Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

In 'The War on Christmas,' Christmas is winning
msnbc.com ^ | 11/22/2010 | Natalie Zmuda

Posted on 11/22/2010 2:27:10 PM PST by Bad~Rodeo

For increasing number of retailers this year, no more 'Happy holidays'...

NEW YORK — The War on Christmas may be in its final days.

This season, merry Christmas — not happy holidays or season's greetings — will dominate retailer's marketing messages. There will be Christmas sales and Christmas trees and Christmas carols galore.

That has the American Family Association, arguably one of the loudest voices advocating the use of Christmas in retailer's marketing messages over the past few years, predicting that its crusade could conclude in the next year or two.

Randy Sharp, director-special projects at the AFA, said that in the past five years the group has seen the percentage of retailers recognizing Christmas in their advertising rise from 20 percent to 80 percent. Just eight retailers are left on the group's list of "Companies Against Christmas."

It's also become more challenging to find a large, national retailer to single out for the group's annual boycott. This year, Dick's Sporting Goods, which boasts an online "Holiday Shop," will be the target of the boycott. The AFA is expected to send an Action Alert to its 2.3 million supporters on Friday morning. That alert will urge shoppers to boycott Dick's between now and Dec. 25. It also calls for consumers to e-mail President-Chief Operating Officer Joseph Schmidt and then call Chief Marketing Officer Jeff Hennion. The retailer declined to comment. In the past, Target, Sears, Gap and Walmart have been targets.

Advertising Age: Here comes the Christmas creep

"We've had a complete flip," Mr. Sharp says. "The politically correct holiday verbiage is going away. Companies are getting the message."

Indeed, retailers that have found themselves the target of boycotts or media and consumer scrutiny have responded swiftly in recent years. Lowe's "Family Trees" were renamed "Christmas Trees," while Walmart's

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: christmas; happyholidays; merrytossmas; pc; waronchristmas; waronchristmas2010
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-59 last
To: Artemis Webb

Oh and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing’’ Love that one too!


41 posted on 11/22/2010 4:53:42 PM PST by jmacusa (Two wrongs don't make a right. But they can make it interesting.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: jmacusa

Amen!


42 posted on 11/22/2010 4:56:21 PM PST by MWestMom (Tread carefully, truth lies here.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo

Merry Christmas bttt


43 posted on 11/22/2010 5:04:25 PM PST by MattinNJ (Palin. I cannot spare this woman. She fights!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo

Office Max had Merry Christmas signs up in their store.


44 posted on 11/22/2010 6:24:39 PM PST by madison10
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
Another year of assault on Christmas and another year I vow to refuse to do business with anyone or any business that omits Christ at Christmas time. 20+ years running now.
45 posted on 11/22/2010 6:41:33 PM PST by Ron H. (Impeach Obama!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo

So, I put up my Yule Tree. (Look in olden carols for the references to Yule Tree, and Yule Log.) It could be a ‘Hannukhah Bush’. So, there is ‘Father Christmas’. Dickens wrote of the Holly King in ‘A Christmas Carol’. There is, ‘Hannukhah Harry’, too. The Winter Solstice, the day the light returns (shortest day of solar year), and to some is the birth of The God, anew for another year.

I have no qualms about what ‘day’ you call it. Just do NOT condemn me for my celebration of the day, for I DO NOT condemn or proselytize to you, for what you make of its importance. It is not my way.


46 posted on 11/22/2010 6:45:36 PM PST by Prussianone
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MamaDearest
Our guard will not be let down. Retailers who neglect to acknowledge Christmas in their advertising or within their stores (that includes cashiers who will not return a "Merry Christmas" greeting to them) will lose our business not only during the Christmas season, but in the year beyond.

We're older people who have children and grandchildren who receive gifts from us. If retailers want our money, they'll have to show it is appreciated or we'll shop elsewhere. The twenty year old clerk who ignores us or the cashier who is busy chatting on her cellphone or talking with her friends while millions of Americans are jobless who would have been glad for that paycheck doesn't cut it with us.

Thank you. Those are my exact sentiments as well.

47 posted on 11/22/2010 6:45:47 PM PST by Ron H. (Impeach Obama!!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: AdmSmith; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; bigheadfred; ColdOne; Convert from ECUSA; Delacon; ...
merry Christmas -- not happy holidays or season's greetings -- will dominate retailer's marketing messages
I've been thinking about web-marketing an original line of greeting cards which have "Death To Islam" as part of the message inside each one. "Happy Birthday (Death To Islam)" and "Merry Christmas" (and Death To Islam)". Thanks Bad~Rodeo.


48 posted on 11/22/2010 7:41:39 PM PST by SunkenCiv (The 2nd Amendment follows right behind the 1st because some people are hard of hearing.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Reddy

I think at least some people are aware that Christmas isn’t Christ’s real Birthday. But honestly celebrating the birth, or the new life symbolically associated with Jesus being born is honestly better than the previous celebration which occurred in the Roman tradition on December 25. Plus, I find it convenient that his entire life isn’t celebrated in just one day, or just one time of year. I think most people forget the important part about what Jesus and his teachings. Sure, it’s not about whether or not it’s his real birthday, which was probably close to the time of Passover, actually, but the important part is the reason Why the day is important that counts. My original point is that if the retailers don’t bring up Christmas in their advertisements, I would not be bothered by it, it is not the same as other matters, this is also the choice of the private organization (the retailers) to do so. Choosing to admit the opposite is fine too, but the real point is that it is a choice of position that I don’t feel matters. You don’t have to agree with me, but that’s just my own opinion.


49 posted on 11/22/2010 8:07:20 PM PST by Morpheus2009
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: Reddy

I think at least some people are aware that Christmas isn’t Christ’s real Birthday. But honestly celebrating the birth, or the new life symbolically associated with Jesus being born is honestly better than the previous celebration which occurred in the Roman tradition on December 25. Plus, I find it convenient that his entire life isn’t celebrated in just one day, or just one time of year. I think most people forget the important part about what Jesus and his teachings. Sure, it’s not about whether or not it’s his real birthday, which was probably close to the time of Passover, actually, but the important part is the reason Why the day is important that counts. My original point is that if the retailers don’t bring up Christmas in their advertisements, I would not be bothered by it, it is not the same as other matters, this is also the choice of the private organization (the retailers) to do so. Choosing to admit the opposite is fine too, but the real point is that it is a choice of position that I don’t feel matters. You don’t have to agree with me, and feel fine to disagree, but that’s just my own opinion.


50 posted on 11/22/2010 8:07:41 PM PST by Morpheus2009
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: doyle

Or, as we call it in these parts, “Blood-bath and Beyond.” ;-)


51 posted on 11/22/2010 9:25:07 PM PST by Tenniel2 (Obamacare in a nutshell: Take everyone's money. Then kill them.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
Lowe's "Family Trees" were renamed "Christmas Trees,"

This is hilarious. I know what a "family tree" is, but I don't put it in my living room and hang lights on it during Christmas.

52 posted on 11/22/2010 9:38:22 PM PST by hsalaw
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo

I hate catalogs with “Holiday, 2010” on the front.


53 posted on 11/23/2010 4:26:49 AM PST by Luke21
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv

That did it. You made me laugh twice this morning. You’re in trouble now. Death to Islam.


54 posted on 11/23/2010 5:34:59 AM PST by TheOldLady (The only way to run our country is conservatively.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]

To: wku man

Thank!!!


55 posted on 11/23/2010 4:44:23 PM PST by SkyDancer ("If You Don't Read The News You're Uninformed, If You Do Read The News You're Misinformed")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: wku man
Thanks!!!

<PhotobucketPhotobucket

56 posted on 11/23/2010 4:45:48 PM PST by SkyDancer ("If You Don't Read The News You're Uninformed, If You Do Read The News You're Misinformed")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo

I walked into a Wal-Mart last week and there was a giant MERRY CHRISTMAS sign hanging from the ceiling. It was very pleased to see it.


57 posted on 11/23/2010 4:47:27 PM PST by WashingtonSource
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bad~Rodeo
...retailers should not profit from Christmas, if they refuse to clearly acknowledge it. "When your advertising has trees and ornaments and gift wrapping, you're advertising Christmas, so don't call it holiday

BTTT and Merry Christmas !!

58 posted on 11/23/2010 4:52:26 PM PST by nicmarlo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv
I've been thinking about web-marketing an original line of greeting cards which have "Death To Islam" as part of the message inside each one. "Happy Birthday (Death To Islam)" and "Merry Christmas" (and Death To Islam)".

ROFL! That's a terrific idea! I'd buy a few.

59 posted on 11/23/2010 5:00:01 PM PST by arasina (So there.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 48 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-59 last

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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson