Posted on 12/24/2004 1:07:22 AM PST by Cornpone
Shoppers in the US are being urged to boycott some of the country's most famous stores because they do not say "Merry Christmas". The California-based Committee to Save Merry Christmas wants consumers to avoid shops such as Macy's because they avoid any association with Jesus.
A number of retailers instead stick to non-faith based phrases such as "happy holidays" or "season's greetings".
Macy's said such greetings were more reflective of a multicultural US.
'Catering for all'
Federated Department Stores, the owner of Macy's, said it had no set policy over the use of specific references to Christmas, but added that greetings such as "happy holidays" took in all cultures.
Happy holidays is the pleasant greeting that applies to everyone in every celebration
Wal-Mart
"In fact few, if any, national retailers or businesses now take a different approach to the holiday season," it said.
Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the US, also avoids mentioning the C-word.
It said it had not received any complaints, only a few "curious questions".
Parallel festivals
The company added that it needed to cater to the variety of holidays celebrated at this time of the year by the 138 million US consumers that passed through its doors every week.
These other celebrations include the Jewish Hanukkah festival and Kwanzaa, an African-American event.
"Happy holidays is the pleasant greeting that applies to everyone in every celebration," Wal-Mart said.
The Committee to Save Merry Christmas says on its website that its primary goal is to "preserve the culture and tradition of the vast majority of Americans that celebrate and honour Christmas."
LOL
yeah LOL
And if you have a sense of humor --> http://www.chrismahanukwanzakah.com/
Thanks for the URL...it reflects the spirit of the times...:)
I work in a retail store; I tell my customers "Merry Christmas," though not exclusively. I'm merely here to try to point out that to boycott retail stores whose employees don't say "Merry Christmas" to the shoppers is, well... silly. There is NO company policy against saying "Merry Christmas" to customers, and if employees of said stores choose to expound on scripted greetings and farewells to include members of other cultures, it is their prerogative. And if you so choose to boycott these same stores for that reason, that is certainly yours.
What do you expect these stores to do? Disallow employees from saying "Happy Holidays" to customers? Make it company policy for all emplyees to say nothing with the exception of "Merry Christmas?" It is you who is the fascist, if this is your reasoning (ahem, Cobra64).
Doesn't Christianity teach kindness, tolerance, and good morals? What's wrong with opening your heart and including a member of a different culture in your farewell statement (ahem, tolerance)?
.............Merry Messiah's Manger Day!
(Micah 5:2 and all of Luke chapter 2 Day)
:-)
Look up the word 'convoluted' in the dictionary.
I suppose I expect them all to do like Safeway Stores and finally abandon all pretense of celebrating the season in the spirit intended...why shut down just because it's Christmas? I expect them to continue the tacit assault on the majority of American's deep seated cultural beliefs. I expect them to destroy all that remains of our values.
Meanwhile, though not a devoted Christian, I will continue to look for those who believe, "Our mission is to provide...in a manner which enhances the quality of life for our stockholders, employees, customers, associates and suppliers. In so doing, we will deal with integrity and honesty, reflecting that people are more important than dollars and that our purpose is to bring credit to our Lord Jesus Christ."
Damn, it sure would be nice if EVERYONE could get together and never go in their stores again. I know I haven't gone in this Holiday Season."
If someone says "Have a Good One" or whatever, I reply, "Merry Christmas," and that makes both of us happy. I save my rancor for those who are militantly against Christianity in the public square. A lot of the others are just ignorant.
***Then you don't celebrate Christmas the way it is 'supposed' to be celebrated,,,***
How nice for you! You, and you alone, make the rules for 300 million Americans.
I agree. Getting all kerfluffuled over this is a waste of energy.
Try to find any religous products to buy at Tar-gete (the french spelling)Yes the people who wnat nothing to do with the Salvation Army have removed all Religous colors and wrapping paper, candles, bags etc from their stores - in Dallas area. Want to give them a merry Christmas? Return everything, get a refund and spend your money in another store.
It will be interesting to see what happens NEXT Christmas, since this Christmas backlash caught everyone by surprise this year.
As for me and my house, we serve the Lord. If I feel He is no longer welcome, we will not buy ANY gifts from any retailer who wants to ignore 80% of its customers. Let them make their money off the Jews, Kwanzans, and Festivus celebrants next year.
Our eductional sysstem has been laying the groundwork for this sort of capitulation for 30 years now. It should not be that surprising.
I was watching Fox News this morning and Hannity and Colms came on with a show promo. I know Hannity has been on a Merry Christmas kick on his show for a couple of weeks now, but what did he do in the promo? He wished his viewers a 'Happy Holiday' while Colms wished them a 'Happy New Year'. When push comes to shove there's nothing like backing down on your principles, is there Sean?
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