American Greetings: Greeting Card Makers Single Out Christian Holy Day for Special Ridicule

CatholicLeague.org ^ | 12-10-01 | William Donohue

[Notwithstanding]

December 10, 2001

MAKERS OF HOLIDAY GREETING CARDS DUMB DOWN CHRISTMAS

Makers of holiday greeting cards show great unevenness in their handling of Christian, Jewish and Muslim holidays. To be specific, a review of the greeting cards available on the home page of Yahoo! reveal the following:

· There are over 350 Christmas cards yet only 25 have a religious content. There are at least 8 objectionable cards in the “Humorous” and “Naughty” categories. For example, these categories have cards that show naked buttocks, animals urinating, Santa on the toilet, etc.

· Most of the 48 Hanukkah cards show a picture of a menorah or a Star of David. Of the 5 “Humorous” cards, none was as offensive as any of the Christmas cards in this category. There was no “Naughty” category.

· The 66 Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr cards were all respectful of Islam and most showed a star and crescent. There were no “Humorous” or “Naughty” categories.

· All the Kwanzaa cards were respectful and there were no “Humorous” or “Naughty” categories.

Catholic League president William Donohue commented as follows:

“American Greetings is the worst offender of the mainline greeting card producers. By far the most obscene producer is Tomato cards. It has a card this year that mocks the Blessed Virgin Mary.

“What this just goes to show is that there is a contempt for Christianity among our elites in this country that has no rival. Sometimes the bias they sport is subdued and other times it is not. But that it exists is beyond question. Dumbing down Christmas is very important to these people otherwise they wouldn’t be working overtime to get the job done. We will do our best to inform the public as to their agenda.”

[mercy]

Maybe the disparity is the fault of Yahoo. Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner Operators.

(No flames necessary I'm just being silly)

[Salman]

· There are over 350 Christmas cards yet only 25 have a religious content. There are at least 8 objectionable cards in the “Humorous” and “Naughty” categories. For example, these categories have cards that show naked buttocks, animals urinating, Santa on the toilet, etc.

· Most of the 48 Hanukkah cards show a picture of a menorah or a Star of David. Of the 5 “Humorous” cards, none was as offensive as any of the Christmas cards in this category. There was no “Naughty” category.

· The 66 Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr cards were all respectful of Islam and most showed a star and crescent. There were no “Humorous” or “Naughty” categories.

My guess would be that it comes down to money. There simply is no market for "naughty" Hanukkah cards. Actually, there's not much of a market for Hanukkah cards at all. Most Jews have not adopted this custom, or if asslimlated tend to opt for "generic holiday" cards.

[M. Thatcher]

Sorry, but someone has too much time on his/her hands. Monitoring the content of greeting cards--the creating and purchasing of which are totally in the realm of voluntary behavior--is beneath petty.

[ArrogantBustard]

I purchase my Christmas cards from the Knights of Columbus. No problems with secular, irreligious, disrespectful or blasphemous cards there...

AB

[ambrose]

Sorry, but someone has too much time on his/her hands. Monitoring the content of greeting cards--the creating and purchasing of which are totally in the realm of voluntary behavior--is beneath petty.

Stop it! You're making sense! This is not allowed!

[Darth Reagan]

This is more a function of the consumer market than any kind of evil agenda on the part of American Greetings or Yahoo!

[detsaoT]

I'm fairly certain that the demographics of the card recipients would dictate their array of cards. For example, I seriously doubt Muslims would be interested in sending each other "funny" cards re: their fasting (a time of "deep inner thought", so to speak). (Of course, the week of Easter, a Christian holiday, is supposed to be similar, but is not in our secular society).

Also, I would venture to say that the demographic representing Hannukah card recipients includes a much larger number of easily-offended people (pronounce this "The More Likely To Sue The Card Company" group), thus discouraging humourous/satirical cards.

And, then again, let's also not confuse the Christian Christmas with the Secular Christmas - two totally seperate events. If you're off shopping at Hallmark for Christian Christmas cards, you're probably not looking in the right place to begin with. If, however, you want a peacefully secular card, they've got plenty. (And, of course, how does one offend someone who believes in The Great Nothing, as Secularists do...)

I don't think this is a conspiracy as much as it is a slick Marketing team being carefully massaged by Every Lawyer In Town...

:) ttt

[Ward Smythe]

Dumbing down Christmas is very important to these people otherwise they wouldn’t be working overtime to get the job done.

If we weren't already "dumbed down" we wouldn't be buying these cards and the greeting card companies wouldn't be producing them...

[Dante3]

One could also argue that the Post Office designed small, drab, dark relgious Christmas stamps this year, while making the Santa Clause ones big and bright. This Christmas stamp is the least attractive I've seen.

What I don't like is for Post Office and others to combine very different holidays as if they were one and equating Christmas with minor holiays of other religions.

[wjeanw]

Contempt for Christianity is worldwide.

When living in Asia I was often struck by how often I heard Buddhists and Hindus swear by using the name of Christ. I can't recall anyone ever saying, "Oh, Buddha ... or ... Vishnu! when things didn't go as desired."

However, it is understandable if you think of what swearing means. Even the Scriptures record that men swear by something greater than themselves. Without realising it, Buddhists and Hindus give evidence of the superiority of Christ by the fact that when they want to curse they use His name. Likewise, our modern card makers testify to Christian authority in their sacrilege.

[barker]

“American Greetings is the worst offender of the mainline greeting card producers.

Noticed they didn't say what or how many AG cards they thought were offensive. Since I work as a merchandiser for AG I can tell them for a fact that the humorous cards are not selling nearly as well as the traditional and religious cards this year.

AG has a line of 78th Street cards that I don't care for. The humor is a little twisted for me but they usually sell pretty well.

Things have changed since Sept. 11 and this year people aren't ready for humor. They seem to want to express their true feelings and how much they care for loved ones. Traditional cards give them the opportunity to do this.

[Chief Inspector Clouseau]

What a worthwhile crusade!!!

Today, greeting cards. Tomorrow, fortune cookies!!! Where we can go from there is limited only by our imagination...

< /sarcasm>

[zerosix]

For the best CHRISTian CHRISTmas Cards ever, try Dayspring Cards, available at all Christian bookstores, also Hobby Lobby stores and many others.

[perez24]

I always think that Jesus never said that following Him would be easy. While the contempt of the world is not fun or desirable, and we should fight for our rights, etc., He told us to expect this sort of treatment, if not worse.

[barker]

The actual title of the article you linked to is "MAKERS OF HOLIDAY GREETING CARDS DUMB DOWN CHRISTMAS" but I noticed you decided to single out American Greetings in your title. Interesting.

[catonsville]

I have not bought an American Greeting card for years ever since they produced a series of cards bashing men--made for their feminist card buying loonies. Same for Hallmark.

[drjimmy]

Without realising it, Buddhists and Hindus give evidence of the superiority of Christ by the fact that when they want to curse they use His name. Likewise, our modern card makers testify to Christian authority in their sacrilege.
Go tell that to William Donohue and I'm sure he'll give you an "Oh, Christ!" for trying to rain on his fundraising parade.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I for one do not regard Sant Claus or his reindeer religious icons and would not, as a Christian, be offended even if the jolly old elf were depicted tossing off in the loo.

[detsaoT]

I always think that Jesus never said that following Him would be easy.

Wise words, indeed. A respectful bump to ya!

:) ttt

[Bsnider]

This has less to do with Greeting Card companies trying to harass Christians than it does with the character of this whole day. It is not a Christian holiday. It has nothing to do whatsoever with the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a pagan holiday that was baptized by the false church of Rome (see Rev. 17). A good tree cannot produce evil fruit, yet Christ-mass has proven that it is nothing but that - evil fruit. Lies, hedonism and reckless spending have nothing to do with the son of God who died for the sins of the world. What's more, these companies could not peddle this stuff if the people participating in this day were righteous. Most of the people who use this day make no serious profession of Christianity. Therein lies another problem with Christ-mass. If the world feels comfortable with it, it is not of God. "That which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God," so says the scripture.

[The Duke]

“What this just goes to show is that there is a contempt for Christianity among our elites in this country that has no rival."

I'm as down on the "elites" as the next Freeper, but the reality is that if the cards of other relgions appear more serious it's a sure indicator that the adherents to those religions in general take their religion more seriously than do Christians. I don't credit the card companies with any agenda beyond the need to make profits.

[usconservative]

Monitoring the content of greeting cards--the creating and purchasing of which are totally in the realm of voluntary behavior--is beneath petty.

With all due respect, I disagree. Mocking one religion while not mocking others is certainly inflammatory at best, discriminatory at worst.

It always starts out as "innocuous" against one religion or nationality. Next thing you know, it's a common joke or running theme, then everyone's doing it without forethought.

That's the worst type of bashing IMO. The best way to demean a religion is to make fun of it. That makes it popular, the effect be damn'ed.

Sorry, I *used* to think as you do, then it affected *my* religion and belief system. This needs to be nipped in the bud pronto.

[usconservative]

I always think that Jesus never said that following Him would be easy.

Not only did Jesus say it would not be easy, he specifically said there would be a cost to following him.

Was it in Phillipians where the Apostle Paul wrote: What I once counted as gain, I now count as loss for Christ?"

I believe it was. :)

Peace.

[wjeanw]

Ah, but even the Americanized Santa Claus is in himself a corruption of the early Spanish Christian bishop! When living in Holland, their "Sint Nick" arrives from Spain in a boat every December and is dressed in full bishop's garb down to his shepherd's staff. (An interesting tradition given the majority of the country is Reformed, or at least traditionally so.) Sint Nick is also a no-nonsense type of guy as well. I've been in Sint Nick parties where the Sint reads from his book exactly some of the bad things a child has done in the previous year and the gift given is meant to help reform bad habits, along with an admonition to do better. (Read HANS BRINKER AND THE SILVER SKATES.)

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"Ah, but even the Americanized Santa Claus is in himself a corruption of the early Spanish Christian bishop!"

(In my best Johnny Carson voice), I did not know that!

[VRWC_minion]

You are overreacting. Christmas is BOTH a religious event AND a spiritual one. In fact Christmas was overlayed on top of pagan soltice celebrations. Therefore many people celebrating christmas are celebrating something secular that has nothing to do with Christ.

The market for Christmas cards includes both Christians and to a greater extent non-Christians.

If you want to blame anyone blame God for not making more Christians.

[Notwithstanding]

It is all about holding the leftish PC staffers in corporate america to their own standards. If tolerance is a virtue then why do they only mock non-libertine religions (Christian, mainly)?

[Notwithstanding]

Wow - another person who thinks the pagan solstice/Christmas date thing is newsworhty and relevant.

Yawn.

[Fabozz]

"Of the 5 'Humorous' [Hanukkah] cards, none was as offensive as any of the Christmas cards in this category."

Either this statement is false, or the author is exceptionally prone to offense. One of the supposedly-humorous Christmas cards shows Garfield the Cat saying "Better be good for goodness' sake, or Santa will send your name to telemarketers." The only thing I can see offensive about that is the assertion that Garfield is actually humorous.

Another of the "humorous" Christmas cards shows the three wise men, with one saying "I told you to bring a map, but NOOOO, you insisted on following a star!" Compare that to the Hanukkah card showing Judah Maccabee asking if someone had a match, or the card showing a hanukkiah growing out of the wart-infested skull of a deformed, vomit-green monster. All pretty equivalent, and pretty lame. If this is the work of the greeting-card "elites," then I hate to imagine what the greeting-card masses produce.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

This has more to do with what sells, and what doesn't than with any anti-Christian conspiracy.

[semaj]

"Sorry, but someone has too much time on his/her hands. Monitoring the content of greeting cards--the creating and purchasing of which are totally in the realm of voluntary behavior--is beneath petty."

Where is your concern for the protection of the beliefs and traditions of the adherents of Christianity? The fact that you see nothing wrong with the ridicule of an entire cultural belief system is awesome in its hypocrisy. Where would Western civilization be if not for Christianity?

[Dave S]

When living in Asia I was often struck by how often I heard Buddhists and Hindus swear by using the name of Christ. I can't recall anyone ever saying, "Oh, Buddha ... or ... Vishnu! when things didn't go as desired."

They probably dont have any cultural basis for using the name Buddha or Vishnu in frustration or anger. Most likely they have picked up swearing using the name Christ because they have learned it from hearing Westerners do it.

[usconservative]

Wow - another person who thinks the pagan solstice/Christmas date thing is newsworhty and relevant.

Wrong. I'm sick and tired of my Lord & Savior's day being ridiculed by people such as yourself. This is a prime example of Christians who believe in God being ridiculed vs. other religions.

It's as wrong as your ASSumptions on this thread.

[Dave S]

Where is your concern for the protection of the beliefs and traditions of the adherents of Christianity?

If you feel so strongly about it, why not promote Christianity, rather than bitch about what others are doing to you.

Why Christians have such a victim mentality is beyond me. If first century Christians acted like those of today, there would be no Christianity. Perhaps if so mnny Christians didnt lead with their jaw, they wouldnt feel that everyone was out to get them. While Christ taught us Christians to turn the other cheek, He didnt ask us to jut our jaw out in hopes someone would hit us.

[wjeanw]

Why would swearing using the name of Christ be "swearing" to a Buddhist or a Hindu? In order for swearing to be "effective" you need to use something that is sacred.

[Red Jones]

thanks for the info

It used to be that you could get good christmas cards in regular stores, now you have to go to a christian bookstore I've learned. They have excellent christian christmas cards there.

[Notwithstanding]

Why would such swearing be so popular and prevalent that a foreigner or anyone else with a different religion pick up the habit of swearing in the name of someOne about Whom they know nothing?

[Dr. Octagon]

Good points. I only buy Christmas/Easter cards from Christian bookstores, and recommend the same.

[yankeedame]

Today, greeting cards. Tomorrow, Fortune Cookies!!!

Well, I should hope so! Have you seen some of those "fortunes" you find in fortune cookies today? I mean, they sound like they're right out of Poor Richard's Almanac: "Neither a borrower nor a lender be", "Hard Work is the key to success"...that kind of junk.

What we need is a return to the good old fortunes of yesteryear: "You will receive an unexpected phone call next Tuesday. Be prepared", or "You will find a strange key on the sidewalk. Take it. Keep it in your left pocket. Soon you will know why", or even something like "Did you enjoy your meal, Mr. Bond?"

[Dave S]

Why would swearing using the name of Christ be "swearing" to a Buddhist or a Hindu? In order for swearing to be "effective" you need to use something that is sacred.

Most people who "swear" do it as a learned response, a habitual way of dealing with stress. They dont have any clue as to whether its sacred or sacreligious. Use of the epithet that was worrying an earlier poster has nothing to do with religion, as least as far as the user of that language is concerned. It may piss off some of the more easily upset but its intent is not a religious statement.

[wjeanw]

I disagree. The whole emotional satisfaction of swearing involves cursing "someone greater than themselves" as Paul puts it. Shaking your fist in the face of power. When things go wrong, we damn the (P)person responsible. Even if the irreligious claim they believe (intellectually) in no (G)god, psychologically there still is within human kind a knowledge of the spiritual. Swearing is a testimony to that. If there would be no reality to it, there would be no satisfaction in swearing. And people do get satisfaction out of it, which is why they do it!

[LynnHam]

It is not just Christmas cards.....
I have looked in every store while shopping and there is no manger scenes at all.
Nothing about Christ and his Birthday.
Nothing Christian on TV either.
WE are being erased from History

[martin gibson]

American Greetings: Jewish-leftist owned and huge Clinton/Democratic contributors.

[Egg]

Sorry, but someone has too much time on his/her hands. Monitoring the content of greeting cards--the creating and purchasing of which are totally in the realm of voluntary behavior--is beneath petty.

Oh enlightened one--you who apparently have enough time to flame the petty people you believe have too much time on their hands...

[Egg]

I purchase my Christmas cards from the Knights of Columbus. No problems with secular, irreligious, disrespectful or blasphemous cards there...

The Christmas holiday has become a cyclic routine for many if not most Americans, and the irreverent cards reflect that. But chances are, if you're going to celebrate Hanukah, for instance, you'll do so because you're interested in the true meaning behind the holiday. Therefore, cards making light of the occasion would not sell very well.

[Straight Vermonter]

Are you a brother Knight AB?

[The Energizer]

Thanks for the post. I've added AG to my "boycott" list. And I'll send this to the 200 people on my e-mail mailing list. If we even occassionally buy a non-AG card, perhaps AG will get the message.