To the editor,
Re: Radio station pulls Baby It’s Cold Outside, citing Me Too movement, Dec. 1.
Baby It’s Cold Outside won the Oscar for Best Original Song in 1949, and instantly became a Christmas favourite. Now its lyrics have been declared persona non grata by the Me Too movement, and disc jockeys at many radio stations will not be playing it this year.
So many of us support the brave women who exposed the likes of Harvey Weinstein for his use of Hollywood’s ‘casting couch,’ and many other women who followed suit to stop abuse and intimidation in their own work environment. Yet somehow, to pick on this Christmas classic gives raise to the question asked when so many Me Too cases first came into play, namely: Where does all this political correctness end?
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It’s also grossly unfair to pick on one song over another, so here’s a quick scan of likely violators of yuletide political correctness. Obviously, there’s White Christmas, enough said. The People for Ethical Treatment of Animals should definitely be offended by an animal’s abnormality being exploited by Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Andy Williams may be rolling in his grave right now to think that his iconic “It’s the most wonderful time of the year” may be interpreted as an ode to cold climes that ignores the glory of summer, to the detriment of environmentalists and climate change experts who lurk in every shadow these days.
Those are a few examples off the top of my head, tongue firmly planted in cheek of course, but there must be so many more offending lines in Christmas songs, as producing them has turned into an industry of its own. This Me Too radio ban definitely seems to be overstepping the mark of common sense, in an era where radio stations freely play songs with violent and sexually charged rap lyrics year-round.
Feliz navidad, prospero ano y felicidad, to all at the newspaper and to all your readers.
Bernie Smith, Parksville
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