[twntaipan]

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.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

They are awfully bold. Seriously, I think it's time Christians stop buying so many Christmas items anyway. Celebrate the Whoville way.

[silverleaf]

It would be quite instructive if you could "re-publish" the Land's End response you got. So we could ALL be suitably chastised and enlightened about being better "Christians", of course.

[NYer]

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.

And here's your opportunity to respond. That's a First Amendment right that I hope you will exercise.

[Seniram US]

I wish I had seen your post before I mailed my request.
Maybe I'll get a lecture too.

To Whom It May Concern:

Word just reached me from the Catholic League that you would be pleased to send out a catalogue with "Merry Christmas." It said:
“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.” I would enjoy seeing the catalog.

However, if your response to Mr. Donahue was an attempt to display an anti-Christian attitude, and imply condescendingly that Christians who don't accept holiday in place of Christmas might be bigots. I suggest that you please keep your catalog, save the shipping costs and send Merlin W. Gorsline to a course on how not to offend Christians, particularly if your firm intends to sell Christmas presents in camouflage to Christians for Christmas. After-wards, you might conclude that his position in Customer Relations might be part of the Peter Principle and that he would be more suited in the mail room where he can sort the letters from irate Christians.

It would seem to me that Merlin might have been impersonating the legendary magician, without success. His attempt to make Christmas vanish from your catalog has only brought your firm's insulting marketing techniques to the forefront. It is pretty low to use the Birthday of Christ to sell your wares, while you conceal His name.

Regards

12/02/05 A.D.

P.S. Remember, only 22 Shopping Days until Christmas, that federal holiday,signed into law by President U.S. Grant. Tell all your friends to shop where they celebrate the Christmas Holiday and to remember Merlin W. Gorsline.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I just wrote them and basically told them that since more than 80 percent of the population self identifies as Christian, they are alienating a large chunk of their customer base, and for sure they weren't getting my Christmas business just for that reason.