Another Urban Legend

I got an e-mail from a friend today. It was one of those e-mails suggesting that you pass it on so that people can take action.

The focus of it was:

"This week, the UK removed The Holocaust from its school curriculum because it "offended" the Muslim population which claims it never occurred.
This is a frightening portent of the fear that is gripping the world and how easily
each country is giving into it."

The problem is, it's not true. It's an urban legend.

But when people unknowingly pass such things on, it causes headaches for the people, companies or governmetn agencies falsely accused, and it wastes time and money. For example, one urban legend - that atheiets have a petition to get religious broadcasting off the air - costs the U.S. government thousands of dollars each year in staff time and printing as it has to send out thousands of responses saying it's not true. That's our tax dollars beign wasted.

Urban legends have actually affected political campaigns (there are even some floating around this year concerning some of the Presidential candidates - such a multiple ones abot Obama).

Most people who send these urban legends on are well-meaning. But maybe if we each did a quick check before we send on something that could be potentially damaging to someone's reputation, or undermine a business.

There are websites devoted to urban legends. A quick check at one of those could answer questions. Here's some:

http://www.snopes.com/

http://urbanlegends.about.com/

http://www.warphead.com/urbanlegends/

http://urbanlegendsonline.com/index.html

http://www.scambusters.org/legends.html

And by the way, there's no truth to the rumor that Santa lives in Gates during the off season, and that if you mail him money he will put you on the Nice List.

It's an urban legend.

But just in case, my address is in the phone book.

Ho. Ho. Ho.