Dear Google
Having changed my homepage to your search bar last autumn, I watched the wonderful "google arts" as they explored many things I would otherwise have been none the wiser about.
I enjoy looking at the images and guessing what they represent before hovering my mouse over the image to reveal the answer. Occasionally I have even been curious enough to then google the subject and find out more.
As the year drew towards the close I began to look forward to seeing how you would represent the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ. Initially I was a little surprised when I was greeted in the days running up to the 25th December by the mounting pile of cards and the greeting "Happy Holidays". I was waiting for Christmas day when you'd finally wish me a "Happy Christmas". After all, the shops all over the Uk, USA, Europe and much of the world were embracing it with decorations, lights, music and a frenzy of purchasing and getting together to be with the important people in their lives. After all they wish each other "Happy Christmas" even if the actuality of the occassion is lost on them.
Before going to lead the service at church on Christmas Day, I turned on the computer only to be greeted by the same "Happy Holiday" sentiment.
Now I do fully appreciate that not everyone who uses Google is a Christian or of the Christian tradition, but I have no problem being told it's Divali, Hanukah, Summer or winter solstice or any other festival of any other religion, faith or life style.
You have celebrated Confuscious and other important figures within world history and yet you can not even represent the birth of the leading figure of Christianity.
So now it is Easter and I wonder whether we can expect you to recognise the celebration of the main festival of the Christian faith. The reason we have Easter eggs, Easter chicks, and all the razzmatazz that the general population of the UK, USA, Europe and many other countries accross the world have embraced so willingly.
Sadly it would seem that you would rather have no google art than to recognise Easter.
Can I please encourage all blog writers and those with a presence on the internet to publicise this injustice. or to leave a comment to support this stance against google.
5 comments:
I'm not taking a stance against Google per se, as they are a private company and can do what they want. But I did notice that Google didn't display anything for Easter, which is almost offensive, considering as you pointed out Google displays art for other non-Christian, religious events and celebrations.
Google-- I don't know if you're too afraid of offending atheists or other non-Christians by displaying an image to represent Easter. If you are, it's pretty sad and pathetic that a giant company such as yourself finds it necessary to succumb to the pressures and political correctness-attitude of the secular world. It wouldn't hurt to give a shout out to all the Christians that actually USE your services!
I totally agree with Matt's reply and cannot think of anything else to add. The letter to Google was also very well written.
I just get sickened that everything else is celebrated, but this country (UK) has gone too PC.
I totally agree 100%
If we sit back and say nothing our faith and values will diminish from one generation to the next.
Lets shout to the world " WE ARE CHRISTIANS" and so very proud of it. xxx Rita
I so agree with you. it seems that we spend a lot of time trying not to offend anyone with a different faith or culture to our own. In fact we seem to almost have a fear of enjoying our celebrations incase we are labeled prejudiced.
Sadly we are not afforded the same courtesy by others. It worries me a lot and not to be too melodramatic I fear for the future
sally stewart
I think each to their own but agree all faiths should be covered and all faiths should appreciate the beliefs of others. so often here in the UK towns decide not to have Christmas lights or Nativity plays in case it offends, sorry this is what we do, just as we accept other traditions so must ours be upheld for the sake of our heritage.
I am a catholic but accept all beliefs have a place in this world, this is what makes us all so special and unique, the tapestry of our lives. If we were all the same it would be so boring.
Google hope you are listening.
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