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Wal-Mart bends to demands by Catholic League (web site query now changed)
Catholic News Agency ^ | November 14, 2005

Posted on 11/15/2005 7:50:40 AM PST by NYer

New York, Nov. 14, 2005 (CNA) - Wal-Mart officials have restored the theme of Christmas to their Web site and rescinded outlandish statements made by an employee about the origin of Christmas after the Catholic League filed a series of complaints of discrimination.

"This is a sweet victory for the Catholic League, Christians in general, and people of all faiths," said Catholic League president Bill Donohue, according to a report by WorldNetDaily.com.

The controversy was sparked when a woman recently complained that Wal-Mart was replacing its "Merry Christmas" greeting with "Happy Holidays."

The woman reportedly received an e-mail response from a customer-service representative, which read: "Walmart is a worldwide organization and must remain conscious of this. The majority of the world still has different practices other than "christmas" which is an ancient tradition that has its roots in Siberian shamanism. The colors associated with "christmas" red and white are actually a representation of of the aminita mascera mushroom. Santa is also borrowed from the Caucuses, mistletoe from the Celts, yule log from the Goths, the time from the Visigoth and the tree from the worship of Baal. It is a wide wide world."

Wal-Mart spokesperson Dan Fogleman confirmed the original note was written by a Wal-Mart representative named Kirby. He responded: "We at Wal-Mart believe this e-mail between a temporary associate and one of our valued customers was entirely inappropriate. Its contents in no way represent the policies, practices or views of our company. This associate, who was hired less than three weeks ago, is no longer employed by our company."

Fogleman apologized for the employee’s comments, calling them "inappropriate and inflammatory."

Donohue pointed to the company Web site for an example of discrimination against Christmas. If the word "Hanukkah" was typed in the search engine, 200 retail items were returned. The term "Kwanzaa" returned 77. But when "Christmas" was entered, the message said: "We've brought you to our 'Holiday' page based on your search."

Donohue said Wal-Mart has also adjusted its Web site so that when a customer types "Christmas" in its search engine, the customer is taken directly to a site named "Christmas."

However, Wal-Mart says it will not change its policy of encouraging employees to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas," Donohue reported.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; Philosophy; US: New York
KEYWORDS: antichristmas; catholicleague; christmas; hannukah; holiday; kwanzaa; retail; savechristmas; walmart; waronchristmas
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And it works!!!


1 posted on 11/15/2005 7:50:42 AM PST by NYer
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To: american colleen; Lady In Blue; Salvation; narses; SMEDLEYBUTLER; redhead; Notwithstanding; ...
Catholic Ping - Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list


2 posted on 11/15/2005 7:51:04 AM PST by NYer (“Socialism is the religion people get when they lose their religion")
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To: NYer

So what is WalMart's actual corporate position on the religion of the Visigoths? Are they Arians, or Gnostics, or what?

Theologians everywhere want to know.....


3 posted on 11/15/2005 7:54:36 AM PST by proxy_user
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To: NYer
Bill Donohue is fantastic. Imagine if the political leaders on our side were as unapologetic and forceful as him.
4 posted on 11/15/2005 7:56:40 AM PST by ElkGroveDan (California bashers will be called out)
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To: All

Keep fighting the good fight Bill, we need you.


5 posted on 11/15/2005 7:57:50 AM PST by italianquaker (Democrats and media can't win elections at least they can win there phony polls.)
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To: NYer
This associate, who was hired less than three weeks ago, is no longer employed by our company.

Is there a picture of this 'shroom' guy anywhere?

6 posted on 11/15/2005 7:58:30 AM PST by bkepley
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To: NYer

I don't need any corporation to endorse my religion.

I however also believe that you can shop wherever you want. You want Christmas go to places that belong to your religion.

However I'll bet you anything that Jesus would want us to walk into places where there are not Christians and spread the gospel rather than trying to make everyone conform to us just for the sake of not pissing us off.


7 posted on 11/15/2005 7:59:01 AM PST by Almondjoy
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To: All

Keep fighting the good fight Bill, we need you.


8 posted on 11/15/2005 8:02:15 AM PST by italianquaker (Democrats and media can't win elections at least they can win there phony polls.)
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To: NYer

Thank God for Bill Donohue & the Catholic League!

Ya just can't mess with the Irish Catholics! LOL

But I still think we'll do our Christmas shopping online purchasing products MADE IN USA!

And you ask "where can I find products MADE IN USA?"
right here, http://www.usstuff.com

"Americans work when you buy American goods!"


MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Semper Fi,
Kelly


9 posted on 11/15/2005 8:04:19 AM PST by kellynla (U.S.M.C. 1st Battalion,5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Div. Viet Nam 69&70 Semper Fi)
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To: NYer

Yea!


10 posted on 11/15/2005 8:11:35 AM PST by Jaded (The truth shall set you free, but lying to yourself turns you French.)
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To: NYer
Donohue said Wal-Mart has also adjusted its Web site so that when a customer types "Christmas" in its search engine, the customer is taken directly to a site named "Christmas."

****************

Good for him. Another victory in the war against religion.

11 posted on 11/15/2005 8:16:22 AM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
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To: Almondjoy
However I'll bet you anything

I'll take that bet! I bet 50 quid (80 dollars?) that Jesus would prefer that Wall-Mart mentioned his name on a webpage to do with his Birthday.

Now we just have to wait until the Second Coming to find out which one of us is right :0)

12 posted on 11/15/2005 8:27:41 AM PST by agere_contra
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To: NYer

I hear Macy's also will be bringing back Merry Christmas and dropping the Happy Holiday's BS.


13 posted on 11/15/2005 8:30:46 AM PST by NYjarcola
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To: NYer

This is yesterday's news from last week. This is all a non issue.


14 posted on 11/15/2005 8:31:36 AM PST by Captain Peter Blood
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To: Almondjoy
I don't need any corporation to endorse my religion

That's not really the issue. It's about the judeo-christian cultural that this country was founded on; and until just the last 40 years was the glue that held society together. The Atheists have been relentlessly attacking our culture and some of us are sick and tired of it! I believe there is a incipient movement to take our country back and protesting those merchants that want to ignore the reason for Christmas is part of it. No one should be ashamed to say Merry Christmas! So what if some atheist is offended; F#*% 'em! THIS COUNTRY WAS NOT FOUNDED FOR ATHEISTS!

The best way to respond when some salesperson says "Happy Holidays" is with a hearty "Merry Christmas!" which usually makes the individual feel silly for going along with the politically correct in the first place. Most times they beam with happiness that someone is rebelling against the nonsense, and they too come back with "Merry Christmas!"
15 posted on 11/15/2005 8:31:43 AM PST by ROLF of the HILL COUNTRY (( Terrorism is a symptom, ISLAM IS THE DISEASE!))
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To: NYer

I have gone out of my way for the past few years to respond to a "Happy Holidays" with a "Merry Christmas".

Someone actually told me that it was not correct to say "Merry Christmas" anymore, to which I replied, "I am a Christian, I celebrate the birth of Christ at this time of year".


16 posted on 11/15/2005 8:34:59 AM PST by alarm rider (Irritating leftists as often as is humanly possible....)
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To: Almondjoy
I don't need any corporation to endorse my religion.

That might be so if that were the case BUT that has nothing to do with this. This has to do with succesful opposition against removing Christ from public discourse. There is nothing shameful about proclaiming Christ whether it be in observance of His birth or in taking an oath of office etcetera. If proclaiming Christ in public was made illegal I for one would be found guilty of such a crime...

17 posted on 11/15/2005 8:38:33 AM PST by DBeers (†)
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To: NYer
Santa is also borrowed from the Caucuses

I think they mean the 'Primaries'.

18 posted on 11/15/2005 8:41:28 AM PST by JohnnyZ (Veterans' Day. Enough said.)
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To: alarm rider
Someone actually told me that it was not correct to say "Merry Christmas" anymore, to which I replied, "I am a Christian, I celebrate the birth of Christ at this time of year".

And you are absolutely correct! Bless you for remembering.


19 posted on 11/15/2005 8:45:57 AM PST by NYer (“Socialism is the religion people get when they lose their religion")
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ADF: More than 800 attorneys nationwide ready to combat attempts to censor Christmas
 
Pope weighs into fight to keep Christ in Christmas

Group Calls Christians to Flood Country with Nativity Scenes

The War on Christmas : The Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holiday


20 posted on 11/15/2005 8:47:53 AM PST by Coleus (Roe v. Wade and Endangered Species Act both passed in 1973, Murder Babies/save trees, birds, algae)
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