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US Retailers Say Christmas Not Just for Christians
Reuters ^ | 12/22/04 | Belinda Goldsmith

Posted on 12/22/2004 7:07:03 PM PST by nypokerface

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. retailers are shrugging off critics who accuse them of snubbing the word Christmas for the sake of political correctness -- and sales.

The jolly cry of "happy holidays" from an overgrown, green-clad elf directing the line waiting to visit Santa at New York's largest department store, Macy's, has irked some shoppers who want stores to put Christ back into Christmas.

A California-based group called the Committee to Save Merry Christmas has urged shoppers to boycott stores owned by Federated Department Stores Inc., such as Macy's and Bloomingdale's, for omitting any reference to Christmas.

Meanwhile, Pastor Patrick Wooden from Raleigh, North Carolina, paid $7,600 for a full-page advertisement calling on Christians to shop only at stores that used "Merry Christmas" in promotions.

But U.S. retailers, who are cutting prices and keeping stores open longer this year to bolster ho-hum sales, have defended themselves against accusations of excessive political correctness by saying they must cater to a diverse population and a variety of cultural celebrations in December.

U.S. stores stock merchandise for the Jewish Hanukkah holiday and for Kwanzaa, an African-American celebration set up in 1966 as a counter to Christmas, alongside evergreen trees and plastic snowmen -- but Jesus is hard to find.

Federated said it has no set policy over the use of specific references to Christmas but "Season's Greetings" and "Happy Holidays" take in all cultures.

ELUSIVE JESUS

"Because these expressions of goodwill are more reflective of the multicultural society in which we live today, they tend to be used more and more frequently across all segments of society," the retailer said in a statement.

"In fact few, if any, national retailers or businesses now take a different approach to celebrating the season."

The No. 1 U.S. retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said it had not received any complaints, but a few "curious questions" about its approach to the holiday season.

But the retailer said it needed to cater to the variety of holidays celebrated at this time of year by the 138 million customers that passed through its stores every week.

A survey released in July by the University of Chicago found 77 percent of the U.S. population in 2002 was either Protestant or Catholic; 7 percent was of Eastern, Islamic, orthodox or interdenominational Christian, or native American faith; just under 2 percent was Jewish; and 14 percent had no religion.

"Happy holidays is the pleasant greeting that applies to everyone in every celebration," said Wal-Mart spokeswoman Sharon Weber.

Not all Christians, however, think it is such a bad thing for Christ to be evicted from Christmas, with many youngsters too focused on Santa and his goodies to think of Jesus.

Commentator and author John Boykin, a Christian, argued on National Public Radio that celebrating Jesus' birth was not as important as his life and teachings, suggesting Easter was the proper holiday for Christians and Christmas should become a gift-giving secular holiday.

Espousing the motto "Keep Christ from Christmas," Boykin said Jesus "was not born to be the patron saint of fourth-quarter earnings."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: California
KEYWORDS: christmas; macys; retail; waronchristmas
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To: raybbr

I believe the concept of Christmas is just as important as Easter in theological significance.

"The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." That is the significance of Christmas. The teachings of Christ and the illumination upon the mysteries of life and morality are paramount to Christianity.

In Easter we celebrate victory over death but without the Word the victory is reduced to self-interest or materialism for the next life.

Beware of anything on NPR !!!


21 posted on 12/22/2004 8:15:50 PM PST by Monterrosa-24 (Technology advances but human nature is dependably stagnant)
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To: All

piss off a liberal, go to church on christmas


22 posted on 12/22/2004 8:16:59 PM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
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To: VeniVidiVici
"Christmas should become a gift-giving secular holiday

Right....and then some of us could CHOOSE NOT TO PARTICIPATE! It sure would make a statement....I am seriously considering this....at least the part about the "gift giving." Maybe we'll just return it to pre-1950, when it was more of a small family thing, with less hoopla (Did you know the first Santa in a Dept Store did not arrive until 1950?)

23 posted on 12/22/2004 8:17:44 PM PST by goodnesswins (Tax cuts, Tax reform, social security reform, Supreme Court, etc.....the next 4 years.....)
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To: asp1

The next time someone says seasons greetings to me during Christmas season my response will be "Happy Easter to you too Douche bag".


24 posted on 12/22/2004 8:18:33 PM PST by TheForceOfOne
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To: Cobra64

The liberals will never stop until they have achieved their goal, a society where every trace of Christianity, public or private, has been completely expunged. We look in horror at sights such as the Chinese police arresting practicing Christians and throwing them in prison for decades without trial. Or at Muslims in northern Africa massacring entire villages of adult Christians with machetes, and then selling the children as sex slaves.

Liberals look at these sights and see a bright future, if they get their way.


25 posted on 12/22/2004 8:18:41 PM PST by CFC__VRWC (It's not evidence of wrongdoing just because Democrats don't like the outcome.)
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To: nypokerface
...Christmas Not Just for Christians

Umm... Huh? I suppose it could also be for Jews who believe Jesus is The Christ. *shrug*

26 posted on 12/22/2004 8:22:28 PM PST by TChris (Most people's capability for inference is severely overestimated)
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To: goodnesswins

"...(Did you know the first Santa in a Dept Store did not arrive until 1950?)"

Remember MIRACLE ON 34th STREET about Macy's Santa?? It was made in 1947. I have a letter written by my father in the 1920s saying that "Santa was good to me this year".


27 posted on 12/22/2004 8:24:15 PM PST by Monterrosa-24 (Technology advances but human nature is dependably stagnant)
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To: nypokerface
Commentator and author John Boykin, a Christian, argued on National Public Radio that celebrating Jesus' birth was not as important as his life and teachings, suggesting Easter was the proper holiday for Christians and Christmas should become a gift-giving secular holiday.

Well, shoot, why even bother to give gifts then? After all, the purpose of giving gifts was to honor the gifts given to the Christ Child by the Magi. If we're going to make it a secular holiday, let's just do away with all that expensive purchasing. Wonder if the retailers will like losing 77% of their "Holiday" purchasers?

28 posted on 12/22/2004 8:25:23 PM PST by McGavin999 (Senate is trying to cover their A$$es with Rumsfeld hide)
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To: nypokerface

BTTT


29 posted on 12/22/2004 8:30:35 PM PST by Fiddlstix (This Tagline for sale. (Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: TheForceOfOne

"The next time someone says seasons greetings to me during Christmas season my response will be "Happy Easter to you too Douche bag"."

Gee Air Force Brat, that might be sorta unfriendly and almost out of step with the spirit of the season. Ha!

After reading your about page, I'll humbly recommend Plato and Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for improving your understanding of the Alpha and the Omega and the beginning and the end and such concepts and mysteries as those.

And if I may be so bold, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.


30 posted on 12/22/2004 8:31:34 PM PST by Monterrosa-24 (Technology advances but human nature is dependably stagnant)
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To: nypokerface
7 percent was of Eastern, Islamic, orthodox or interdenominational Christian

How can the writer include Islam with Eastern, Orthodox or interdenominational Christians? These groups have a lot more in common with Catholics and Protestants than they do Muslims. Like a belief in Jesus Christ as the son of God for example.

31 posted on 12/22/2004 8:34:11 PM PST by knuthom
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To: Monterrosa-24

Merry Christmas to you are yours!


32 posted on 12/22/2004 8:35:35 PM PST by TheForceOfOne
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To: knuthom

"How can the writer include Islam with Eastern, Orthodox or interdenominational Christians?..."

Bingo !!! The writer's last name may indicate that she is among that almost two percent---probably Reform.


33 posted on 12/22/2004 8:37:18 PM PST by Monterrosa-24 (Technology advances but human nature is dependably stagnant)
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To: Monterrosa-24

I agree Christmas has as much relevance as Easter to Christians. I cannot believe some people are arguing Christmas, the celebration of the miracle of the virgen birth of our Savior, should not be celebrated. Hint: Without that virgen Birth prophecy would not have been fulfilled, there would have been no death and no resurrection.

Furthermore, if we aren't celebrating Christ's birthday than schools had better stay open during the winter, extra pay on the 25th better be rescinded, and I refuse to give gifts any longer. I have no reason to celebrate another meaningless day of the year. For anyone to suggest we're just going to have a gift giving spree to celebrate Santa Claus, well, they are out of their minds.


34 posted on 12/22/2004 9:02:48 PM PST by Soul Seeker
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To: knuthom

Obviously the author has no concept of the Orthodox church.

creating division is just what the MSM is all about.

It is really wonderful seeking Greek TV wish Merry Christmass in their shows and commercials.


35 posted on 12/22/2004 9:08:37 PM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
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Comment #36 Removed by Moderator

To: nypokerface

They can just stuff it. Christmas is OUR HOLYDAY, it always was and always will be. They want to celebrate the Solstice, Winter or the Man in the Moon, then they can bloody well create their own. If they think they can usurp ours, they had better well think again.


37 posted on 12/22/2004 10:23:10 PM PST by ETERNAL WARMING
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To: Monterrosa-24
Beware of anything on NPR !!!

I thought this long before NPR said anything about it.

In Easter we celebrate victory over death but without the Word the victory is reduced to self-interest or materialism for the next life.

I don't believe that for a moment.

38 posted on 12/23/2004 4:33:37 AM PST by raybbr
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To: nypokerface

Retailers are hurting bad this Christmas, except for the high end guys. Local news stations are already touting post-Christmas sales. And look for post-Christmas Going out of Business Sales this year.


39 posted on 12/23/2004 4:35:41 AM PST by durasell (Friends are so alarming, My lover's never charming...)
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To: Cobra64
Using your logic, let's just the PC Islamic crowd ban any Christian holiday. Got it? Even the Jews respect Christmas and Easter.

If anyone from the ACLU gets your address, you will be receiving phone calls, letters and postcards.

I don't think anyone will ban Christmas. There's too much money spent/made at that time. Let them ban whatever they want. It won't change my beliefs. As for the ACLU, let them call. I can handle it.

I am not afraid, why are you?

40 posted on 12/23/2004 4:36:21 AM PST by raybbr
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