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Why are Retailers Embarrassed About Christmas?
11.20.02 | mlmr

Posted on 11/19/2002 6:17:05 PM PST by mlmr

The Christmas stock is out in the stores. There are scads of snowmen, Santas, reindeer and other items craving for your dollar. But interestingly enough, when one asks for religious Christmas items, at most stores, which serve a public that is conservatively estimated to be about 67% practicing Christian, there is nothing for sale.

No Christian based ornaments, hardly any Nativity scenes, and Christmas card... “Well Lady, I have robins, joke cards, Santas, dressed and nude, as well as lovely winter scenes and smart looking graphics.” Nativity scene? Magnificent reproductions of famous religious Nativities painted by the Masters? Ummm...no.

Some clerks make a weak smile and point out their extensive angel ornaments...others are belligerent and say firmly: "No we don't carry that sort of thing here." One owner said she did not carry religious Christmas items because people would be offended.

Guess what? I am offended. Every time I walk into a store decked out in its Christmas finest and cannot find any religious Christian items, I am offended. Every time I walk through huge displays of Christmas knickknacks and have to hunt to a bottom shelf of dark aisle to find a small nativity or Christian Advent calendar, I am offended. Every time a walk into a store with a brimming Menorah display, but no equally brimming nativity display, I am offended. (I have nothing against Hanukkah, I just want my religious tradition upheld with respect too. After all we are talking about 2% of the US population versus 67%.)

It is odd. When I talk to clerks about the availability of religious items in their stores, most also tell me that many people ask for them, but there just isn't anything available. Funny, that there is a need and no will to fill it.

I am equally offended by the Christians who are oblivious. Who no longer expect their tradition will be honored by having its items made available through retailers. Christian who don't want to rock the boat. Christians who don't want to seems too pushy or too religious.

I recommend that all thinking Christians go into retailers and ask where the Christian religious objects are located. If there are no religious objects available, perhaps it is time to tell the retailer how disappointed and offended that your religious tradition is being dismissed.

So I have decided to be offended...and to let people know...that true plurality honors even the faith of the majority and dominant culture. I encourage you to do the same...it confuses 'em when we use their words and phrases against 'em.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: christian; christmas; holiday; offensive; waronchristmas
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To: BJungNan
several leading department stores in Shanghai, the ones with the 4 story high Christmas scenes (including scenes of the nativity) out on the front of their buildings, you can by Christian decorations for the Christmas season

Gosh, that brings back memories of the early sixties. My dad would take us downtown to see the lights and then the full sized and beautiful nativity in the window of the best store in town.

101 posted on 11/19/2002 7:31:53 PM PST by mlmr
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To: mlmr
It is really unreal. If it is this bad now ... what will things be like ten years from now?
102 posted on 11/19/2002 7:32:39 PM PST by nicholle
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To: Delta 21
Proudly displayed on the lawn of the County Court House!

What did you do? Run the ACLU lawyer out of town on a rail?

103 posted on 11/19/2002 7:33:27 PM PST by mlmr
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To: ladylib
Singer's Men's Store in my town was the first one to put up Christmas decorations every year and also the first one to demand that the schools not have any Christmas decorations.

I don't even understand that...

104 posted on 11/19/2002 7:34:45 PM PST by mlmr
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To: Thinkin' Gal
Emmm...I'm not sure why you are pinging ME to your post?
Have I offended you?
105 posted on 11/19/2002 7:35:00 PM PST by Happygal
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To: mlmr
I'm afraid it will get worse (from your perspective) before it gets better; how are we, as a sovereign nation, to fight an enemy who shrouds his every evil deed under the cloak of his one god and maintain our own godliness?

What is often most manifest is merely expedient.

106 posted on 11/19/2002 7:35:16 PM PST by Old Professer
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To: ladylib
No. In the United Socialist Republic of Maine....
107 posted on 11/19/2002 7:35:28 PM PST by mlmr
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To: reasonseeker
The very date is tainted by paganism.

Sheesh, so's an Advent wreath. All the better to convert them.

108 posted on 11/19/2002 7:35:37 PM PST by Hawkeye's Girl
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To: mlmr
Don't buy anything from any store that refuses to stock religious Christmas items. Christmas is a Christian holiday, and to remove the religion from it is akin to dehydrating water. Without Christ, all you have is a materialist greedfest.

Christmas needs to be about something more than that.

By the way, notice how the secularists are trying (successfully) to do the same thing with Easter (it's all about bunnies and candy now) and even Thanksgiving (which, while not a religious holiday, has deep religious undertones).

There are moneychangers in our temple.

109 posted on 11/19/2002 7:36:30 PM PST by IronJack
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To: Jorge
A guy I work with told me today that he finished the worst part of Christmas..he mailed out all his "G*d d*mn Christmas cards".

Speaking of cards...did anyone else see the beyond offensive "Choice on Earth" cards Planned Parenthood distributes this time of year? O'Reilly had them on tonight, with the patron Saint of Abortion, Patricia Ireland. She didn't think most Americans would find them offensive. O'Reilly said he would put up a poll (not sure where) to see what Americans REALLY think. Ms. Ireland and her ilk are truly despicable human beings.



110 posted on 11/19/2002 7:37:04 PM PST by who knows what evil?
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To: Jorge
America is filled with demon dogs!
111 posted on 11/19/2002 7:37:55 PM PST by TLBSHOW
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To: Hawkeye's Girl
Feel free to visit us some time :-D

I just might do that!

112 posted on 11/19/2002 7:39:29 PM PST by mlmr
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To: oyez
My company just announced the name change of the "Annual Christmas Party" to "Year-end Holiday Party". I think they are trying to save money as the attendance will drop by half the usual croud. The idea was not to offend. Yeah, right!

There is no "o" in crud and there is no "u" in crowd; which do you mean?

113 posted on 11/19/2002 7:40:48 PM PST by Old Professer
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To: Samwise
And our kids even sing Christmas carols in public schools

No. Really. The featured song at our local public school's Holiday concert a few years ago was: drumroll please!

99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall...

114 posted on 11/19/2002 7:41:22 PM PST by mlmr
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To: mlmr
Well...while the TV is on....I really don't pay much attention to it, so all I've noticed is the end of the ad says "CHRISTMAS".....which shocked me at first, because everyone always seems to use the euphemism, HOLIDAY. Maybe there is hope....I'll have to go out and check out the local Target store.

I shop all year for Christmas, and in fact no longer celebrate a single day for some of our family (long story)....I give them Christmas presents (yes, with Christmas wrapping, etc.) ALL year long - about every few months....in fact, it's time for another set about now. It's turned out much more JOYOUS, and I believe is teaching them (they are mostly children) that CHRISTmas is something we should really think about all year long. (Well, that's my hope.)
115 posted on 11/19/2002 7:42:56 PM PST by goodnesswins
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To: Thinkin' Gal
There are no religious items that I could find at the local Christmas Tree shop...Jewish or Christian.
116 posted on 11/19/2002 7:43:14 PM PST by mlmr
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To: JoeFromCA
The answer is simple: the media, government schools, and other institutions in this country have depicted Christianity as politically incorrect

I'm not arguing your point, I agree, but I believe "government schools" didn't start this.

I worked in a school with a music teacher who went to Bob Jones. Do you think she took Christ out of the Christmas program? I don't think so!

117 posted on 11/19/2002 7:43:51 PM PST by lonestar
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To: mlmr
What did you do? Run the ACLU lawyer out of town on a rail?

Every respectable community should! :-)

But, personally, I'm waiting for the day when I can get a government grant to display my artwork of an ACLU lawyer submerged in a vat of urine.

118 posted on 11/19/2002 7:43:57 PM PST by Tall_Texan
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To: Rainbow Rising
Like you, I have changed my Christmas Card buying habits - I now only buy ones with a religious theme.....
119 posted on 11/19/2002 7:44:02 PM PST by goodnesswins
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To: freebilly
Maybe if you read Luke 6:20-26 you'll see what Christ had to say about those who were marginalized for His sake....

I don't consider this persecution...I think this is Christians dropping the ball...

120 posted on 11/19/2002 7:46:57 PM PST by mlmr
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