Posted on 12/10/2005 7:00:21 AM PST by NYer
Washington DC, Dec. 09, 2005 (CNA) - Intervening in the heated debate about the mention of Christmas on the public square, Concerned Women for America (CWA) presented a first Christmas list showing which businesses are honouring the Reason for the Season (the birth of Jesus), which ones are not, and which have mixed records.
It first lists the corporation Nice or friendly to the Original Christmas tradition. This year Macy's joins the NICE list because it has returned the explicit mention of Christmas and Merry Christmas to its stores and its ads. L.L. Bean, on the other hand, just barely escapes the Grinch list and gets a middle rating because, while its first seasonal catalogue says Christmas 2005, all subsequent catalogues say Holiday 2005, culminating in the Best of Holiday 2005 (surrounded by Christmas items).
"More and more retailers are realizing, too late, that Christian consumers now understand that the constant use of 'happy holidays' and 'holiday' is grating and insulting," said Robert Knight, director of CWA's Culture & Family Institute. "It's an act of cultural cowardice and even an overt attack on Christmas and ultimately the Christian faith.
"When something is clearly about Christmas itself, it is dishonest to ban the very mention of Christmas on the grounds that it might offend a handful of people. This is a nation where surveys show 96 percent of the population celebrates Christmas. There is no survey showing that people of other faiths are insulted when the majority celebrate Christmas or wish anyone a 'Merry Christmas.'
"The tyranny of a tiny minority of Grinches to veto any mention of Christmas must stop," Knight concluded. "We are very encouraged that some major retailers like Macy's are starting to get it and hope that more will join them."
Following is a highlight of the whole list, set into three categories: Nice, Somewhat Nice, somewhat naughtyand Scrooges.
NICE
Macys, Chick-fil-A,Kroger, IHOP, Saks Off Fifth Avenue, Kay Jewelers, Capital One, Hobby Lobby, In-N-Out Burger
SOMEWHAT NICE, SOMEWHAT NAUGHTY
Walgreens, Wal-Mart, L.L. Bean, Sears, Lowes
SCROOGES
Target, Office Max, Kmart, Staples, Home Depot, Best Buy, Kohlâs, BJ's, SC Johnson, Verizon, Radio Shack, Zales, Outback, Lexus, Old Navy, Cingular, Reckitt Benckiser, Pier 1, Red Lobster, Office Depot, Gillette, Applebees, Burlington Coat, Dell, Milton-Bradley, U.S. Postal Service, Costco
I'll be a'testin' Target out for the Christmas standard in a few days and will let you know!
The "Happy Holidays" thing has just gone way too far by most of these national-brand retailers. They really deserve to lose business and be humiliated by consumers for denying the very word of Christmas along with associations, as if it was something to be ashamed of.
What's actually shameful is their blatant omission of this important experience of Christmas.
Yes, I understand (thanks for your levelling comments), but, there is (also) nothing inherently WRONG with saying or putting in print, "Merry Christmas" or even "Christmas" as a word, a concept, a celebration along with all associated symbols and stories and such.
Retailers who have insisted on the "no mention of the word, 'Christmas'" policy are displaying a high degree of shame and negativity about the Season, the word itself...and that's what's disturbing to my view as a consumer.
They plaster "Halloween" all over the place, for example, and yet recoil if/when someone says "Merry Christmas" and the like.
It indicates some other policy, unstated but obvious, that is not at all minor.
So, because of that, I think it's important for Christians and those who do not feel shame at the mention of Christmas to act accordingly. This is one effort to respond by refusing to patronize that I support.
Now, if I could only find an alternative to COSTCO...
"inclusiveness."
I disagree.
I think we need to use their weapons against them.
Good point. Will do.
Appreciate the additions to the "nice" list. Thanks.
"but I think you would do even better if you didn't use liberal terminology like "inclusiveness." Maybe just thank them for not being ashamed of the holiday that brings them so much business."
Good point. I will take your suggestion.
"It seems people are getting serious about this. Good!"
Certainly is good.
Just be careful when you use their terminology that you are not inadvertently embracing their application of it.
I read about the flap with Wal-Mart a few weeks ago. And yeah, the Walton family has personally donated to abortion groups. However, the Wal-Mart stores here in CT all have the Salvation Army in front greeting people with "Merry Christmas." And inside, 'Ave Maria' and other Christian musics are playing. I guess this is why the CWA gave them a 'naughty and nice'.
I suspect some of these progressive-leaning retailers wanted to do it for awhile now. They figured the time was right this year and did not expect much public backlash. Meanwhile another category of retailers, who perhaps caught wind of their plans, decided to implement the same policies so they wern't left out as the only ones doing it (you know, ACLU intimidation related)
"It first lists the corporations Nice or friendly to the Original Christmas tradition."
What kind of tripe is this? Guess what -- the "reason for the season" (a cutesy hint that the article and the "list" are nothing more than adolescent idiocy) has nothing to do with retail sales or shopping at malls.
For crying out loud people, go to church (unless, of course, you're a member of one of the "big box" churches that decided to close on Christmas day, a rather ironic twist to this year's bashing of businesses for not honoring the "true spirit of Christmas").
Business is business. Retail stores will do whatever is necessary to attract the most customers -- whether that's posting "happy holidays" signs or "Merry Christmas" signs. I hate to break it to you, but they really don't give a flip about your religious convictions. They just want your money.
The very notion that you're going to find the "original Christmas tradition" or "the reason for the season" in a Target or a Walmart or any other retail store is so patently ridiculous it's embarrassing to even see it on this forum.
Oh brother. A conspiracy amongst retailers that is designed, I suppose, to lessen their sales. Get a grip.
I suspect some of these progressive-leaning retailers wanted to do it for awhile now. They figured the time was right this year and did not expect much public backlash.
I'm willing to venture a guess that retailers are actually catering to a big backlash base of customers who are both flabbergasted by, and a little pissed off at, the morons who insist that "happy holidays" is an insult and that the "true meaning of Christmas" can be found on the racks of plastic piffle in a discount store.
My, my. It's come to this, has it. Glaring at the infidels, and announcing that "everybody better celebrate the holidays my way or shut the hell up." The Christmas spirit lives.
Thanks, I think I just found my new tag line!!
The bottom line is those "morons" you mention happen to have a point here about whats going on politically. Deal with it.
And I was pissed off in '89 too...so what.
And I was pissed off in '89 too...so what.
"This one doesn't make sense to me, since Olive Garden and Red Lobster have the same parent company."
Another poster pointed out that different stores have different policies. The poster stated that the restaurants visited wished customers Merry Christmas, and displayed Christmas signs. My own personal experience with both eateries has been positive.
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