Posted on 11/24/2007 8:03:10 AM PST by Gondring
POSTED: 2:26 pm EST November 21, 2007
LYNCHBURG, Va. -- A Christian advocacy group has some advice for Christians as they prepare to do their Christmas shopping: Don't shop at stores that censor the word "Christmas."
As part of its Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign, Liberty Counsel has released its fifth annual "Naughty and Nice" list of stores seeking to attract gift buyers.
The "Naughty List" names stores that make no mention of Christmas in their advertising, vaguely observing the "season" or "holiday" instead. The list includes Gap, Kohl's, Bloomingdale's and Marshalls, to name a few.
The "Nice List" consists of stores that still name the reason for the season. Some stores on that list include Macy's, Wal-Mart, Target and Toys R Us.
Both can be viewed on Liberty Counsel's Web site.
Liberty Counsel's Steve Crampton said stores have the right to advertise any way they want, but Christians have the right to shop at stores that recognize their holiday.
I would expect Kohl to be a German name. There used to be a chain of Kohl’s supermarkets in Wisconsin, and I assumed they were of the same origin as the Kohl that subsequently (my impression) got into the department store business, but never heard anyone in Wisconsin mention Kohl as being Jewish.
The media will try to talk down Christmas sales this year as they did in recent years because the badly want and need a failing economy. This is expected but unless you live 200 miles from a major shopping area I cannot see how your area could be so different then all the others who reported such large crowds, crowds that were spending money and not just looking.
Expect sales to slow after the monster day on Black Friday, as they do every year and then catch fire again the last 4-5 days before Christmas. This years longer shopping season will play well for the retailers. Don’t worry though, they will surely find some bad news to report about the season. If they cannot find any they will simply manufacture it and report it under the guise of an opinion, but of course not in an Op-Ed column but as news.
I’m in Orlando. Our news reports produced the obligatory “Crowds Throng Malls on Black Friday” articles, but I was there, and they weren’t thronging where I was.
I suspect that articles were written a couple of months ago.
I will be very interested to see if the numbers measure up to the hype. Possibly, the shoppers simply did not feel compelled to shop early this year.
Thankfully that scam seems to have died a most-needed death. They are not even pushing at the schools this year here in Oregon.
Down here in Boca, we ate at the Cheesecake Factory per "family visit tradition" on their day of departure. The Town Center Mall parking lot was overflowing into the restaurant parking which isn't exactly nearby.
Packed would be an understatement. Did my shopping on-line personally...
Hobby Lobby is an openly Christian operation. They are not even open on Sunday’s in order for their employees to spend time with their familes and worship at church.
That is what the signs on the stores state.
Likewise, I'm entering Coke Rewards points and I see that they have free Holiday screensavers. One has Santa and a tree and H.H. Another has a December calendar page with holly leaves on Christmas Day, but says H.H.
A generic greeting on a card is one thing, but, HELLO, if you're making something specifically for Christmas, YOU'RE ALLOWED TO MENTION IT!!
My wife’s store (Wal-Mart) had a huge day and was up double digits from last year.
Regional differences?
I was in Wally World this morning and they were playing Christmas carols.
Perhaps that may explain it although I'm not sure why. I shop the Internet only while my wife can't find the button to turn the computer on. She is a huge fan of 4:00 AM shopping on Black Friday and was telling me it was mobbed, really mobbed and the lines were unreal at the check out stations. This is in NJ, the shopping mall capital of the world and the most densely populated State in the nation. As I said, when you couple what my wife experienced and what the liberal news media reported, I have to say your experience was the exception. Perhaps warm weather doesn't translate well into Christmas shopping.
Chick Fillet as well.
Wait, wait, wait. I’m confused. I thought we didn’t like the commercial aspect of Christmas, and I often hear complaints that it is “too commercialized.” So why do we care if retailers don’t link shopping, shopping, shopping with Christmas? Just cook up a batch of fruit cakes to send to friends and family. ;)
I was told last night that they are selling music CDs in the store and $2 of the prices goes to the Salvation Army.
I can’t confirm this since like you I will not go in there
Are we sure about Macy’s? They light something they call the ‘Great Tree’ every year around this time. It looks just like a Christmas tree to me.
This brings up a question...Do they count if played before Halloween? ;-)
As much as I personally dislike Wal-mart, and how they treat their employees, I have noticed that they now say “Merry Christmas”. I commented on this, and was told the store relaxed their rules, and allow this. Perhaps it’s just the one, but as Wal-mart acts a lot like the Borg, I think the corporate policy changed this year.
You had me 'til that last line, pardner! ;-)
Although there should be nothing wrong with advertising Christmas, neither should "Happy Holidays" be condemned, IMHO. I still say "Merry Christmas," and I do see the point about it bringing cultural unity, but if I have to see the communist festival of a violent terrorist, Kwanzaa, mentioned too, then skip the greeting specifics!
"We Jews believe it was Santa Claus that killed Jesus Christ." -- Richard "Kinky" Friedman
I hope you’re right. I’m just concerned that it may be less than stellar.
Huh. Wonder where Victoria’s Secret resides on the naughty-nice continuum...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.