| Topic: |
Science > Prophecies-Of-Nostradamus |
| User: |
"TonyZ2001" |
| Date: |
21 Dec 2004 07:02:10 AM |
| Object: |
In UK Drink, shopping and crime 'replace peace and goodwill at Christmas' |
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/12/21/nxmas21.xml
Drink, shopping and crime 'replace peace and goodwill at Christmas'
By David Derbyshire
(Filed: 21/12/2004)
The Christmas message of peace, love and goodwill appears to have been replaced
by one of drink, shopping and crime, according to a report.
Statistics compiled by the Policy Exchange think-tank show that alcohol
consumption shoots up by 41 per cent during December – a far greater rise
than in any other G7 country.
The holiday season is also accompanied by higher than normal rates of murder,
burglaries and drink-driving.
One of the few nuggets of good cheer is that suicide rates are lower in
December than the monthly average for the rest of the year. However, they rise
again in January.
Policy Exchange, the Right- wing think-tank behind the study, denied it was
being unseasonably gloomy. Its report also showed an increase in church
attendance and holidays abroad, a spokesman said.
The researchers compared changes in British behaviour during December with
changes in the other G7 industrial countries.
The increase in alcohol consumption was highest in Britain, the report found.
In terms of actual alcohol consumed per person, only Germans knock back more
wine, beer and spirits in December than the British. The average German imbibes
1.2 litres of pure alcohol per person, compared to the typical Briton's 1.02
litres.
December is one of the more popular months for murders and burglaries across
Europe. In Britain, the Christmas period triggers a 4.2 per cent rise in
murders (to 0.17 deaths per 100,000 people).
Elsewhere the seasonal increase is higher – a 5.7 per cent rise in America,
France and Italy, and 6.4 per cent in Germany. Britain has a lower murder rate
than its G7 rivals with the exception of Japan. In America there are 0.74
deaths per 100,000 people, while in France there are 0.41 deaths.
But the UK's burglary rate is the highest in the survey – nearly 120
burglaries per 100,000 people compared to 62 in America and 67 in Italy.
While drink-drive deaths increase across Europe and America in December,
Britain has the lowest death rate from drink-driving and the lowest increase in
December fatalities.
More Britons travel abroad for Christmas than any other G7 nationality, more
than three times as many as the French.
British church attendances increase by 220 per cent around the holiday period
– compared to a 240 per cent increase in Germany and a 112 per cent rise in
America.
However, Britain has the lowest proportion of churchgoers among the Christian
G7 countries. Just 16 per cent of people go to church in December in the UK –
compared to 55 per cent of Americans, 49 per cent of Italians and 20 per cent
of French.
The British also spend more than most at Christmas. According to the
statistics, based on 2003 data, the UK spends an average $2,006 (£1,081) per
person in the shops in December – less than America, but more than the other
G7 countries.
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| User: "Absolute Zero" |
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| Title: Re: In UK Drink, shopping and crime 'replace peace and goodwillat Christmas' |
21 Dec 2004 06:02:07 PM |
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TonyZ2001 wrote:
http://news.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/12/21/nxmas21.xml
I notice that in your seasonal burst of postings critical of everything
that deemphasizes the Christ in Christmas, you've neglected to post the
WorldNutDaily story critical of the White House. But hey, we don't
expect transparency from you, do we?
I recommend anyone in need of good laugh, or from another perspective,
if you enjoy being frightened... a quick visit to WorldNutDaily could
be just the ticket. It's become required reading for me.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=42027
WASHINGTON – What's virtually missing from the White House commemoration
of Christmas this year?
Jesus.
The little baby in the manger.
The reason for the season.
While President Bush was re-elected last month in an election victory
many attributed to an outpouring of support by evangelical Christians
impressed with his candid outspokenness about his faith, some Americans
notice the White House website lacks even a single mention of Jesus,
whose birth is celebrated by hundreds of millions worldwide Dec. 25.
The official White House site proclaims this as the "Season of Merriment
and Melody" – not the birth of the Savior of the world.
"Throughout the world, the holiday season is greeted by joyful music
that brightens hearts and evokes wonderful memories," reads the message.
"This year's theme brings to the White House the magic of holiday songs
that have been favorites for generations of Americans."
Among the website's many photographs of secular decorations is a shot of
a creche, or Nativity, displayed in the East Room, but the baby Jesus is
virtually invisible.
The White House has not responded to WND's request for comment.
The White House residence, the site proclaims is decorated with
"delightful vignettes illustrating many of the best-loved songs of the
season."
White House decorated like a winter wonderland
Not one of those songs is a traditional spiritual carol or hymn.
Instead, the songs listed include "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," "Here
Comes Santa Claus," "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," "All I Want for
Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth," "Upon the Housetop," "Blue Christmas,"
"Jingle Bells," "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," White Christmas,"
"Frosty the Snowman, "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and "Marshmallow
World."
In fact, even the word Christmas is only used in song titles and as an
adjective – such as before the word tree.
At the lighting of the National Christmas Tree Dec. 2, Bush remarked:
"Tonight we begin a joyous season, and the city of Washington is never
more beautiful than during the holidays. At Christmas time we celebrate
good tidings first announced two thousand years ago, and still a source
of great joy in our world. Laura and I are always happy to join in the
Pageant of Peace, and we thank you all for coming this evening.
"The season of Advent is always the season of hope," Bush continued. "We
think of the patient hope of men and women across the centuries who
listened to the words of the prophets and lived in joyful expectation.
We think of the hope of Mary, who welcomed God's plan with great faith.
We think of the hope of the Wise Men who set out on a long journey
guided only by a slender promise traced in the stars. We are reminded of
the hope that the grandest purposes of the Almighty can be found in the
humblest places. And we embrace the hope that all the love and gifts
that come to us in this life are the signs and symbols of even a greater
love and gift that came on a holy night. The old carol speaks of a
'thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and
glorious morn.' And every year at this time we feel the thrill of hope
as we wait on Christmas Day."
Bush went on to remember troops serving in foreign wars this Christmas
season.
It has been noted that the Bushes' holiday card this year includes a
Scripture verse. But, again, it does not mention Jesus.
This card has a line from Psalms, 95:2: "Let us come before him with
Thanksgiving and extol him with music and song."
First lady Laura Bush supervises the card selection. She also picked
cards with Bible verses when her husband was Texas governor.
The Republican National Committee paid for production and distribution.
On Dec. 9, Bush participated in a special menorah lighting ceremony at
the White House.
"Hanukkah is a festive holiday that celebrates a great victory for
freedom," he said. "We remember the liberation of Jerusalem and a
miracle witnessed in the holy Temple 2,000 years ago. For eight days the
oil burned, and the light of freedom still burns in Jewish homes and
synagogues everywhere. We are honored to celebrate the miracle of
Hanukkah in the White House this evening."
Likewise, Bush issued a Hanukkah proclamation Dec. 7.
"I send greetings to all those celebrating Hanukkah, the festival of
lights," he said. "On the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar,
Jews around the world commemorate the rededication of the Temple in
Jerusalem more than 2,000 years ago. During this time of darkness, the
Temple had been seized, and Judaism had been outlawed. Judah Maccabee
and his followers fought for three years for their freedom and
successfully recaptured Jerusalem and the Temple. Jewish tradition
teaches that the Maccabees found only one small bottle of oil to be used
for temple rituals, but that oil lasted eight days and nights. The
miracle of this enduring light, remembered through the lighting of the
Menorah, continues to symbolize the triumph of faith over tyranny."
He continued: "The bravery of the Maccabees has provided inspiration
through the ages. We must remain steadfast and courageous as we seek to
spread peace and freedom throughout the world. This holiday season, we
give thanks to God, and we remember the brave men and women of our Armed
Forces and their families. We also pray that all who live under
oppression will see their day of freedom and that the light of faith
will always shine through the darkness. Laura joins me in wishing you a
blessed and Happy Hanukkah."
In 2001, Bush issued a Kwanzaa greeting from the White House, and
repeated it in 2002 and 2003.
-A
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| User: "Tadapope" |
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| Title: Re: In UK Drink, shopping and crime 'replace peace and goodwill |
21 Dec 2004 08:41:30 PM |
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It's pretty much the same thing over here in the USA in most of the big cities.
Tangents are infinite in all of nature in
all universes constantly and at random.
* D OUOSVAVV M *
*PUBLIUS ENIGMA*
Oh Joy!
Tom
The Psychedelic Pope
Patron Saint of the Internet
http://www.apple2.org.za/gswv/me/
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