Alternative Xmas message

What's a "Xmas Message"? I don't understand the concept. How does it it differ from publishing random opinions at other times of the year? Does some special gravitas or significance automatically attach to otherwise inane musings of certain individuals simply because of the time of year?

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Does some special gravitas or significance automatically attach to otherwise inane musings of certain individuals simply because of the time of year?

Apparently so.

I agree Jim.

In Great Britain Her Majesty the Queen makes a broadcast to the Nation and the Commonwealth at 3pm on Christmas Day. She has been doing this since the 1950s.

Publishing an "alternative Christmas Message" is a more recent innovation by Channel 4 who seem to do it just to stir up controversy and the choice of the announcer seems to be designed to cause as much pique as possible, although the Ali G special was simply hilarious.

So, yes, there is some special significance to this, which is why C4 do it. Its self-serving.

I think you've missed the point TMP.
Liz broadcasts her message, which is 'the state' telling us what's what.
C4 is giving a platform for an alternative POV. Surely this freedom is a good thing?

Hiya

I was answering Winky who I assumed would not have known about Her Majesty's Christmas message. I should have made that clearer.

I'm not sure that its a State broadcast; remember her "annus horribilus" a few years back?

I'm all for freedom of speeh but this is all a bit puerile for me. Why have C4 not broadcast any other messages from Persia?

PS - the motto - are you late Scots Div?

She is the State, mate!

Interesting. I was aware of the Queen's "Christmas message". My query was not in relation to the freedom of expression and the right of anyone at all to broadcast their opinion about anything they choose and/or deem interesting; but rather to query why some special significance (or airtime) should be given to any of these things just because it is "Christmas".

I accept/suspect that the Queens message is/was carefully designed to provide some mental "nourishment" or re-assurance to the general populace. A placated populace is a non-revolutionary populace.

Winky you're either taking the piss or you're so right on you're way out of touch. Christmas is the time of year when MOST people (obviously not you) are thinking of their families, reflecting on the year gone by, and planning, wondering, worrying about the coming year. With reference to the queen's Christmas speech, your statement "A placated populace is a non-revolutionary populace" smacks of youthful naiveté, student rhetoric, or whatever, and is frankly laughable. Are you 16 years old or thereabouts?

Frankly I couldn't give a fat rat what the queen had to say but merry Christmas to you whatever you're up to.

No, pretty much just taking the piss. The whole non-revolutionary thing is obviously clumsy rhetoric, and delivered (hopefully) "tongue-in-cheek".

I also couldn't give a stuff about what the Queen has to say. It's interesting to me that this tradition survives, and that people seem bothered by it, but that's all.

As for the things "most people" do, I am no different. Except perhaps that I don't wait for Christmas to do any of these things.

My point (again) is that I don't understand what makes Christmas an especially appropriate time of the year for "messages" (or personal contemplation as you describe). If it is blindingly obvious to "most people" then I am indeed way out of touch.

Yours in Christmas cheer,

The Grinch

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... are essentially trying to censor the press. I'm sure there are alternative views out there though.

Merry Xmas

Jim

Jim,
I'm all for freedom of the press but I'm not sure what greater purpose it serves to give someone a forum who supresses his people, denies the Holocaust and wants to wipe Israel of the map. Might as well have asked Mugabe for an alternative Christmas message.
Just MHO ... cheers Oliver

Oliver

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I'm all for freedom of the press but I'm not sure what greater purpose it serves to give someone a forum who supresses his people, denies the Holocaust and wants to wipe Israel of the map. Might as well have asked Mugabe for an alternative Christmas message.

Mugabe would have been OK too....on the basis that we need to be able to hear directly from these people, even if it is only to give them enough rope to hang themselves. Otherwise we are simply facing a press and media that is allowed to braodcast only what the Government wants us to hear.....sound familiar? You either have freedom of speech or you don't....there is very little middle ground there.

Cheers

Jim

Spot on Jim.