Wal-Mart: We're not afraid to say Merry Christmas

cnn.com ^ | 11/9/06

[peggybac]

No. 1 retailer has decided to abandon its generic 'Happy Holidays' greeting in favor of 'Merry Christmas.' NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Wal-Mart has told its employees that it's OK to once again greet shoppers by saying "Merry Christmas" this holiday season instead of the generic "Happy Holidays." CNN confirmed that Wal-Mart will announce Thursday that it plans to use the phrase "Merry Christmas" in products and around its stores this holiday season. The announcement comes a year after religious groups such as The American Family Association and The Catholic League boycotted retailers including Wal-Mart last holiday season for excluding the word "Christmas" from products sold in stores. "We, quite frankly, have learned a lesson from last year," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Linda Blakley told USA Today in a separate report. "We're not afraid to use the term 'Merry Christmas.' We'll use it early, and we'll use it often." Besides resurrecting its Christmas pitch, the retailer is also determined to be the leader in this year's holiday price wars. The November-December holiday shopping period is a critical time for merchants since it can account for as much as 50 percent of their profits and sales. To that end, Wal-Mart was the first out of the gate to chop prices on toys and electronics much ahead of its competitors like Target (Charts), Toys 'R Us, Costco (Charts) and others. To support its Christmas deals, the report said Wal-Mart will launch TV ads next week that trumpet "Christmas." It's changing the name of its seasonal decorations department to "The Christmas Shop" from "The Holiday Shop." Moreover, Wal-Mart stores will play Christmas carols throughout the holiday period and about 60 percent more merchandise will be labeled as "Christmas" rather than "holiday" items, the paper said.

[NinoFan]

Good news!

[stuartcr]

This will probably be just the beginning of all the threads about how stores, merchants and the media won't let us say Merry Christmas. FR was inundated with this stuff last year.

[COBOL2Java]

Uh oh. Nancy Pelosi will have none of this! Time for an investigation with supoenas for WalMart management!

"Sir, are you or have you ever been a Capitalist? Answer the question!"

[EagleUSA]

Oh, just wait. The Congressional Marxists will be attacking capitalism in big fashion like never before....look out Walmart, here come the Marxists.

[dmw]

True, but it would be better news if they didn't give 5% of their online profits to the homosexual agenda! See this email I got from AFA recently.

November 9, 2006

Please help us get this information into the hands of as many people as possible by forwarding it to your entire email list of family and friends.

Wal-Mart Contributes 5% Of Online Sales To Homosexual Group

Sign the pledge not to shop at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club on the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving. Time is short. Act today!

Dear Gary,

Help recruit 1,000,000 families who will agree not to shop at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club (owned by Wal-Mart) on the Friday and Saturday following Thanksgiving. Here's why:

In a show of support to help homosexuals legalize same-sex marriage, Wal-Mart has agreed to automatically donate 5% of online sales directly to the Washington DC Community Center for Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender People. The cash donation will come from online purchases made at Wal-Mart through the homosexual group's Web site. This move follows Wal-Mart's joining the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and agreeing to give generous financial help to that organization also.

Every purchase made online for books, music, videos, clothing and accessories, children's clothing and toys, and electronics at the site will automatically send 5% of the sales to the CCBLBT People. The agreement is an indication that Wal-Mart is totally committed to supporting the homosexual movement.

Wal-Mart also gave a generous cash donation to the Northwest Arkansas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center, helping to provide a place where homosexuals can come together to "socialize."

Many observers feel it would have been a wise business decision for Wal-Mart to remain neutral in the cultural battle over homosexual marriage. But this was an ideological decision by Wal-Mart - not a business decision.

Take Action

1. Sign the petition to Wal-Mart letting them know you will be one of the 1,000,000 families who will not shop at Wal-Mart or Sam's Club on the Friday or Saturday following Thanksgiving.

2. VERY IMPORTANT! Millions of Americans are not aware of Wal-Mart's support for homosexual marriage. PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

3. Print out and distribute the Wal-Mart Pass Along Sheet by clicking here.

Sincerely,
Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman
American Family Association

P.S. Please forward this e-mail message to your family and friends!

[KEmom]

I believe I may be shopping at Wal-Mart this Christmas!!

[tumblindice]

We wish you a seasonal peace celebration,
We wish you a . . .

No, it's not the same.

[bella1]

They also send 5% of their on-line sales to gay/lesbian causes. Bah humbug.

[divine_moment_of_facts]

MARTINI MARXIST

[kellynch]

Maybe I read it here, and maybe I didn't, but it's a good idea nevertheless.

Someone suggested sending Christmas cards (the more religious, the better) to their local ACLU headquarters. They'll think the envelopes contain donations, but they won't. I think it'll be worth a couple of bucks to tick them off. Of course, I would leave off my return address because I do NOT want them to come after me.

[auto power]

well, that is a good "conservative" start on the road to preserve conservatism....

[Quick1]

Couldn't care less.

[nascarnation]

you really see the difference between the surgically smoothed face and the "real" neck in that pic

[COBOL2Java]

True, but it would be better news if they didn't give 5% of their online profits to the homosexual agenda!

That's just WalMart's jizya to the homosexual lobby. "Protection money" they used to call it in the days of the Cosa Nostra...

[hispanarepublicana]

I just went to their website, and their "holiday" menu buttons are
Christmas
Hannukah
Kwaanza

But no "Festivus"! How am I supposed to find a cheap, Chinese-made Festivus pole!!!??? (in my best Jerry Stiller outraged voice)

[divine_moment_of_facts]

Two words.. Gooble Gooble... heh.

[Right Wing Assault]

Will their new motto be "Wal-Mart for Christ!"? They could have a little cartoon mascot dressed like a Crusader.

They will now really be a target (not Target) for this. First they are capitalists (oh, my!) and now they fearlessly acknowledge believers (double oh, my!).

Next thing you know, they will start selling guns and supporting the military.

[Biblebelter]

Walmart has lots of enemies. Maybe they have gotten smart and stopped trying to appease them. A good lesson for the Republican Party.

[Domandred]

I believe I may be shopping at Wal-Mart this Christmas!!

Hint from my experience last year. If your local store is open on Thanksgiving night go then! If you go late enough you'll still get the Christmas sales prices but there are zero crowds.

My wife and I went last year and were expecting madness, there were more cashiers then there were customers :)