Former Eurythmics singer Annie Lennox's recording of In the Bleak Mid-winter is quite magnificent. It was therefore disappointing to find this version of Christina Rossetti's masterpiece sung by Miss Lennox on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show in December last year.
The censored verse? Yes, you've guessed it: -
Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth
sustain, heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign; in the
bleak mid-winter a stable-place sufficed the Lord God Almighty, Jesus
Christ.
Shorn of that declaration of the wonder of the Incarnation, the poem is reduced to little more than a romantic love song.
Was that Boris Johnson sitting on the couch enjoying
Miss Lennox's Incarnation-less version of this beautiful Christmas
carol? One wonder whether the London Mayor's intellectual curiosity
moved him to ask Mr Marr about the reason for the missing verse on the
state broadcaster.
This piece - Bible abused in gay marriage media debates - appeared on VirtueOnline.
This piece - Fragile Church of England Maginot Line against gay marriage - appeared on Anglican Mainstream.
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In my opinion the Beeb is a rogue organization that has broken free from its public (all the public) service charter moorings and is running amok. Ok there are still some excellent travel, science and nature offerings, but on news or anything relating to present society, current affairs or history, It just talks to itself really, addressing that sector of society ( any estimates anyone ?) that thinks in the same way as it does. That is mainly the metropolitan elite and fellow travellers. Any attempt at journalistic balance is either ignored or paper thin, with the real plot shining through all too easily. It needs reminding of its purpose, being reduced to an essential core, for genuine Reithian ( acceptable word ?) broadcasting and with the rest sold off.
ReplyDeleteJulian, I often take issue with you over WO and WB, but I'm happy to say that I totally agree with you here!
ReplyDeleteThe BBC is an organization run by cultural Marxists. They are, therefore, anti-Christian. If Christians insist on watching (and financing) their programmes, they should expect to be regularly insulted and see the name of their Lord and saviour ridiculed and mocked.
ReplyDeleteA suggestion: Pick up and read Meltdown by Marcus Honeysett and/or Amusing Ourselves To Death by Neil Postman. These two books can help you break free of the TV's spell.