The Christmas war is coming

Vanity | 11/18 | Wil H

[Wil H]

The Christmas shopping season is upon us and it seems that we have won the opening skirmish it the war with secularism to stamp out Christmas. Walmart have agreed to let Christmas back into their stores this year. That is great news but I am sure it is the power of the almighty dollar rather than the Almighty himself that drove them to that decision, but then, God does move in mysterious ways.

This year I am going shopping prepared and I invite you to join me in the campaign.

I am going to carry a number of letters, sealed in envelopes and addressed to the Store Manager. Any time I don't find any evidence of Christmas celebration in a store I will give the manager a letter and leave.

Here is what the letter says:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I came to your store today with the express purpose of spending a significant percentage of my $XXXX (put what you like in here) Christmas shopping budget.

However I note that your store chooses to no longer participate in the celebration of Christmas and therefore you don’t qualify to receive my Christmas dollars.

A quintessential part of Christmas is the sharing of the joy of giving and doing so in festive Christmas environment, it is estimated 95% of Americans celebrate the holiday and fortunately for them, and I, there are many other stores that embrace the Christmas spirit.

My Christmas spending, as I am certain many other’s, will be done with those that wish to share the spirit of holiday. Should you ever decide to participate again I will consider returning as a customer, until that time, ALL my business goes elsewhere.

Sincerely,

XXXXXXXX

Merry Christmas

If a substantial number of people did this, maybe the message that Walmart got would reach the other retail outlets and perhaps we could get our Christmas back into the public square. If the stores all start decorating for Christmas again do you not think think they will pressure the municipality to decorate the streets appropriately?

This year, Prescott AZ has street banners on downtown lamp posts declaring "Prescott, Your Christmas City" I might just take a trip there to do my Christmas shopping.

[EGPWS]

(I can't stop my husband from shopping, but at least I won't be out there :-).

Be still my heart!

Your husband married a most desirable person!!!!

I'm turning green with envy....

[lowbridge]

bump

[Gabz]

Other than possibly some last minute baking needs, or needlework stuff, I am finished shopping. Literally, done, finished, fini, overwith. If the husband chooses to do so, that's his problem not mine.

In fact other than grocery shopping, the above 2 reasons are about the only reasons I will need set foot in a store for at least the next 3 months.

[theFIRMbss]

>This year I am going shopping prepared and I invite you to join me in the campaign. I am going to carry a number of letters, sealed in envelopes and addressed to the Store Manager. Any time I don't find any evidence of Christmas celebration in a store I will give the manager a letter and leave.

[Churchjack]

Nieman Marcus has obliterated the religious reference. They lit their "Holiday Tree" last night.

[Allegra]

Any time I see a newspaper in our area that has some opinion of why we SHOULDN'T say Merry Christmas, I send in another opinion as to why we should....

When I'm home for Christmas, I make a point of saying "Merry Christmas" to everyone - at the tollbooths, in stores, postmen, airline employees...anyone I come in contact with. So far, it doesn't appear that I have ever offended anyone with that. In fact, most of them respond warmly and some even with that defiant gleam in their eyes. ;-)

[Diverdogz]

Yes, which store would Jesus rush off to in his SUV to buy that 62" 1080p HDTV, PlayStation3 and Surround Sound system? He could pick the lowest price and donate the rest to feed the poor, or he may not worry too much about the lowest price, but instead focus on the making sure the retail outlet's marketing strategy properly exploits his name with a hearty "Merry Christmas" sign and greeting from the salesclerk. Hmmmm.

Maybe he'd forgo the whole commercialization of the holiday altogether and show his love by spending time with family members and engaging in a wholesome family activity together. Picnic in the park, "adopt" a nursing home resident, volunteer at a homeless shelter's kitchen or something even more creative.

[ecurbh]

Complaining and whining that some retail outlet doesn't yell "Merry Christmas" at you with it's advertising isn't exactly spreading the message Christ brought.

Amen, sister!

[HarleyLady27]

Yes...thats what I'm saying....

Any store that have signs in them that say MERRY CHRISTMAS, and people on the streets that say Merry Christmas, its great....

And a Merry Christmas to you and your family ;)

[Tax-chick]

LOL!

We have a deal. He earns the income and pays the bills (with reminders ...), and I ask before I buy anything other than groceries and gas.

"I'd like to go to the Christian bookstore and buy these two items, using this coupon. (Indicate in ad flyer) It will cost about $40 plus tax. Is that okay with you?"

Answers range from, "Sure, and get that Sawyer Brown gospel CD, if they have it," to "Can it wait until next month?" or "I think we can do without that. Why don't you look for something at the library!"

Everyone's happy :-).

[Gabz]

Sounds like my house!!!!!

[Junior]

Don't worry. As we learned from the brouhaha over Halloween, it's not how a holiday is observed now, it's the original intent of the holiday that's important.

[Tax-chick]

I used to pay the bills, while he went around shopping. That led to lots of stress when it was time to pay the electric bill after he'd run amok at the sporting goods store. Now I don't worry about it!

[LonePalm]

I have been in a back and forth e-mail exchange with someone in Best-Buy's management this week over this subject.

I can tell they know that they are in an indefensible position. I also get the feeling they are starting to feel some heat on the issue. Christmas present dollars make great fuel.

The interesting thing is that I had been actually paying attention to their latest ad campaign and had been planning to make my electronics purchases at Best Buy. I guess Wal-Mart gets their share.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[stuartcr]

That is the part that is wrong.

[stuartcr]

I do not believe that for a minute. You can'y honestly think that the members of the ACLU hate Christmas and do not celebrate it?

[EGPWS]

We have a deal. He earns the income and pays the bills (with reminders ...), and I ask before I buy anything other than groceries and gas.

My X and I had a deal too!

It always created heartfelt conversations.

i.e. EGPWS: Honey where's the AMEX card?

X: Which one my darling EG?

Oh, the one that had the gold color to it?

X: Oh THAT one!
I threw it away because when they ran it through that machine thingy they said it wasn't good anymore.

EG: okay, how about the platinum colored one?

X: Platinum?
EG: Yea, the silver colored one.

Oh, THAT one!
I gave that to a friend at work because it didn't work at the ATM machine and she said that her husband can fix things like this.

EG: okay how about the VISA card?

X: Oh, YOU can't have that for I need that in case of emergencies while I'm out.

[madprof98]

Good thread! I was moved to go to Target's website (as I did last year) and explain to them why (despite their self-serving PR articles about giving to the Salvation Army in a behind-the-scenes way, so as not to offend anybody) I will instead be spending my Christmas money at stores which display the Christmas spirit by allowing the Salvation Army kettle drive.

[Tax-chick]

I can see where that would be a problem!

[WhiteGuy]

Not this again.