Posted on 11/11/2005 5:58:29 AM PST by big'ol_freeper
Catholic League president Bill Donohue commented today on Wal-Mart’s decision to yield to the league’s demands:
“Yesterday, I said the Catholic League’s boycott of Wal-Mart would proceed until the company a) rendered an apology b) withdrew its insane statement regarding the origins of Christmas and c) revised its website. When I left the office last evening, none of the three demands were met. When I checked news reports this morning, and Wal-Mart’s website, all three were met.
“Wal-Mart spokesman Dan Fogleman released a statement last night saying, ‘We sincerely apologize to any person or organization that was offended by the inappropriate and inflammatory comments made by this former associate.’ Fogleman was referring to the objectionable remark offered by a Customer Service employee, Kirby, who started the entire controversy by sending the insane statement regarding the origins of Christmas to a female customer. Alas, Kirby has been fired. As for our third demand, Wal-Mart has now adjusted its website so that when a customer types ‘Christmas’ in its search engine, it no longer gets, ‘We’ve brought you to our ‘Holiday’ page based on your search.’ Now the customer is taken directly to a site named ‘Christmas.’
“Wal-Mart says it is not going to change its policy of encouraging employees to say ‘Happy Holidays’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas.’ This is dumb, but it was never part of the Catholic League’s complaint. We only trigger boycotts when we’ve been grossly offended.
“This is a sweet victory for the Catholic League, Christians in general, and people of all faiths. And it means that Wal-Mart can now enter the Christmas season without this cloud hanging over it.”
The oddest part of this was the "intermediate" step, where supposedly the Catholic League sent the e-mail to Walmart and they stood behind it. That was the thing I didn't understand.
I didn't have a problem with having to hit one extra button to get to christmas, but I don't see any harm to WalMart to change that.
Wow, good news.
It is hard to believe any WalMart official would reply to a concerned customer by relating Christian Christmas rituals to Siberian shamanism. Godspeed to Mr Kirby.
One more Kerry voter on the unemployment line.
Good work Catholic League keep up the good fight.
Merry Christmas - there I said it.
Why are large companies so afraid of these 2 words?
..but I guess the Salvation Army is still straight out and anything homosexual, Harry Potter or Wiccan is all in?
Since Wal-Mart seeks to be America's only shopping experience, they also incur far more responsibility for the moral standards they promote and discourage in America.
Kirby=Fogelman
Carolyn
I heard on CNBC yesterday that Target was also "banning" the phrase "Merry Christmas" - what other large companies are "wandering"?
Gee... there are Christmas trees, garland, Santa Clauses, and lights all over the local Wal-Mart, and I bought a box of Christmas cards that actually say "Merry Christmas" on them...
Funny, Wal-Mart didn't seem anti-Christmas even before this change.
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
What insane statement? This article is sorely lacking in info. Either that or I need to get my eyeglass prescription checked.
So, no more commercializing 'the Holidays', we're back to commercializing 'Christmas'. Way to go, Catholic League.
Ping
Perhaps this is good news at the micro level. But have you noticed that our 'victories' are nothing more than successful defenses? There is no offense. The net result is that we're losing the war through attrition.
Never mind. I found it doing a Google search.
Sure is hard to believe, that's why I do not believe it. This whole story reeks.
Nah, he'll be picked up quickly by one of the Fair Tax groups for their Public Relations department.
;-)
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