When AD/BC became too PC

The BBC has come under attack recently for its decision to go all politically correct and 'ban' the use of AD (anno Domini)  and BC (Before Christ). 

According to reports they've turned to CE (Common Era) and BCE (Before Common Era), all in the name of protecting non-Christian sensibilities!

The reply: outcry! Boris Johnson calls the decision "anti-democratic" (perhaps forgetting that the BBC has never been that democratic in the first place despite being paid millions of our taxes). Johnson drew attention to the cultural ramifications after all "what the BBC decides, all kinds of other publishers and broadcasters will decide to follow."

Chastising the bullish Beeb Johnson went on: "The BBC needs to stop spending time and money on this sort of footling political correctness. Someone needs to get out down the corridor and find the individual who passed this edict and give him or her a figurative kick in the pants."

Melanie Phillips of the Mail continued the wrapping of the knuckles. "I am a Jew", she said, but "the idea that any of us would be offended by anyone else using BC and AD would be totally ridiculous." This change is an "attack on British culture and the Christian underpinnings which provide it with its history, identity and fundamental values".

Not often Melanie and I agree, but darn straight!

Good ol' Widdecombe wades in too. "What are they going to do next?" she asks. "Get rid of the entire calendar on the basis it has its roots in Christianity?" 

Marr flew in the face of danger, dissing his superiors, boldly saying he'd keep saying AD and BC. 

He said: "I say AD and BC because that’s what I understand. I don’t know what the Common Era is. Why is it the Common Era in 20AD and it wasn't the Common Era in 20BC?" Of course but that would make sense Marr, and nothing about the PC madness ever does make sense.

Polly Curtis, the Guardian columnist couldn't resist spoiling all the fun though. Apparently we all got in a tizz for nothing. One lowly website content editor decided using AD/BC was silly and that BCE/CE was more in fitting with the Beeb. Woops, that means that there was this big fuss over nothing, since its not BBC wide policy...yet.

Posted in: anne widdecombe,ban,bbc,boris johnson,calendar,Christianity