"Don We Now Our Blank Apparel"
One of Hallmark's ornaments for the holiday season has caused controversy following the replacement of the word "gay" while quoting "Deck the Halls."
The ornament, in a shape of a red Christmas sweater is decorated with the lyric, "Don we now our fun apparel." As most of you know, the traditional line from the famous Christmas song is "Don we now our gay apparel."
Hallmark initially defended its actions by releasing a statement asserting that the change was made as the word “gay” could be defined as “fun” and, that the tradition of wearing a Christmas sweater is fun. Faced with mounting criticism Hallmark issued a second statement apologizing for the change. The ornament, however, is still on store shelves complete with the changed lyric.
Was Hallmark acting in a failed attempt to be politically correct or was the company acting out of homophobia? I’m not sure but I would expect Hallmark will never again change a Christmas carol lyric.

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I was a bit put off when The Who did their Quadrophenia tour last year and Pete Townshend dropped the word "queers" from the line "If you complain you disappear, just like the lesbians and queers". It was a line that captured the social outrage of youth rather than any cultural insensitivity by the author (written back in 1973). He didn't replace the word, just backed away from the microphone and glared menacingly at the audience. My take was that at this point he didn't need to ruffle feathers, was sympathetic to the plight of homosexuals, but that it bothered him at the ridiculousness of a wordsmith being stifled from the expression of valid and critical thought.
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