Posted on 12/08/2005 10:18:05 PM PST by churchillbuff
MADIERA, Ohio - A couple has struck a national nerve by offering bracelets that urge: "Just say 'Merry Christmas.'"
"It has been so incredible. We've been bowled over by the response," Jennifer Giroux said Thursday. She and her husband, Dan Giroux, operate a small store in this Cincinnati suburb called The Catholic Shop, and sell the green-and-red rubber bracelets there and via the Internet.
They began "Operation Just Say Merry Christmas" as a reaction to use of the phrase "happy holidays" instead, which she calls "political correctness run amok."
Coverage on national cable TV networks has helped send demand soaring.
They've sold nearly all of their first 15,000 bracelets in a little more than two weeks, and say they have preorders for 10,000 of a shipment of 25,000 due in Monday.
The couple's nine children, along with nieces and nephews, are helping keep up with the orders, and they've also hired a woman to help, Giroux said.
The bracelets sell for $2 each plus shipping, with discounts available for churches and other groups with large orders. They've gotten orders from 43 states and Canada, she said.
"There's a national frustration," Giroux said. "Christians have kind of felt empowered to take back Christmas for Christ."
Across the country, activists have complained this year about public trees being called "holiday trees" and stores that use "holiday" instead of Christmas in advertising and store signs.
Cincinnati attorney Scott Greenwood, of the Ohio American Civil Liberties Union, commented: "The only effort out there is by fundamentalist Christians who are creating boycotts and pressuring private retailers."
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CHA-CHING!!!
I love it!
Cincinnati attorney Scott Greenwood, of the Ohio American Civil Liberties Union, commented: "The only effort out there is by fundamentalist Christians who are creating boycotts and pressuring private retailers."
The stores are free to not use Christmas in their advertising if they so choose because it is a FREE country. However, what attorney Scott Greenwood does not seem to understand is....it is ALSO OUR CHOICE to not frequent a store for our very own reasons. Mr. Greenwood seems to think that evidently it is only right for one person or one group to say: "Take it away...we dont' like it" and that the rest of us need to just back off. Well Mr. Greenwood, the people have spoken and they are speaking more and more and louder and louder every single day and we have made our decisions to have our voices heard just like everyone else.
Now tell me sir...what is it about that that you just don't understand and by the way: Merry Christmas!!!!!
My daughter is making cupcakes with white icing with an awareness ribbon of one loop of green and one of red. It is to make people conscious that the correct greeting for the "holiday season" is MERRY CHRISTMAS.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
I'm thinking this attorney is a fundamentalist of stupidity.
BTW, Merry Christmas!
Great idea!
I just bought five!
How much would something like that cost per wristband in a quantity of 10,000-15,000? Just curious. Anyone know?
Someone is selling T-shirts on ebay with that saying on them too.
Are you thinking what I am thinking -- fast way to make a buck.
Do you remember when conservatives complained that Christmas had become too commercialized and now are running out to buy these bracelets?
What am I missing here?
My guess, unless they're poor businessmen, about 50 cents each delivered. Less if it's not a rush order and comes from overseas.
Still big money in Christmas, isn't there?
Doing well by doing good, I'd say. It's a fast way to make a buck -- and to make a good point! That's capitalism -- people have an incentive to give others something useful and popular! Merry Christmas!
My wife speculates they're turning a healthy profit on these wristbands. Good for them. Nobody's getting gouged by a $2 wristband, and a lot of people will get something they'll be happy to wear.
Fantastic idea! I work part-time in a department store. I'm going to make one of those red and green ribbons and wear it every day that I'm working there. In fact - I'm going to make a bunch of them for my co-workers in the office of my full-time job - they'll love it!
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