensland Australia.

Yeppoon State School head Laurelle Allen wrote the apology after a family claimed she had discriminated against them by using "Christmas" too many times in school newsletters.

The family took offence at phrases such as "Christmas concert" and "Christmas disco", and the principal's greeting: "I would like to take this opportunity to wish all families a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and safe Christmas holiday period."

Personally, I believe that both the complaint and the apology were correct.

It is high time that we stopped offending people by forcing unwanted words, ideas, themes and belief systems into people's minds and daily activities.

We should ban, in public places, all references to all religions (Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and every other religion and anti-religion).

Personal agendas and belief systems with which we disagree and which are "outside" the frame of reference within which we live our lives, should also be removed from the public sphere.

Words and Ideologies that offend "me" as an individual (and I know I am not alone in this) include such terms as:

"Political Correctness," "Multiculturalism," and most words related to politics, such as Left, Right, Center; America, Iraq, United Nations; War, Peace and Triumph. All of these words cause me great emotional pain, constantly reinforcing the knowledge of my own powerlessness.

References to activist groups (Gay, Lesbian, Feminist, Civil Liberties, Animal Liberationists, Freedom Fighters, Hammas, PLA etc)also offends me and not only discriminate against me, but the activists themselves discriminate against me.

The word "mother" discriminates against me as well since I am a man and have suffered all my life at the hands of one kind of "mother" or other.

I am offended by the titles: Mr. Miss. Mrs. and M/s, Child, Adult and Senile. (eg: Mr. BenDedek, Stop being a Child and start acting like an Adult! You really are acting like a Senile old Man!)

"Old," "young," and "capable" are words that really discriminate against me and force values upon me that are incompatible with my inner self.

Sports news constantly offends me, subjecting me as it does to constant reminders of my physical "handicaps," not to mention the inner pain and torment of knowing that "no one wants to play with ME."

They are used far too often in newspapers and ought to be banned, and I call upon all good citizens to stand up and support me in this fight against discrimination.

R.P.Bendedek

Email: rpbendedek@hotmail.com

R.P.BenDedek is the pseudonym of the Author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' (www.kingscalendar.com), and is a guest columnist at Magic City Morning Star News. An Australian, he currently teaches Conversational English in China. STRONG>King's Calendar Social Commentaries

"The King's Calendar" is a chronological study of the historical books of the Bible (Kings and Chronicles), Josephus, Seder Olam Rabbah, and the (Essene) Damascus Document of The Dead Sea Scrolls.