Other than the odd tweet or status update on Facebook I’ve been holding off saying anything about the controversy surrounding Christmas songs such as Fairytale of New York and Baby, it’s Cold Outside.
Now though, after a couple of things I’ve read this morning, I feel I need to comment as it’s now starting to piss me off.
Here’s the TL:dr. If you’re getting upset that ‘the gays’ are up in arms over the use of the word faggot in a popular Christmas song then you’ve been taken in by main stream and social media.
No LGBT+ person should get upset or be offended by the use of that word in the song. If they are, well, so be it, each to their own and some people may have issue with that word. As such, it’s with the word not the song they have issue and if you’re one of them I’d ask you to please think about the time the song was set in. Doesn’t mean you’re feelings aren’t valid just that… well read on.
For me the problem is not with the word. If the problem was with the word then we, as a respectable group of citizens, should be joining arms and fighting against any and every scriptwriter who dares to use the word nigger in a movie or TV script. Horrified that I used the N word? Get over that real quick. It’s a word that would never ever enter my day-to-day vernacular, not even as a joke, but if I was writing a script which saw one character hate another based on the colour of their skin then I’d more than likely throw that word into the story.
“But that word is about race and gays aren’t a race!” is a response I got last week, closely followed by a hushed “they’re not a race are they?”
This argument isn’t about race, it’s about the use of a word that hurts us. And to some of us in some circumstances the word faggot has as much power as nigger.
“So, if your problem isn’t with the word being used in the song, what is it?”
Picture this… You’re in a bar enjoying drinks with friends. It’s a bar that doesn’t discriminate but isn’t what people would call a gay bar, it’s an everyday standard type pub . They’re playing Christmas songs and that song comes on. Men and women, in varying states of inebriation, start singing along and this is how is goes:
Ladies looking at men. Usually their partner or the joker of the group. They sing loudly “You’re a bum, you’re a punk,” then the men spit back “You’re an old slut on junk, lying there almost dead on a drip in that bed.”
So far so good. Sounds like a fun night right?
Then the ladies spark up again, “You scumbag, you maggot, you cheap lousy…”
It’s here! We’re at the word! What happens next? Suddenly the men don’t give a fucking toss about singing the female part of song as almost the entire bar rejoices in the gift of being allowed to sing and shout the word “faggot!” without any repercussions because, as most of them know, if you do it randomly on the street at people sometimes the people get upset.
The song continues and the ladies take over again, “Happy Christmas, your arse, I pray God it’s our last!”
So do you see what happened? All these people who claim to be PC, fighters for the unequal and users of the phrase “but I have gay friends” suddenly explode in joy as they holler the word faggot because no one can have a go at them about it. I mean come on, it’s the lyrics, blame Shane MacGowan, he wrote it.
Well go fuck yourself.
THIS is my problem with it. There’s no problem with the song, there’s no problem with the word in that song, there’s no problem with you singing that song and singing that word, the problem is with the fucking enjoyment and twisted minds of some of the people who taking part.
Because suddenly it gives them the power to insult us and what they feel is a right to do it all the time!
“But hey it’s a popular fucking song, stop being so damn uptight, right?”
Well once again, go fuck yourself.
When you’ve spent years fighting to be equal, fighting to have the same rights as everyone else, living under restrictions that make no goddamn sense and that do nothing but hurt you and make you feel like a second class citizen well yes, you can bet your ass I’m gonna get pissed off when you think it’s okay to shout faggot and have no consequences.
“But singing it in the song isn’t me shouting it at you! Calm the fuck down!”
You’re right it’s not, so sing it in the song. It’s fits the narrative and character of the song but that’s where it ends. Sadly for some people the equation goes like this:
If a song is popular and everyone sings it and it has a bad word in but everyone sings that word then ergo that word must be okay so I can continue to use it as and whenever I want.
And yes, I’m not even fucking kidding! It happens! Try being gay and out, from time to time we get called faggot with venom and hatred.
Think of a phrase or word that hurts you. Think of it now. And don’t give me this bullshit that there isn’t one because you’re a grown adult and don’t get hurt by words because I can assure you, there is some phrase, some word that triggers your anger. So, got it, got that word or phrase? Now imagine a room full of people all looking and pointing at you and joyously shouting the phrase/word.
“But that’s a ridiculous scenario, that would never happen!”
You’re almost right. That scenario would never happen, but that scenario is exactly how it feels when bigots – assholes – start singing along to a song many people like, me included.
Main stream media unfortunately knows that sex, intolerance and hatred sells and they know that by tweaking the emotions of an already touchy subject they are going to push people over the edge. And sadly, this is where most people have been taken in. You’ve taken that leap and now you think we’re offended by a song. No, we’re offended by you singing it with such joy and spite, and we’re offended by you thinking it’s okay to carry on using that word afterwards
We’re not offended by the fucking song, we’re not that stupid. But do you know what, if someone says “Hey, could you fucking not?!” just accept that hearing the word faggot – a word I was called in public only two weeks ago – for some people is enough to be upsetting and you should stop using it. And while we’re on the subject, stop fucking using it anyway!
Don’t be taken in by the bullshit the main stream AND social media is telling you. Think about what you’re being told. Does it sound ridiculous? Then it probably is! Something are 100% gold plated.
While you’re getting pissed about that song, here’s a few more you could be upset at*:
All I Want for Christmas is a about an obsessive nut job.
Last Christmas is about a whiny little bitch with no self-esteem.
Good King Wenceslas is about an asshole.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year is about supernatural hauntings (and has the word gay in it!)
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer is about murder.
Jingle Bells is about the destruction of farm land.
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree is about ritualistic dancing.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside is about date rape.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is about mental health issues.
God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman is about being bitch-slapped for being bold!
Frosty The Snowman is about witchcraft.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Raindeer is about bullying.
White Christmas is just plain fucking racist!
Santa Claus is Coming to Town contravenes GDPR rules.
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus is about a whore.
*Take a wild stab in the dark about I really feel about those songs!
