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Italy: Headmaster scraps Christmas carol concert to avoid offending Muslims

Nov 29, 2015 5:08 pm By Robert Spencer

Marco Parma was forced to resign, but he was right: why must we needlessly provoke Muslims by doing things that provoke them and poke them in the eye? Why can’t we have more respect?

Yes, I am being sarcastic, but I am repeating things that I was told by the blinkered, complacent and self-righteous after Islamic jihadists attacked our free speech event in Garland, Texas last May — that if Muslims threaten to murder people who draw Muhammad, we should stand down and not give the poor dears offense. We should, in other words, and enable and encourage the bullies to do more bullying. The principle is exactly the same in this case. If drawing Muhammad is needlessly provoking Muslims to the extent that those who do it bear at least some of the responsibility for the jihad attack upon them, so in this case Marco Parma was right: he shouldn’t needlessly provoke Muslims by singing Christmas carols, and if a jihad attack were to ensue at Garofani school, it would be his fault.

Saint Marco Parma, the Multicultural
Saint Marco Parma, the Multicultural

“Italians outraged after headmaster scraps Christmas carol concert following Paris attacks,” by Alice Philipson, Telegraph, November 29, 2015 (thanks to Pamela Geller):

An Italian headmaster has been forced to resign after he scrapped his school’s Christmas carol concert following the Paris attacks in a move that sparked outrage across the country.

Marco Parma, 63, decided to ban traditional festivities at Garofani school in Rozano, near Milan, so as not to cause offence to non-Christian pupils.

Instead he planned to organise an evening of song in January, transforming the event into a winter concert rather than a celebration of Christmas.

But the move provoked anger among parents of pupils at the school, riled politicians of all stripes and prompted calls for intervention by the education minister.

Matteo Renzi, Italy’s prime minister and leader of the Democratic Party, expressed indignation that political correctness had been allowed to get in the way of such an important part of Italian culture.

“Discussion and dialogue does not mean to say we can drown our identity for the sake of a vague and insipid form of political correctness,” he told Corriere della Sera. “Italians, both non-religious and Christians, will never give up Christmas.”

Politicians from Silvio Berlusconi’s centre-Right Forza Italia party urged Stefania Giannini, education minister, to step in and change the headmaster’s mind, while Northern League leader Matteo Salvini tried to phone Mr Parma on a radio show, warning that “cancelling traditions is a favour for terrorists”.

“Just think how Isis is taking us for fools as they listen to us,” said the head of the anti-immigrant party, using one of the acronyms for Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).

Parents of all faiths were outraged at the ban at the school, which teaches 1,000 children, 20 per cent of whom were born to non-Italians. Several turned up at the gates last week demanding an explanation from Mr Parma. Others began preparing a petition after they learnt that the school’s board had also decided to remove crucifixes from classrooms.

The headmaster later handed in his resignation. Prior to resigning, Mr Parma denied that his decision was a step backwards in the fight against radical Islam.

“I believe that respecting the sensitivities of people of different religions or cultures is a step forward towards integration,” he said. “This is a multiethnic school.”…

The controversy comes just days after a chain of nurseries in northern Tuscany decided not to set up a nativity scene for fear of offending non-Christian pupils and parents.

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Filed Under: dhimmitude, Featured, Italy Tagged With: Garofani school, Marco Parma


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Comments

  1. Abot Bensussen says

    Nov 29, 2015 at 5:23 pm

    As a young girl, I sang many xmas carols, and as a Jewish girl I was not offended. There was usually a Hanuka song, too. We were raised to be tolerant of differences.

    • Judi says

      Nov 29, 2015 at 5:59 pm

      Me too Abot, only the school I attended never sung Chanukah songs. You were lucky. It must have been a different era when political correctness hadn’t been invented yet!

    • Oliver says

      Nov 30, 2015 at 9:43 pm

      In my day ( as well as my siblings- they were/are older) we sang Xmas & Hanukkah songs in DEC. . Yes, er are Jewish.

      And the Christians sang the Hanukkah songs also. (New York City- from the late 1940’s- through 60’s- for my siblings and myself-)

  2. somehistory says

    Nov 29, 2015 at 5:25 pm

    Somehow it never occurs to these people that they might just be offending those who don’t worship the wild beast by canceling everything that offends those who do worship the wild beast.

    There is give and take in all relationships…except where moslims are concerned. Everyone must give in and do without so moslims are not offended. Because to do otherwise is to anger satan and he’ll inspire his children to riot and slaughter.
    . Rioting and slaughtering is thereby rewarded.
    Evidently there are some people in Italy that see things a bit clearer.

    • Jay Boo says

      Nov 29, 2015 at 5:38 pm

      The Star of Bethlehem did not shine on Muhammad.
      Muslims resent when Christians sing with joy about Jesus.

      • Timothy says

        Nov 30, 2015 at 1:36 pm

        The Star of Bethlehem shone on everyone. There are those who choose to hide in darkness even though the Light shines everywhere.

        • neil says

          Nov 30, 2015 at 7:22 pm

          The star of Bethlehem didn’t speak- the Angels clearly said: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of goodwill” a detail the new translation has been keen to highlight . that and Jesus who died for many pro multus not all

  3. Jay Boo says

    Nov 29, 2015 at 5:29 pm

    Merry Christmas T-Shirt
    Illegal in 53 countries

    http://www.zazzle.com/merry_christmas_crucifix_tshirts-235419231833254047

  4. Paul says

    Nov 29, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    Self-hating ‘multicultural’ lemmings destroy every single thing they touch.
    I don’t think think most muslims would really care about a Christmas carol
    concert. Maybe many of them would have been absorbed into what’s left of
    the Judeo-Christian culture of the West if it wasn’t so ashamed of itself and
    if it wasn’t for decades of idiocy from contemptible self-flagellating characters
    such as this.

  5. Angemon says

    Nov 29, 2015 at 6:16 pm

    The headmaster later handed in his resignation. Prior to resigning, Mr Parma denied that his decision was a step backwards in the fight against radical Islam.

    “I believe that respecting the sensitivities of people of different religions or cultures is a step forward towards integration,” he said. “This is a multiethnic school.”…

    No, that’s the exact opposite of a step towards integration. What they’re teaching is that they’re entitled to have others to bend backwards as not to “offend” them.

    • Oliver says

      Nov 30, 2015 at 9:46 pm

      In (any) prior years (or this year, even) was HE IN THE LEAST CONCERNED THAT XMAS SONGS MIGHT OFFEND RELIGIOUS JEWS? ( truthfully, i doubt it-most if not all would ignore them).

      However, I doubt if he even considered Jewish feelings about anything.

      Just kissing Muslim assholes.

  6. R Cole says

    Nov 29, 2015 at 6:17 pm

    It is good to see that the move to undermine Christian heritage by the headmaster – in the name of so-call inclusion – was widely condemned across the Italian political spectrum – which was something we may not have heard a few years ago.

    Before everyone in authority would have run to take cover – such that it would be racist not to have a mosque in Vatican City – but now with the establishment of the Islamic State – Islamic terrorism is for the enforcement of Islamic Sharia law – which governs an Islamic state – under-which all un-Islamic things are forbidden.

    It is hopeful – that it is the beginning of telling Muslims who wish to live in Europe – that it is they who should be tolerant.

    In Europe we love to celebrate Christmas!

    • Oliver says

      Nov 30, 2015 at 9:48 pm

      And today, Nov. 30, 2015-I saw- did not read- did not want to regurgitate all I had eaten–

      The Pope ended his trip to Africa by going to a mosque.

      But, when he was in Israel, did he go to a synagogue? I doubt it. Commie prick.

  7. Peggy says

    Nov 29, 2015 at 7:09 pm

    They demand that we respect their religion and practices and if we don’t they accuse us of being racist but at the same time everything about us offends them and we must stop being ourselves or we will pay the ultimate price.
    This is so obvious and yet everyone in our government and academia can’t see it?
    If that’s the case then they are too stupid to teach our kids and govern us and must hand in their jobs to people who are smarter.

    • Paul says

      Nov 30, 2015 at 5:52 pm

      Should we blame the islamists who are just doing what they’ve
      always done or those who have emboldened them and given
      them the ideological confidence to succeed? I know who I think
      is largely to blame.
      Though he’s no longer around, this guy’s words are still perfectly
      relevant now :

      • Peggy says

        Nov 30, 2015 at 9:28 pm

        I agree with you. Muslims are a plague in the west but our governments are far worse. Our government has a duty of care to us first so importing people who are going to start killing us is treason. I can’t understand why they are not facing charges by now.
        It’s clear they are dangerous and yet they keep bringing more in.
        It’s like when a spouse cheats. The person he/she cheats on is not as guilty as the cheater because it’s the cheater who should be loyal and it’s the cheater that the other partner trusts.
        We trust our government to keep us safe from enemies and if deliberately choose not to then they are far worse than the enemy.

        • Peggy says

          Nov 30, 2015 at 10:50 pm

          Sorry, it should read cheats with not cheats on.

  8. Arthur says

    Nov 29, 2015 at 8:34 pm

    Multiculturalism or Non-culturalism? As in many books in the library or no books in the library.

  9. kay says

    Nov 29, 2015 at 8:57 pm

    Re Marco Parma: “I believe that respecting the sensitivities of people of different religions or cultures is a step forward towards integration,” he said.
    _____________________________________________________________

    RUBBISH. This makes no sense. How specifically does one “respect the sensitivities of different cultures” by shutting down a primary cultural tradition in the school? That is clearly the opposite of respect.
    Cultural oppression and arbitrarily silencing people is the opposite of sensitivity. And the opposite of a public education, which must emphasize reason and co-operation.

    This fool created a problem where there were none. Where there has NEVER been a problem for ANY Europeans. No one is required to attend or make a faith statement. No one has to care about a Christmas show or Christmas songs. Or any Yule festivities. Nor be “offended” or “insulted”. Christmas time is when people gather.

    The headmaster was not just acting against traditional European culture. He was shutting down music and culture by fiat. No one has to listen to any music, but for a good many people, music is religion. As Jimi Hendrix said:

    If Christmas carols are offensive, then so are all the jazz covers of Christmas songs, and so this anti-social decree would be anti-jazz as well. This was a bad school precedent to try and set, but it was also ridiculous nonsense.

    Real music is something that inspires people and brings good and creative people together. If anyone wants to oppose western culture and music, then so be it, but they have no right to shut it down.
    Music is what we should actively embrace and share. And it is a rebuke and counterpoint to the pseudo-culture of aggressive anti-social negativity.
    We have the good stuff. Don’t let it be shut down. Share it with the people you care about. And defend the authentic culture in which people have real voices and gather together for something meaningful and engaging, in the public space, which is what a public school actually is.

    JUDY GARLAND: ‘MEET ME IN ST LOUIS’.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yudgy30Dd68

    Katie Melua – Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSbcbNSNY7o

    Celtic Carol – Lindsey Stirling https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg4sZZaf3Gg

    Quartet Jazz Christmas https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PxEBC9WqYM

    • Peggy says

      Nov 30, 2015 at 10:53 pm

      So true. This fool is talking about respect but he obviously has none, for Christians that is.
      Why should us being ourselves offend Muslims? When are they going to be asked to stop their festivities in case they offend us?
      If only they stopped killing us it would be a step in the right direction.

  10. Islam_Macht_Frei says

    Nov 29, 2015 at 9:00 pm

    Good riddance.

  11. Tom W Harris says

    Nov 29, 2015 at 9:46 pm

    Where’s Al Capone when you really need him?

  12. Dave J says

    Nov 29, 2015 at 10:36 pm

    This is the worst sort of pandering, a voluntary in advance giving in to Sharia. See how well trained we are getting to be?

    There was a similar story recently in a high school where a proposed moment of silence for the victims of 9/11 was squashed because it would allegedly disturb the Muslim students.

    The poor sensitive dears need to learn to tolerate others and get over their childish “its all about me” attitude, but most never will.

  13. RonaldB says

    Nov 30, 2015 at 12:01 am

    I think there’s an inability to distinguish “discomforted” from “offended”.

    As an atheist, I’m not particularly comfortable when prayers are said, or hymns are sung, at a meeting I’m at. So, I’m uncomfortable.

    But, it’s ludicrous to think that the expression of a different view, or faith, from mine “offends” me. It’s crazy, insane. The only religion I can think of that is offended by the expression of a different view is Islam. Islam mandates the kuffars are not only not allowed to criticize Islam; as dhimmis, they are not even allowed to mention it. It’s like any offhand remark on Islam could be detrimental to Islam…and indeed, Islam expands through terror, so any recourse to any method other than violence, fear and terror automatically sets Islam at a disadvantage.

    For those with a reading disability, I’ll make my opinion explicit: I favor the public expression of hymns, faith, and prayer as long as no one is coerced to participate or join in. I will be uncomfortable, but nobody is obligated to say only things I like or agree with.

  14. TH says

    Nov 30, 2015 at 5:00 am

    Thank God there are still some Italians with common sense. They will need more of it as the yihadi onslaught is going to attack some of the greatest of Italy’s cultural and artistic icons, not the least the Basicilca of St. Peter, the Divine Commedy of Dante, which rightly places Mahommad in his proper place: HELL.

  15. Baucent says

    Nov 30, 2015 at 5:44 am

    “Discussion and dialogue does not mean to say we can drown our identity for the sake of a vague and insipid form of political correctness,”

    And that is exactly the point that is lost on the hand wringing PC crowd. They joyfully “drown national identity” to make outsiders comfortable. They say “Happy Holidays!” to save offense even imagined offense. But bravo to Italy, they actually celebrate their culture, not apologize for it. Lesson there for America.

  16. vcragain says

    Nov 30, 2015 at 6:41 am

    All I can say is – I am very offended at that wailing ‘call to prayer’ noise that mosques make. Why is that allowed? if I lived near one I would have to put up with it, so they can put up with the host culture’s traditions. NOTHING should be changed to accommodate what they want and if I were making the rules the women would NOT be allowed to cover their faces in public – how can anybody be ID’d with only their eyes showing ? They can petition for change if they want to, that is allowed, but it should be put to the vote
    at Government level. People who think adjusting to accommodate their wants for the sake of ‘peace’ is good, are kidding themselves – there will be greater demands later ! It is just the nature of how things always go !

  17. epistemology says

    Nov 30, 2015 at 4:56 pm

    “I believe that respecting the sensitivities of people of different religions or cultures is a step forward towards integration” No, Mr. Parma! If we give up our customs and our way of life we’ll go down the drain. We assimilate not them, and it has to be the other way round. Integration is about the assimilation of people coming to a host land and not the other way round. We have to fight to keep our culture by all means

  18. citycat says

    Nov 30, 2015 at 6:26 pm

    If i was worried about an attack then i’d do the same, but for a different reason.
    Withdraw temporarily to plot the demise of the possibility of attack, or else be seriously weaponed up.
    Better to be slagged down by fools than allow the kids to be murdered by muslims.
    Muslims are not offended at all, that’s just more faff in the war.

  19. mortimer says

    Nov 30, 2015 at 8:34 pm

    Marco Parma is a Leftarded cultural Marxist whose goal is to eliminate European civilization from Europe and replace it with pure communism and then replace Europe’s intractable white population with brown and very compliant ‘noble savages’. How condescending! But Leftards are nothing if not condescending to the ‘savages’ while pretending to admire them…they merely wish to manipulate and use them. The Muslims already know that and are actually tricking the Leftards by playing along with them.

    Bottom line is… cultural Marxists have no difficulty offending Marxists.

    • mortimer says

      Nov 30, 2015 at 8:37 pm

      Bottom line is… cultural Marxists have no difficulty offending Christians.

      Marxists have not abandoned Marxism in spite of the failure of Marxism.

  20. gravenimage says

    Dec 1, 2015 at 3:19 pm

    Italy: Headmaster scraps Christmas carol concert to avoid offending Muslims
    ……………………….

    What decent or beautiful thing done by Infidels *doesn’t* “offend” Muslims?

    Kudos to good Italians for fighting back against this cringing dhimmitude!

  21. Beatrix says

    Dec 2, 2015 at 10:53 am

    Robert, there is no 1st Amendment in Italy and very often religious activities take place in the wrong place (e.g. interrupting activities in a public service, or showing religious symbols in buildings paid by the public budget). Sometimes someone objects to this mixture and ask others to feel free to display their symbols but in their specific context (Would you accept a Catholic crucifix displayed in a court of justice as if it were a symbol of public authority ?). You are interpreting this as if it were only for fear of the Muslims, it is not. You are living in the USA, you are not properly informed of what happened. Unless you are not in favour of the 1st Amendment, in which case I disagree with you: states should not be against religions but should also be neutral.

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