Santa gets the heave ho, ho, ho Reuters Published: Thursday, December 06, 2007 CANBERRA -- A Santa in an Australian department store said yesterday he has been fired for saying "ho, ho, ho" and singing Christmas songs to children. Employment company Westaff, which supplies stores with red-robed, white-bearded Father Christmases, had earlier told its Santas to say "ha, ha, ha" because the word "ho," which is American slang for whore, could offend women, media reported. In the latest incident, the Cairns Post said John Oakes, 70, was fired Monday for saying "ho, ho, ho" and for singing Jingle Bells. Email to a friendEmail to a friendPrinter friendlyPrinter friendly Font:
The Politically Correct Brigade strikes again... When will people learn that this sort of crap is more offensive than a traditional expression of mirth and seasonal spirit? The world is going to hell...
Hmmm. I think what's wrong with the world is largely that people go for what seems easiest, rather than what is right and best.
Sad. Its bloody christmas for christ sake. Children don't want to hear ha ha ha. And I'm sure the real whores prostitues don't care or even consider a Santa saying ho ho ho to children remortly offensive.
Who the hell thinks this stuff up. The word Ho has been around for as long as I can remember, ans so has Santa Claus. After all these years why is it now that it has become a problem? The last time I checked people who celebrate Christmas all know that Santa Claus says, Ho-Ho-Ho, and never had a problem before. I think the big companies are saying, Ha-Ha-Ha, all the way to the bank. They want us to come to their stores to buy Christmas presents, but don't want to acknowledge Christmas, which is the whole point of them having Santa in the store and running big sales to lure people in. What's next, have us buy chocolate eggs for Easter then tell everyone the eggs were delivered by a chicken instead of a bunny, because they don't want to offend people who sell real eggs? May I please have my religious traditions back!!!!!!!!
Last year, at some supermarket where I used to live, the management decided not even to recognise it was Christmas, to be fair to all religions. And all religions promptly complained that they'd taken collective leave of their senses. I think that really demonstrates how sensible the general public are about this kind of thing. And wasn't there a ban on saying "Merry Christmas" somewhere as well? I didn't understand that one. Because if I wish you a merry Christmas, I'm obviously forcing my beliefs on you Why is the world run by idiots?
What the ....... Should we remind people about the crusades? I bet they would stop highjacking our traditions then. *Somebody grab my sword and shield*
Becareful Lord. The word Sword may offend a Swordfish. and shield could be deemed offensive to the actors on the tv series the Shield.
We had a similar article over here. How ridiculous. Only an idiot would construe 'ho, ho, ho' as an insult. Only an idiot would ban it, too.
What gets me is that Ho is American slang. why ban the ho ho ho in Australia? What are we going to call that tool for the garden that you dig in and pull back weeds and things unwanted.
If Ho is derived from Whore, then shouldn't the slang be Who. Of course the W is silent. Based on this technicality Santa should be free to say Ho-Ho-Ho as much as he wants and not fear repercussions from easy woman.
Be careful again Lord. You may offend people walking on the floor. They may find it harsh that you've used the floor to enforce violent tendancies.
Walmart banned Christmas last year, and took a severe beating. This year they are promoting Christmas like mad. So consumers do have a pretty hefty clout when they choose to use it.
Indeed they do. What happened to the days when we all celebrated Christmas in the spirit it was intended. Joyful.
Ah but that could be found offensive to the tramps and homeless living on the streets. They may accuse you of mimicking the misfortunate for your own amusement.
Well I've already seen some Christmas displays set up here in Nanjing. And they don't even celebrate Christmas in China. None of my students in one class even knew who Santa was. So if Christmas can be celebrated and even use the words "Merry Christmas" in an Atheistic Communist dictatorship I don't see why we can't do the same in the West.
