November 22, 2007
So apparently… a number of large department store chains across Australia are planning to ban their in-store Santas from using the term… “Ho-Ho-Ho”… and instead requesting that they use the more “politically correct” term “Ha-Ha-Ha”…
The reason…
The term “Ho” is also an offensive and derogatory American Slang term for a whore… or prostitute…
Alright… let’s set aside the fact that it would be highly unlikely that mothers will construe Santa’s “Ho-Ho-Ho” as being derogatory to women… although I concede it would be offensive if Santa was saying “Whore, Whore, Whore”…
Let’s also set aside the fact that “Ho-Ho-Ho” has been in popular and traditional usage for much longer than any of our living memories… for far longer than the slang term has been in popular usage…
But instead, let’s focus on the fact that Santa is communicating with the youngest of young children… so young that they cannot possibly understand that “Ho-Ho-Ho” has any other connotation… and nor should they…
So I say leave Santa alone…
Or else what next?
Are we going to change the soundtrack to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs… just in case young children perceive that the dwarves are singing about a stoned hooker?
“Stoned Hooker, Stoned Hooker…”
“It’s off to work we go…”
Give me a break… it doesn’t even rhyme…
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