Consumers Flock to Weekend Shopping Boycott(Target Boycott and Lowe's sells "Holiday" Trees)

American Family Association ^ | November 22, 2005 | Jody Brown and Allie Martin

[avant_garde]

AgapePress) - An official with a pro-family group reports that a boycott campaign aimed at Target Stores nationwide has succeeded in attracting hundreds of thousands of consumers who say they intend to shop elsewhere during what is traditionally the busiest shopping weekend of the year.

On Friday (Nov. 18) the American Family Association (AFA) launched on online boycott campaign against Target, citing the retailer's decision to ban Salvation Army kettles from their store entrances as well as the use of "Merry Christmas" in their in-store promotions and retail advertising. By the following Monday, almost 300,000 individuals had "signed" an online petition indicating they planned to express their disapproval of that decision by avoiding Target Stores during the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend. At press time, that number had jumped to more than 340,000

[Borax Queen]

I KNOW~lol *sniff, sniff, sniff* :(

[nicmarlo]

Would it help if I posted soy candles? for the duration of the boycott? : )

[Borax Queen]

YES!!!! LOL!

[Palladin]

I think just for fun I'll go into Lowe's this weekend and ask where the Christmas trees are. When the clerk leads me to the aisle that says "Holiday Trees", I'll say "That's not what I'm looking for. Do you know where they sell Christmas Trees?"

[Deltaforceeoo7]

Boycott Lowes and Target????? How about including Walmart,and Sears and anybody else that is taking Christ out of Christmas.

[nicmarlo]

Okay....on my list

soy soy soy soy soy soy soy soy soy

oy! : )

[nicmarlo]

<--- soy

[Xenalyte]

I love Festivus! I do especially well on the Feats of Strength, although working at the Festival has developed my lungs to the extent that I can Air my Grievances with the best.

[twntaipan]

I was thumbing through the latest LandsEnd catalogue, and noticed how the word Christmas was missing (actually it was found on one page way in the middle--probably an editorial slip up).

Anyway, I decided to write them, to tell them of my concern (my wife must be a VIP customer of theirs), and to say that my dollars can be spent elsewhere, at stores who do not find Christmas to be offensive.

Amazingly I had a real person answer me, and I print that letter below:

Thank you for your recent e-mail message regarding our omission of the word "Christmas" in our catalogs.

Lands' End has adopted the "holiday" terminology as a way to comply with one of the basic freedoms granted to all Americans: freedom of religion. We recognize that Christmas is a Christian holiday, and one of the foremost teachings of the Christian faith is a love for one's fellowman- -no matter what his race, religion, or creed.

If we knew which customers feel as you feel, we would be delighted to send them catalogs with Christmas splashed throughout the pages. However, we don't know, and we no more wish to offend anyone than you would knowingly say something offensive to an acquaintance.

Therefore, we are using the term "holiday" to show respect for all individuals, including those who do not celebrate Christmas but instead observe other festive days and beliefs during this season. They, too, are our customers, our friends, and our neighbors.

We are truly sorry that you are disappointed with our decision. However, we hope you'll respect our position as we respect yours.

All of us at Lands' End wish you a very joyous and festive Christmas, filled with love and peace, and a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!

Please feel free to contact us again at any time!

What I am fascinated by is the use of the word comply. Who is forcing this merchant to comply with the First Amendment? This is political correctness run amok.

The other thing I find interesting is the preachy little sermonette about central tenets of the Christian faith.

In the end, they admit,that if they have to offend anyone, it will be Christians--by leaving out the offensive word Christmas from their catalogues.

In fairness, they did wish me a Merry Christmas--but I wonder if their political commissar approved that salutation.

If you wish to drop them a polite note, you can do so from here.

[Borax Queen]

I cannot believe it!! I am shocked. I noticed Bath and Body Works and Coldwater Creek have Christmas on the front and inside covers of their Christmas catalogs.

[ladyjane]

But when I called Wal-Mart the other day, the woman answering the phone said: Happy Holidays,

I got Walmart's flyer the other day. Nowhere in the 32 pages did the word Christmas appear. Even on the Christmas tree page they never used the word Christmas.

[bulldozer]

According to the Target Calendar, Target celebrates pride month during June. When December rolls around on their calendar, Target is silent in respect to Christmas or even the holidays in general. Target Calendar

[Borax Queen]

awwwwwwwwwwwwwww, thank you for the lovely candle!

[Revelation 911]

Im honestly glad to hear that - glad you had a good experience

[Borax Queen]

"holiday tree" ping!

[Left2Right]

OMG! Barf, puke, gag....

No mention of Christmas in December, but rather "Human Rights Day".

That's it, I am NEVER shopping at Tarjay, EVER.

[Sun]

"Maybe we should go to church and thank God for sending Jesus!"

Of course, all of us do that, but does that mean we can't say "Merry Christmas" as well?

I received another e-mail today from afa.net. Here is an excerpt:

"Several retailers have joined in the push to ban the use of
"Christmas" in their in-store promotions and retail advertising. The
new push to eliminate "Christmas" and replace it with "Happy
Holidays," "Season's Greetings," etc. is gaining ground with several
retailers participating.

Not wanting to offend a handful of complainers, these companies are
willing to offend the vast majority who hold Christmas as a time to
celebrate the birth of Christ. Their attitude is that those who
identify themselves as Christians don't care if they eliminate
"Christmas."

While it is too late to make changes this year, we have already sent
letters to several major retailers we have identified as participating
in banning "Christmas," asking them to put Christmas back into their
in-store promotions and retail advertising next year. We have sent
letters to the chairmen of Target, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Kmart/Sears,
Costco, Kohl's and Lowe's about their practice. (Lowe's even refuses
to promote their trees as Christmas trees, but calls them "Holiday
Trees." Their toll-free number is 1-800-445-6937."

I am only going to do a small, partial boycott on Wal-Mart, because they have the Salvation Army kettle. In fact, I gave on my way into Wal-Mart's, and my way out of the store, which I don't usually do (at least not twice), but I wanted to make up for Target.

I am going to do a total boycott of the other stores between now and January 1, 2006. Each person must decide what they are going to do for themselves. We report; you decide. :)

Of course Wal-Mart is Christian. Most of the country is Christian. However, the Wal-Mart family is mostly pro-abortion; however, they do not use Wal-Mart profits to contribute to Planned Parenthood.

There is an anti-Christian movement in this country, by the ACLU, PC crowd, et al. If we don't speak up now, we won't even be able to put Nativity scenes on our front laws, because it might offend someone.

[Sun]

"It never really bothered me as much until this year. All these companies bend over backwards for muslims, homos, etc., but a truly Christain holiday they refuse to use the term "Christmas"? I guess if these boycotts are sucessful they will be complaining that they didn't sell enough during, uhh, the holiday season. I will try to boycott any anti-Christain store, if I can't I will let the manager know of my displeasure."

Great post, stevio.


If they don't like Christmas, why don't they get their own holiday - at ANOTHER time of the year!

I am doing more online shopping, also avoiding China-made products. This link has helped me out, but you have to be careful (if you are avoiding Chinese products, because some stores sell some Chinese products, as well).

Here's the link:

http://www.wgy.com/madeinusa.html

[Sun]

"I got Walmart's flyer the other day. Nowhere in the 32 pages did the word Christmas appear. Even on the Christmas tree page they never used the word Christmas."

That is sad.

[eleni121]

Christmas BUMP!