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Posted on 12/02/2005 2:48:00 PM PST by NYer
When the Catholic League got a tip from one of its members that Lands’ End refuses to use the word “Christmas” in its catalog—even though it sells Christmas items—we verified its authenticity. Printed below is part of the reply we received from Merlin W. Gorsline in the Customer Relations Department to an inquiry we made regarding the refusal of Lands’ End to mention the word “Christmas”:
“We find ourselves in a difficult position with this issue. As a result, we have adopted the ‘holiday’ terminology as a way to comply with one of the basic freedoms granted to all Americans: freedom of religion. We recognize that Christmas is a Christian holiday, and one of the foremost teachings of the Christian faith is a love for one’s fellowman—no matter what his race, religion or creed.
“If we knew which customers feel as you do, we would be delighted to send them catalogs with ‘Merry Christmas’ splashed throughout the pages. However, we don’t.”
Catholic League president Bill Donohue responded as follows:
“Freedom of religion is an important constitutional right, but to say that fidelity to that right demands that retailers censor the term Christmas at Christmastime wouldn’t even be believed by the judges from the Ninth Circuit. Nor is it good customer relations to tell Christians who desire to buy Christmas gifts at Christmastime that they are a loveless bunch of bigots who have an impoverished understanding of their own religion.
“And it’s not as though the decision to neuter Christmas is done to protect Jewish sensibilities: the company doesn’t sell Hanukkah gifts, but it does sell Christmas gifts (108 of them).
“Lands’ End says that if it knew who to send a ‘Merry Christmas’ catalog to, it would. So do it: contact landsend@landsend.com right away.”
Since I personally have the freedom to celebrate Christmas anyway I want, it doesn't bother me in the least how a retailer celebrates Christmas. I'm sure the employees of Land's End, celebrate Christmas as they want.
Happy long weekend to all.
I wrote Lands End a couple of weeks ago with similar concerns and received the same ridiculous email from their Customer Service rep. He went further though, and gave me a little lecture, the logic of which was basically that Christians should not want to have any public mention of Christ, Christianity or Christmas.
its all Chinese crap anyway
I just informed Land's End that I will not be shopping for Christmas gifts from their company since they don't recognize the day.
I got the "Happy Holidays" thing today from Sams Club. My response was Merry Christmas.
It's getting sickening.
Right, freedom OF religion--which means that if Lands End wants to say Merry Christmas, they should, they shouldn't kow-tow to the multi-culti crowd.
Email sent...
Subject: only send me your CHRISTMAS catalog - NOT your holiday catalog
Date: Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:54:17 -0500
From: George
To: landsend@landsend.com
I'm responsonding to a letter from Merlin W. Gorsline in your customer service department.
Please send me your CHRISTMAS catalog.
Do not waste your time and send me any catalog that does not celebrate CHRISTMAS. I only purchase declared Christmas gifts.
George & Susan Dom...wski
42 xxx xxx Drive
Southington, CT 06489
P.S. Your current holiday catalog will be trashed
Priceless and brilliant! I will NEVER buy anything from LandsEnd. They also are big sponsors of that hideous talent-free psycho-troll Garrison Keillor.
I agree with you but when they put up pictures of Christmas stockings and Christmas trees and rename them "holiday" whatevers, that's just a conscious effort dissassociate things that are uniquely Christmas from the actual holiday, Christmas. Frankly, it's dishonest and disrespectful. It's stupid and I do not support it in the least.
Does Sears own Land's End?
Wow.
That verbal tap dance is not even good English!
How does one "comply" with a basic freedom?
And the fruitcake writer believes "someone" 'granted' them to us!
A bona-fide marroon!
The response is bombastic, but a non response.
How about I just stay away from the Lands End catalog and let you see if there are enough sodomites to keep you business healthy?
Anybody who believes that freedom of religion crap, I've got this almost-like-new bridge to sell you ...
Do they have delusions of being the government or something? They're not. If they were, they wouldn't be selling Christmas items. That's fine. I wish them well. Good luck. But this Christmas shopper simply won't be buying anything from them. Love? Sure. Money? Nope!
Well maybe I'll order from one of their competitor's Chrismas catalogs.
Liberal wiseass is going to either be exposed as a liar, or he's going to cost his company a chunk of money producing an entirely reworked version of their catalogue.
Perfect timing! I was just about to order from the Land's End catalog....(i'm obviously a bit slow, since I didn't pick up the lack of "Christmas" in the catalog). I will let them know I'm not ordering and the reason why. Of course, if they will send me a Christmas catalog, I'll reconsider. I would love to know exactly what "holiday" these people are celebrating ...if it's not Christmas!?
ps- formerNYer.....and missing that great City.
They probably made a lot of money with all that "Ramadan" spending anyway.
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