The annual message, available on YouTube for those of us in the former colonies, reflects the popular sentiment in Britain this year that 2009 is going be a bit challenging.
The Times writes:
The Queen today voiced her concerns about the effects of the economic downturn saying that whilst Christmas is a time for celebration, “this year it is a more sombre occasion for many.”
In her annual Christmas Day address, the Queen urged victims of the credit crunch not to “lie down and accept defeat”, but to draw strength from loved ones.
The truly newsworthy bit though is that Queen’s message was given some competition in Britain by the airing of a Christmas message to the West by the President Amadinejad of Iran.
According to a story in the LA Times:
In a recorded message to air Christmas Day on Britain’s Channel 4, Ahmadinejad praises Christianity but goes on to say that if Jesus returned to Earth, “he would fight against the tyrannical policies of prevailing global economic and political systems.”
Ahmadinejad didn’t say specifically what he meant, but presumably he was referring to the policies of the United States and West European countries, which have imposed economic sanctions on Iran to try to force it to shut down its nuclear enrichment program.
The Iranian president was invited to speak to the British public as part of the channel’s annual “Alternative Christmas Message,” following an address to the nation by Queen Elizabeth II. Previous alternative Christmas guests have included the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the cast of the animated series “The Simpsons.” There appeared to be little public reaction in Britain on Wednesday to the fact that Ahmadinejad would give this year’s address.