Posted on 11/25/2009 10:32:27 AM PST by Between the Lines
Over 200,000 shoppers are wearing buttons this Christmas season that proclaim a straightforward message to retailers: "It's OK, Wish Me A Merry Christmas(tm)." Individuals and churches around the country are partnering with the Wish Me A Merry Christmas Campaign mobilizing advocates energized for a return to the traditional, convivial greeting, bearing buttons that make a clear statement - "It's OK, Wish Me A Merry Christmas(tm) (www.wmamc.com)". Over 200,000 of these buttons have been distributed nationally.
With over 200,000 buttons on the streets and in stores this year, local store associates are likely to be presented with the opportunity to deviate from the corporate holiday wishing policy of top retailers like the Gap and Best Buy, and stealthily wish their customer "Merry Christmas" instead of the generic "Happy Holidays". But since 96% of Americans celebrate Christmas (Gallup Poll, 2004), it's likely that the store cashiers would prefer to wish their customers "Merry Christmas" as well. In fact 88% of Americans state that "It's okay to wish 'Merry Christmas'." (Gallup Poll).
Pastors across the North America have lined up to support the Campaign. "Our nation needs to return to our Christian roots and values. Trying to remove the name of Jesus Christ from Christmas and from our society must be stopped," says Reverend John Mains of Fountain of Life in Johnstown, PA.
In Ontario, Canada Pastor Troy Dingwell says, "I believe it is great that there are still people in North America who still hold to our Christian beliefs and traditions."
Even Santa himself humbly gives credit where credit is due, "Christmas is not just about Santa and presents. Christmas is about the baby Jesus."
Sue Fairchild and Reverend James Ritter of the Watsontown Baptist Church in Watsontown, PA sees the spirit of the Campaign, "We are using these buttons to encourage our congregation to step out in their faith this holiday season. We are coming together to put Christ back in Christmas."
Said Campaign Manager, Ashley Tarter, "National retailers will hearken the public's message that it is okay to wish, 'Merry Christmas,' once again. In the meanwhile local communities are being impacted by the message of the Campaign."
The national Wish Me A Merry Christmas Campaign is appealing to retailers to "put Christmas back in the holidays" with two straightforward petitions:
* To actively retract adverse corporate holiday wishing policies, by returning to the traditional and explicit "Merry Christmas" phrase; and
* To restore use of the symbols, language and sounds of Christmas in in-store displays, signage and music, as well as in November and December advertising.
From Florida to Alaska and into Canada individuals and churches have purchased hundreds of thousands of the red and green, "It's OK, Wish Me A Merry Christmas," ornament-like buttons to wear and share.
For more information, visit www.wmamc.com - the first letters in Wish Me A Merry Christmas, or contact Media Relations at 800-487-7137, option 4. Merry Christmas!
Excellent. I get sick of retailers who avoid using Christmas in their ads but they want are money. They start playing Christmas music on Nov 5th so we run and buy like Pavlov’s dog. BTW - most of the Christmas music sucks and often done by people who hate Christains like Streisand.
Springsteen Merry Christmas Baby is one of the worst and Estefan’s songs suck too. Bah Humbug - not really - but the commercialization is sickening. All these artists rush out to do Christmas songs to line their pockets.
What a great idea! I will pass this on to my pastor.
I noticed that the local store of one of the worst offenders (white bull dog with red bullseye) had “Merry Christmas” on the top of the front door. One small step. . . .
I just bought a couple two liter bottles of Coke for tomorrow. One one side it says “Holiday 2009” and on the other it says “Feliz Navidad”. I guess Spanish speakers don’t have to be shielded from any dangerous Christmas influences.
Count me in — wishing all a peaceful, prayerful Advent — and a Merry Christmas (a month in advance)
I agree about the music! I miss so much the beautiful, reverent Christmas carols of my childhood, replaced by the ugliest pop culture renditions done by people who don’t have a clue who Christ is or what he did for us. Then we have to listen to that stuff for six weeks straight. I would probably go stark raving mad if I worked in retail and had to listen to that corny stuff for 6 weeks. (Don’t get me wrong, I love real Christmas music, just not most of the garbage they play in stores nowadays.)
I think I shop at that store. I was glad to see they use Christmas in their ads and on the front door. How are they an offender? On the whole I like them more than most. Best Buy is mentioning happy Islamic Enid or whatever Muslim holiday falls around Christmas. I will not be shopping at Best Buy again.
wow. hitler forced jews to wear a gold/yellow star. christians are volunteering to wear a badge, too. that is just disturbing. if you want to hear someone say, “merry christmas” maybe you should visit a church instead of a store or mall.
“How are (the white bull dog w/a red bullseye) an offender? On the whole I like them more than most.”
(1) It was one of the first stores to REQUIRE its employees to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.
(2) They refuse to allow Salvation Army red kettle collections at the store. But I see that one of their competitors, Kmart, allows the bell ringers—at least in this area.
Brings back memories. :-)
During the Clinton assault rifle hysteria, I took a yellow lid from a tub of margarine, cut out a Star Of David, and wrote "Gun Owner" on it and pinned it to my shirt. Then I went to a Salt Lake City gunshow, where they had a TV crew filming only those who came in or went out with one of those eeevil guns. I repeatedly walked past them, but somehow they weren't interested.
They had another team inside taping anybody at a table handling those guns. Multiple pass-bys did not arouse any of their interest, despite the fact that I walked in front of the cameras - almost right up to them. Funny thing, NOT ONE of the gun dealers or their customers would make eye contact. After a while I had a hard time not laughing as people would drop their eyes or suddenly look around.
What also ticked me of was that regular folks were banned from taking pictures but the TV crews had full rein.
96% of Americans celebrate Christmas (to most of whom Christmas = what’s Santa going to bring me?), but only 80% say they are Christian (whatever that means), and 76% say they are “white” (which no longer means European)...something is seriously amiss here.
Can I get one that says, “It’s okay to wish me a Merry Christmas on December 25”?
Did you buy any pins, and if so, how long did it take to get them?
If you’re on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wish-Me-a-Merry-Christmas-Campaign/93223616325?v=wall
Damned Oregonian had a Christmas publication, FILLED with announcements of Holiday Lights, Holiday Trees, Tree Lighting ceremonies, Holiday Gifts, Season Foods and on and on and on...not ONE mention of the actual name of the holiday.
I just don’t go to those stores, I won’t support the diminishing of our Lord’s birth by spending money at any of them who won’t say the actual name of the holiday.
Ed
I really don’t worry if non-believers wish me a “Merry Christmas” or not.
The Biblical Christmas has nothing to do with an otherwise surly retail clerk acknowledging the birth of Christ or the orgy of spending that occurs during this time of year.
THANKS.
NEVERTHELESS,
I think this effort is worthy of support . . . the idiot position against “MERY CHRISTMAS” deserves to be confronted and pushed back as much and as long as possible.
The buttons should say, “If you don’t wish me a Merry Christmas, my shopping items are free.”
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