Political correctness claims its first Santa

Last month, I wrote about how political correctness has reached a new low by asking Australian Santa Clauses to say "Ha Ha Ha!" instead of the traditional "Ho Ho Ho!". It was supposedly insulting to women and frightening for children. I wrote:

Of all the ridiculous things to say might be politically incorrect, the famous laughter of Santa Claus is beyond ridiculous. Westaff's spokesperson said that they merely "encouraged" the Santas to use 'Ha Ha Ha' instead, but why would a simple suggestion cause multiple Santas to quit?

And let's say someone does get offended. Let's say some kid does get scared.

Who cares?!?

If someone if offended, they can get over it and themselves. If some kid gets a little bit scared by the big man in a red suit, I'm sure he or she will get over it as well without suffering any long-term damage. What do these people think is going to happen? That the five-year-old scared by Santa is going to spend the rest of his life in therapy because Santa said 'Ho Ho Ho' instead of 'Ha Ha Ha'?

Have you ever heard anything more ridiculous?

If a kid was scared of Santa, the way he laughed probably wouldn't change that. And if some chick walking down the street got "offended" because she thought Santa was calling her a ho, then she was probably looking for a situation to take advantage of.

Sadly, the first Santa Claus has been sacked for being unwilling to throw out tradition for political correctness and the "I'm Offended, Therefore I Am" crowd.

A shop has sacked its Santa Claus for saying Ho-ho-ho.

John Oakes, 70, got his marching orders after the store decreed that women might be offended because 'ho' is American slang for a whore. Instead, he was supposed to say Ha-ha-ha.

"They're are trying to kill the spirit of Christmas," said Mr Oakes, who has been a Santa for ten years.

He was also found guilty of singing Jingle Bells at the Myer department store in Cairns, Northern Australia.

He said: "The manager told me my services were no longer required. When I asked her why, she replied, 'You said Ho-ho-ho and that's not appropriate'. Not appropriate? How long has Santa been calling Hohoho, for goodness sake? She also said I wasn't supposed to sing."

Sad, isn't it?

Have we -- and by we, I mean those of us who are a part of western civilization in general -- really become this sensitive? I'm really curious as to how and why we got here. Who can honestly look at this as a victory? Wow, way to go, Department Store Manager -- you fired Santa for saying the phrase that he has been known for saying for hundreds of years. Bet it makes you feel real powerful, huh? It makes you wonder how far some people will go to destroy commonly loved pastimes and traditions, regardless of how harmless they may be.

When I first heard about this story, the Santa Clauses had stood up and protested, and tradition beat political correctness. Unfortunately, when it comes to moonbattery and political correctness, common sense can only go so far.