MR. HANKY THE CHRISTMAS POO

South Park has had a few Christmas specials over the years but the best one has got to be Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo from its first season.

When the show debuted in 1997 it was met with a whirlwind of controversy. So when the creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, wrote the Christmas episode they decided to play off of the political correctness that everyone was trying to force down their throats.

The result is brilliant! Not only does this episode contain everything that a Christmas special should be, including songs, togetherness, Jesus, Christmas trees, presents, acceptance and an epiphany, but it also draws on a lot of very important subjects, like the exclusion/inclusion of Jews during this holiday, the activists who are offended by Christmas but don't take into account the feelings of others, and schools that have to be overly politically correct.

Kyle is pulled out of the school play because he is Jewish and should not be taking part in a nativity scene. Kyle's mom then goes on a quest to rid the town of anything that is offesive to anyone. Meanwhile, Kyle meets Mr. Hankey, a Christmas poo that visits those with too much fibre in their diet. Together, they teach the town to forget about their differences and come together on this joyous holiday.

I am sick and tired of the way my country is taking out any meaning of the holiday. Department store clerks are not allowed to say "Merry Christmas" and no mention of nativity scenes or the birth of Christ are to be seen at schools or in malls. Most modern Christmas specials teach us to accept others, especially at Christmas, but the powers-that-be are bent on excluding religion and therefore go back on everything that they are trying to teach by making the holiday inclusive.

The most confusing this is that Christmas songs, including Christian carols, are still piped over radio stations and mall PAs and A Charlie Brown Christmas and Little Drummer Boy are still seen on TV every year! I guess we haven't quite reached the point that South Park did in Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo but I'm sure we are close. South Park, as usual, hit the nail right on the head.