Veiled Muslim Woman to deliver C4 Christmas message.

[uwila]

What do Christians think? Is this offensive? I think it is. But, then I think the culprit is probably CH4, not the Muslim community.

Veiled Muslim Woman to Deliver C4 Christmas Message

Discuss....

I'm a Christian, and am not particularly offended (not at all, actually). It's a message at Christmas, rather than a message about Christmas, isn't it?

Well, I don't know. I assumed it was about Christmas. If not, why put it on Christmas? I wouldn't expect a priest to get up and give message for Ramadan. Is this sgoing to be happy Chrstmas message or a thought provoking controvesial one? My guess is the latter.

I think I would be offended if on Christmas Day she were to get up and give an anti-christian speech.

Oh, look it's the other half of the new clique.

Chameleon described her as "a feisty woman who will deliver a thought-provoking message."

That doesn't sound to me like it's going to be a nice happy "Merry Christmas" kind of message.

Just a channel 4 gimic. Like the Ali G Xmas message. But the joke's going to fall flat because there are serious issues concerning the veil, the British approach to multi-culturalism, etc...

don't know, but I'm sure it has all been engineered by Ch4 as a ratings-grabbing exercise.I won't make a point of watching it (but may read the transcript), but then I don't make a point of watching the Queen or the Arch B of C either!

I doubt if a Muslim woman is going to get up on National TV and say something really offensive about Christmas/ Christians. It's more likely to be about tolerance and human rights, I should think. No harm in that. Anyway, even if she did "offend" hristians, under the laws of this country she is allowed to say what she likes, as long as she isn't inciting racial hatred. No-one has to listen, and no-one has to agree!

I don't see it as being offensive.
It'll be interesting to hear the message.
Obviously it is an attempt by C4 to grab the ratings, but I will probably watch it.
I hope it will be a message promoting peace in troubled times - why wouldn't it be?

I just think it's yet another tedious attempt by Ch4 to be 'controvertial'. Totally not in my book, but no doubt the tabloids will have another excuse to publish a few anti-Muslim stories and that bloke from 'Christian Voice' (not this Christian, mate) will be on GMTV making us all look like lunatics.

Offensive or not, I do think the plan to have a Muslim Woman do this Christmas speech is deliberately emotive and designed to create controversy and boost viewing figures for the channel...

The C4 Christmas message is an alternative to the Queen's Speech - so you would expect something pretty alternative.

Since we don't know what she's going to say, how can anyine know whether it is offensive or not?

Perhaps she will make a plea for mutual tolerance and understanding - peace on earth and goodwill between all men - something like that?

[fgrin}afternoon Uwila!!!! I think sadly you are probably right. I wonder what would happen if they decided to put a Christian on to comment on a Muslim holiday.

Yes, I agree with NearlyThree - it will no doubts spawn an outbreak of Islamosteria in the gutter and gutter-orientated press, and provoke some Christian fundementalists to give Christians a bad name at a particularly inconvenient moment.

I find the Queen a more offensive figure tbh but hey...

Oh, Paula. Now THAT would most certainly be racist.

PaulaPlumpBottom - well the TV channels aren't chocka with messages to the nation on major Muslim festivals anyway.

And i haven't noticed Christians (ot other non-muslims)being short of a thing or two to say about Islam.

Do we NEED an alternative to the Queen's Speech - I mean I am all for debate over the royal family etc, but if the decision to create an alternative speech is about lining tv executives pockets by using arbitrarily controversial means...? If an alternative is deemed necessary (for republicans etc,) I really hope that the message has some depth behind it - and aims to promote understanding, empathy and tolerance.

It's put out by the Dispatches team - who have put out some pretty serious good quality stuff.

Reserve judgement, i say. It might be really thought-provoking, in a good way, to have a positive message dished out by someone not usually reading messages to the nation.

To clarify, I am not a royalist. I just don't turn the tv on for the speech.

Yes but when a Christian says it its racist and awful. Not that I think its ok to say bad things about Islam. I don't, I just don't like the double standard.

"afternoon Uwila!!!! I think sadly you are probably right. I wonder what would happen if they decided to put a Christian on to comment on a Muslim holiday. " I completely agree with PPB on this one. This kind of thing really annoys me. You wouldn't have a christian speaker on another faiths religious festival. Why do we have to be seen to be ridiculously pc on every little thing for fear of a backlash in our own country over our own religious festival??

Why can't they just leave it alone? It's a Christian celebration, has had it's own traditions for years and years why can't it just be left alone??

"PaulaPlumpBottom - well the TV channels aren't chocka with messages to the nation on major Muslim festivals anyway."

Why should they be? Do they put Christian messages on the telly in Iran on Christmas and Easter?

There isn't a double standard in operation. You and Uwila are conjouring it up - an imagined response to something that hasn't happened.

But will, because of the numbers of people who think like you.

WEll to be fair to Ch4 they have ahd some of the most balanced and properly investigated journalistic programmes about the middle east, so I trust it will be a thought provoking and interesting speech, not an inflammatory one
I mean whose business is it really if women wish to wear full/half any veil.
For a country that sees bare breasted teens on page 3 in a tabloid as a national right, I find it incredible that anyone can get worked up over a veil...

Typical of Ch4 trying to be contraversial.
Quite pathetic really imho
Won't be watching it but then I don't watch the queen either. Got better things to do like enjoying Christmas with my dh and ds.