Posted on 11/22/2005 3:18:10 PM PST by churchillbuff
If you're expecting a hearty "Merry Christmas" as you're doing your shopping; you might be disappointed.
Usual holiday ads say things like Christmas, but you might want get used to hearing and seeing the term holiday. Because some stores are cutting Christmas out and putting a generic phrase in.
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but don't expect to hear someone say it.
"I love Christmas, so I don't mind," says Rebecca Reyes.
Wal-mart is one of many stores asking its employees to replace Christmas with "Happy Holidays". The company says its trying not to offend anyone, by catering to one kind of celebration. However, some say it makes the season generic.
"I really don't care what people say to me. Merry Christmas, Merry Xmas, it's all the same," says Lorenzo Maxwell.
Other people want to boycott stores like Macy's and Bloomingdales where they also say the same, cutting out Christmas and Hanukkah from sayings and banners.
"I think Happy Hanukkah is appropriate, if your gonna say Merry Christmas say Happy Hanukkah as well," says Diane Sandy.
"That its so generic, not gonna offend anyone by saying Happy Holidays," says El Pasoan Eric Morales.
Rabbi Stephen Leon says he personally isn't offended by Merry Christmas, but believes corporations are just trying to please everyone, "one thing I've learned in life is you can't please everyone."
Some think the generic phrase is taking it too far and want to keep the season traditional and simple.
"I'm still gonna say it, that's my basis, don't think we should sweep it under the rug," Sandy says.
"Trying to ban everything, so I think they just leave as is," says Reyes.
The Catholic League for Religous and Civil rights had wanted a boycott against Wal-mart saying the store discriminated against Christmas. But called it off after the store apologized.
I don't have one; but if you get one, please let me know. I'll do the same.
"Its a federal holiday so eventually they will blame Bush"
And it's the only religion based federal holiday to boot. They won't blame Bush, that's too much of a stretch even for atheists. They'll want to keep the holiday but rename it winter break as they have in the schools. I wonder when they will petition to outlaw the term "holiday" because of it's religious conotations? Are you out there lurking Mr Nudow?
Good post...
It's the greedy retailers who have caused all this trouble. No one wants to say "Merry Christmas" two months before the 25th of December. But the retailers start their push for sales three weeks before Thanksgiving. Then they feel justified by saying "Happy Holidays" because we haven't even celebrated Thanksgiving. The way to celebrate Jesus' birthday is with "Merry Christmas" during the whole week of December 25th. And,mail your religious Christmas cards, bring back the religious carols and the nativity plays in schools. It is a celebrations of the birth of Jesus.
Because of Wal-Mart's approach, one lady on Fox & Friends said she planned to buy all of her Holiday presents at Wal-Mart and her Christmas presents somewhere else.
Albert Finney also does a great job as Old Ebenezer.
I always enjoyed reading "A Christmas Carol" to my children in installments, in the days leading up to Christmas.
Enjoy your drastically lowered bottom-line WalMart. When you decide to offend 85% of your customers because a few of the remaining 15% may be offended because Christians celebrate Christmas then you reap what you sow.
Thanks. Actually I make a point to buy real religious Christmas cards and stamps, even for business. I'm not ashamed of the observances of my religion. I just think the "oh, poor, persecuted us, everyone is out to get us" is getting a little overdone. It's Christmas, go to church, have dinner, exchange a few presents and tell your family you love them.
On another thread, a poster was lamenting that he couldn't get his x-box in time for Christmas. Oh, boo frickin hoo!
I too am angry with the substitution of the word holiday for Christmas. I tell everyone who uses the word: I don't do holiday parties, I do Christmas parties. I don't do holiday shopping, I do Christmas shopping. When someone wishes me Happy Holidays, I tell them, wish me Merry Christmas or nothing at all, thank you.
I get a kick out of the boycott (of gift buying) from businesses that don't observe Christmas in a certain way...
If someone is so devout towards true meaning of Christmas, why all the gift buying?
irony...
LOL!!
That's a great way of looking at it.
Except they aren't doing this out of conscience concerning Christ. They are doing it because they find Christmas offensive.
Merry Christmas to everyone on FR.
In addition to boycotting certain stores which are anti-Christmas, you may want to avoid buying products promoted at this site:
http://www.buyblue.org/BlueChristmas
These are companies that donate very generously to the Democratic Party. This site even tells what percentage they give to each party. For instance, Progressive gives 97% to Democrats, and 13% to Republicans and others.
How nice of our "Blue" friends to give us this ready-made list for our "holiday" antishopping!
Merry Christmas everybody.
You're just a bundle of holiday cheer, aren't ya!
;*) Thanks Dita!
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukka (sorry about the spelling).
Yeah - that's the crab-ass spirit!
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