Posted on 12/24/2004 1:07:22 AM PST by Cornpone
Shoppers in the US are being urged to boycott some of the country's most famous stores because they do not say "Merry Christmas". The California-based Committee to Save Merry Christmas wants consumers to avoid shops such as Macy's because they avoid any association with Jesus.
A number of retailers instead stick to non-faith based phrases such as "happy holidays" or "season's greetings".
Macy's said such greetings were more reflective of a multicultural US.
'Catering for all'
Federated Department Stores, the owner of Macy's, said it had no set policy over the use of specific references to Christmas, but added that greetings such as "happy holidays" took in all cultures.
Happy holidays is the pleasant greeting that applies to everyone in every celebration
Wal-Mart
"In fact few, if any, national retailers or businesses now take a different approach to the holiday season," it said.
Wal-Mart, the largest retailer in the US, also avoids mentioning the C-word.
It said it had not received any complaints, only a few "curious questions".
Parallel festivals
The company added that it needed to cater to the variety of holidays celebrated at this time of the year by the 138 million US consumers that passed through its doors every week.
These other celebrations include the Jewish Hanukkah festival and Kwanzaa, an African-American event.
"Happy holidays is the pleasant greeting that applies to everyone in every celebration," Wal-Mart said.
The Committee to Save Merry Christmas says on its website that its primary goal is to "preserve the culture and tradition of the vast majority of Americans that celebrate and honour Christmas."
Can't agree with you....our local Wal-Mart says "Merry Christmas" everywhere you go. The Salvation Army is standing outside their doors. Wal-Mart is matching every penny that is given to them. I won't go into Target, ever.
You are confusing inclusion with assimilation. It is one thing to respect & acknowledge holidays of various cultures... It is another to pretend that your own doesn't exist.
whoa . . . you mean there were a couple of hundred of us standing around last night after midnight, flinging holy water, raising clouds of incense, ringing bells, and singing about 30 Christmas carols, not to mention all the plainchant and anthems . . .
. . . and it's all a colossal mistake? Sheesh, you go tell Monsignor, I ain't gonna . . .
I had an intersting experience yesterday at our local Regional Mall. Stopped at a kiosk with mud packs and salts from the Dead Sea. Apparently, an Israeli company sends young, attractive Israelis here to set up these kiosks at various malls across the US thru Christmas Eve. After I'd made my modest purchase, the young Israelis wished me, very specifically, a Merry Christmas! That's as opposed to our native-born, Christian-by-Birth, politicall correct sales clerks who wished me a Happy Holiday. God bless the Israelis. They know what persecution is, and they know what terror is, and they are not buying into our silly, self-indulgent political correctness.
Boycott Target! They would not let the Salvation Army bellringers stand outside their stores -- might offend someone!
At least WalMart had them!
Why would I bother? I don't capitalize 'god' because to me, it is a NOUN. I DO capitalize 'Jesus' because it is the name of a man and is thus a proper noun.
Re-read your post #3
SOB
Whoops :p
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.