Help Sink Old Navy's Blockade (taking political correctness to the extreme)

American Family Association (via e-mail) | 12/18/07 | Donald E. Wildmon

[Heartofsong83]

Help Sink Old Navy's Blockade

Dear Craig,

You would think a company that gets the vast majority of its business from Christians would be respectful of its customers. Such is true of companies that don't have an anti-Christian bias. But not at Old Navy. Old Navy has put a blockade around Christmas.

Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic are owned by the same company. And all three boycott Christmas. At these stores, Christmas isn't allowed because a handful of non-Christians are offended. Old Navy doesn't want to offend non-Christians. But they sure don't worry about offending Christians.

They will take your money, but they will not recognize Christmas.

Old Navy doesn't sell Christmas gifts. They sell "holiday" gifts. They don't close their stores on Christmas. They close on "holiday." They don't observe "Christmas morning," they observe "holiday morning." They don't wish customers a "Merry Christmas." They wish them a "happy holiday." Old Navy boycotts Christmas.

Old Navy has been boycotting Christmas for years. And despite thousands and thousands of requests to recognize Christmas, they refuse to do so. In fact, Old Navy is so adamant about boycotting Christmas that they have blocked incoming e-mails requesting they recognize Christmas.

When an Old Navy store manager was asked if the word "Christmas" was used in his store, he answered: "We have a lot of Christmas gifts in our stores, but the word 'Christmas' is not used here. Everything is 'holiday.'"

Old Navy even makes a joke of Christmas by offering video greetings called "Happy Chrismukkah."

Take Action!

After you have signed the petition, call Old Navy and tell them in a kind and polite way that as long as they boycott Christmas, you will boycott Old Navy. The toll free number is 1-800-427-7895. The company number is 650-952-4400. When requested, push the order number when prompted so you will be able to speak with a live person. Forward this to your friends and family! Help us promote the boycott of Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic.

[Heartofsong83]

This is just nonsense. Maybe the governments need to step in?

[RetiredArmy]

I don’t shop these stores. Never been in an Old Navy or Gap. Never have. Never needed too. Never had the desire too. Let em rot in hell. I don’t care. Christians need to stay out of these stores, let them feel the pain. They will get the message in lost income.

[af_vet_rr]

This is just nonsense. Maybe the governments need to step in?

For a second I thought you were being serious, and saying the government needed to get involved in a private religious matter :-)

[Heartofsong83]

The link to the petition is https://secure.afa.net/afa/activism/signpetition.asp?id=1730

[Deut28]

I said “Merry Christmas” to the girl working check out at Gap, and she smiled quite nicely.

It can send a strong message when Christians go into anti-Christian environments and behave as Christians.

[Perdogg]

Maybe the governments need to step in?

You are kidding right? We don't live in an Islamic Republic where the govt enforces religion.

[Heartofsong83]

Nope, I mean the governments step in to ban misuse of Christmas and other holidays, and require organizations, businesses, municipalities and other groups to say “Christmas” (or other holiday names), and not “Holidays” or other generic terms.

[Badeye]

I haven’t shopped at any of these three in well over a decade.

[Heartofsong83]

Except by them using such terms, it is enforcing religion - that being secular humanism.

[Kirkwood]

Happy Jesus’s Birthday!

[Lx]

Geez, the closest I’ve come to a Gap is an interview for a job at their data center; which I didn’t get.

[af_vet_rr]

Maybe I'm weird, but I prefer not to shop at places that emphasize Christmas, because all they are doing is trying to make money off of your relationship with God and Jesus Christ.

In fact, I'd rather shop at a place like Old Navy that doesn't mention it at all, because at least they aren't trying to make a buck off of one of the most important events in Christianity.

I find it more distasteful when stores try to lull you into buying things by beating you over the head with Christmas imagery, because they are perverting the reason for the season, so to speak.

They make it sound like you must buy something because it's Christmas, when the reality is, buying stuff is not going to make you a better Christian, especially when it's crap that will just end up in a closet somewhere or that will only be trotted out once a year.

[Perdogg]

No, that’s government violating free speech right.

[absolootezer0]

old navy has one item with Christmas on it:
http://www.oldnavy.com/browse/product.do?pid=527256052&userSearchText=christmas&searchCID=26519&vid=1

a pair of boxers with a “Chistmas tree” pattern.

[af_vet_rr]

Nope, I mean the governments step in to ban misuse of Christmas and other holidays, and require organizations, businesses, municipalities and other groups to say “Christmas” (or other holiday names), and not “Holidays” or other generic terms.

If you are being serious, there's this thing, we call it the Consitution of the United States. Maybe you should read it sometime. Check out the parts about freedom of speech and freedom of religion. They are very enlightening. You'll learn that it's not the government's job to force people to say "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays".

[Jim Noble]

But they sure don't worry about offending Christians.

Don't be an idiot. When you became a Christian, what did you think you were signing up for?

John 15:18-19

[BenLurkin]

No the government should not “step in”.

BUT — what sane person could be offended by Christmas?

[Conscience of a Conservative]

“Except by them using such terms, it is enforcing religion - that being secular humanism.”

Regardless of whether Old Navy (a PRIVATE company) is preaching secular humanism, the government has NO power to step in and t ell Old Navy what to do! I do hope you’re joking.

Besides, this Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Seasons Greetings thing is much ado about nothing anyway. Just look on ebay - you can find a ton of vintage greeting cards from the 40s and earlier with generic holiday greetings. Just as it shouldn’t offend anyone to hear Merry Christmas, there’s no reason it shoudl offend anyone to hear Happy Holidays.

[NRA1995]

I already boycott them, I simply don’t like their clothing.

[OCCASparky]

Ever tried to get anything in any of those places in any waist size greater than 34? Good luck on that!

[gridlock]

I don’t shop these stores. Never been in an Old Navy or Gap. Never have. Never needed too. Never had the desire too.

Every time I go into an Old Navy store, I thank my lucky stars that my daughter's school requires uniforms.

[reagan_fanatic]

I'd boycott Old Navy if I shopped there.

But I don't.

[fungoking]

“I’d rather shop at a place like Old Navy that doesn’t mention it at all, because at least they aren’t trying to make a buck off of one of the most important events in Christianity”

I’m sure Old Navy’s stockholders would like to know that their company isn’t trying to make money in December.

[af_vet_rr]

I'm not saying they aren't trying to benefit from the holiday season - they'll benefit even if they don't market to any particular event and just keep things generic (and truth be told, by not marketing to Christmas specifically, they can run their holiday campaigns from before Thanksgiving through a few weeks into January).

I'm just saying that I find it worse when stores blatantly use Christian imagery and/or try to commercialize Christianity.

[woollyone]

‘...a pair of boxers with a “Chistmas tree” pattern.”

It’s a winter season tree

[Sloth]

Maybe the governments need to step in?

Maybe you're a troll?

[NavyCanDo]

Breathing a sigh of relief. For a moment there I thought this was about my Old Navy.

[sam_paine]

Nope, I mean the governments step in to ban misuse of Christmas and other holidays, and require organizations, businesses, municipalities and other groups to say “Christmas”

Hey af_vet...I was mocking RuPaul's comment this morning quoting lefty Sinclair Lewis about "Fascism will enter the country wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross."

This thread, and H-of-song's outrageous statements here takes me a step back from that. I hate it when someone on FR does something that makes RuPaul turn out to be correct.

"The government should make someone say 'Christmas.'"

I can't fathom the thoughts behind what some people post on FR these days.

[fungoking]

I understood what you were saying. I know businesses in my town that put the fish symbol on their ads who I would’t trust not to steal a red hot stove.

[absolootezer0]

no, it actually says “Christmas tree”
its the only thing with the word “Christmas” on it on any of their sites.

[atlaw]

Nope, I mean the governments step in to ban misuse of Christmas and other holidays, and require organizations, businesses, municipalities and other groups to say “Christmas” (or other holiday names), and not “Holidays” or other generic terms.

And if anybody gets out of line and violates the new "Christmas Speech" laws, its off to the penitentiary.

So watch your step out there. Spend some time reading the statutes. And remember, if you're an "organization, business or municipality," saying nothing is not an option. The new laws "require organizations, businesses, municipalities and other groups to say 'Christmas.'" (And don't think that doesn't include you, Herb Shwartz, and all those heathen buddies of yours down in the garment district.)

Oh, and some advice for individuals unassociated with "organizations, businesses, and municipalities" -- when in doubt, just shut up. And don't make eye contact.

So Happy Holidays everybo.... Oh crap. See you in five years.

[woollyone]

mea culpa

[Madeleine Ward]

Perhaps Christians should shun the whole commercial aspect of a custom that became attached to this religious observance.

Make your kids birthday the BIG bonanza.

Then you won’t have a need to buy from a store that doesn’t recognize the occasion that brings you to their store in the first place.

I stopped buying years ago, and it’s taken a while, but I have my family doing the same thing, we honestly don’t miss it.

[Wil H]

Nope, I mean the governments step in to ban misuse of Christmas and other holidays, and require organizations, businesses, municipalities and other groups to say “Christmas” (or other holiday names), and not “Holidays” or other generic terms.

Ouch!

You just trashed Freedom of Religion, Freedom of speech, the Establishment Clause all in one suggestion!

[zeugma]

You just trashed Freedom of Religion, Freedom of speech, the Establishment Clause all in one suggestion!

Efficient! :-) 

[rhinohunter]

I have never in my life to my knowledge even set foot in any one of those stores, let alone make a purchase. So doubtful my boycott would help anything.

[napscoordinator]

This is just nonsense. Maybe the governments need to step in?

You are being sarcastic I hope. Don’t you want smaller government. Sheesh that is all we need having government get involved. What about Season’s Greetings? Does this satisfy all?

[napscoordinator]

I always buy Old Navy stuff, but I do it on-line so I don’t care about greetings one way or the other. I suppose if I actually went into the store I would say Happy Holidays in November and Merry Christmas after 15 December and than Happy New Year after 1 January. Good grief. We expect people to say merry christmas in November...no thank you. Happy Holidays is just fine until mid December.

[Blind Eye Jones]

Maybe it’s because they don’t want to offend other, Jewish, Islamic, etc., faiths by singling out Christmas. It could be extreme politeness.

[Coleus]

Help Sink Old Navy's Blockade

You would think a company that gets the vast majority of its business from Christians would be respectful of its customers. Such is true of companies that don't have an anti-Christian bias. But not at Old Navy. Old Navy has put a blockade around Christmas.

Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic are owned by the same company. And all three boycott Christmas. At these stores, Christmas isn't allowed because a handful of non-Christians are offended. Old Navy doesn't want to offend non-Christians. But they sure don't worry about offending Christians.

They will take your money, but they will not recognize Christmas.

Old Navy doesn't sell Christmas gifts. They sell "holiday" gifts. They don't close their stores on Christmas. They close on "holiday." They don't observe "Christmas morning," they observe "holiday morning." They don't wish customers a "Merry Christmas." They wish them a "happy holiday." Old Navy boycotts Christmas.

Old Navy has been boycotting Christmas for years. And despite thousands and thousands of requests to recognize Christmas, they refuse to do so. In fact, Old Navy is so adamant about boycotting Christmas that they have blocked incoming e-mails requesting they recognize Christmas.

When an Old Navy store manager was asked if the word "Christmas" was used in his store, he answered: "We have a lot of Christmas gifts in our stores, but the word 'Christmas' is not used here. Everything is 'holiday.'"

Old Navy even makes a joke of Christmas by offering video greetings called "Happy Chrismukkah."

Take Action!

• After you have signed the petition, call Old Navy and tell them in a kind and polite way that as long as they boycott Christmas, you will boycott Old Navy. The toll free number is 1-800-427-7895. The company number is 650-952-4400. When requested, push the order number when prompted so you will be able to speak with a live person.
  
• Forward this to your friends and family! Help us promote the boycott of Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic.
  
  

  Take Action