Dear Beagle Editor, I was heartened to hear today the Senate has blocked the changes to the 18C legislation. The Government had wanted to replace the words "insult", "offend" and "humiliate" in section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act with the term "harass". I believe that we live in a society that has respect for all comers irrespective of their race, gender and religious beliefs. I am however shocked to hear that one of our public schools has changed the name of the upcoming Easter Hat Parade to "The Happy Hat Parade". The majority of kids and adults in this country associate Easter with bunnies and chocolates and holidays. The majority associate Christmas with summer and gift and trees festooned on balls and fairies. Moruya shopfronts had nativity scenes and carols that were definitely christian however that was balanced by huge Santa cutouts in the streets of Moruya and Batemans Bay. My kids enjoy Easter and don't know or care about caves or rolling rocks and being nailed to a cross and they don't care about Jesus feeding the masses or having a father that lives in the clouds. They are just kids, devoid of religion, who like Easter eggs, Easter hot cross buns, Easter egg hunts on Easter Sunday and .... wearing bloody Easter Bonnets in the school Easter Bonnet parade. Shhesshhh - what have we become? Please excuse me if I have "insulted", "offended" and "humiliated" you but I am feeling personally "harassed" by it all. Name and address supplied
