Sorry???

Who has done that?

Many, many people have emigrated to the US because of the religious freedoms we enjoy here.

I'm just saying if banning of religious practices continues in England on a wide scale, people who care to practice their religion in true freedom may leave in the future. It's happened before!

I know people who have moved to America to work - graduates mainly - but I don't know of any who have left for religious reasons.

England is particularly tolerant religion-wise. That is one of the reasons why so many people migrate here. But it is because it is so multi-cultural / multi-faith that you get some 'politically correct' councils thinking that the migrants and their British-born families might be offended by Christian practices.

I don't think most of them feel like that at all. Indeed, I think many would actually be happier if the English were a bit less secular in their ways.

The many people I am talking about who have emigrated to America to practice religious freedom are not from free countries per se. I didn't mean a free country like England in that sentence. But religious freedom in general has been a motive for many to move here.

And I simply meant (second sentence above )that if various English governmental offices start outlawing holiday customs enjoyed by religious sects...it could be a possibility of people moving in the future. You just wouldn't find Christmas lights or Hannukah lights or any other religious celebratory practice banned here. The first amendment covers that. It's a basic human right as far as I'm concerned. I hope the people of Lambeth scream and shout to have their religious rights

I'm sure they will.

Certainly Birmingham never tried it again.

And I wonder how many people think of it as religion: some must, but I wonder if others consider it to be more tradition & culture / heritage.

Then why ban it?

Why indeed!

Political correctness gone mad!

Well, it's time for bed, I think!

sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite...Just your husband!

I had to pop in on this one--because it is a battle being fought in a variety of areas here in the good old USA as well. Several city councils have banned references to Christmas and Easter breaks, do not allow the display of Manger or Creche scenes on city property, and some schools are having problems with the songs they are allowed to sing in thier Winter programs (anything that even vaguely refers to Jesus, God etc is not allowed). It goes further, some cities are being asked to change thier city seals if they contain religious symbols (i.e. a cross--Santa Barbara Ca. is the one that comes to mind). And there was a big fuss in Alabama last year about a statue that included the 10 Commandments, in the lobby of a State Court House. The American Civil Liberties Union will take on pretty much anyone to ensure the separation of Church and State as required by the U.S. Constitution. The issue of course is how many people really find these things offensive in the first place.

They are now saying that more places won't be having Christmas lights and there was something in the paper about Christmas carols being offensive.

It's crazy. They think these ideas are offensive to Moslems, yet I have not heard of any Moslem being offended - quite the opposite - and the people making the suggestions don't seem to be Moslem.

Are there some people out there just trying to stir up trouble, I wonder.