Today is the "official" start of the Christmas Shopping season. We continually have the discussion about retail outlets that have fallen to the political correct view that Christmas is a dirty word. Personally, I don't have that much of a problem with a retail outlet not using the word Christmas in all of their advertising this time of the year. Some of the people that are buying this season are also shopping for Hanukkah as well. They should not be left out of the equation. The problem becomes when things like Christmas trees are called something other than a Christmas tree. What other holiday do you decorate an evergreen tree for? It is a Christmas tree, get over it. The reality remains that the vast majority of this country considers themselves to be a Christian. There is nothing wrong with saying Merry Christmas. I have worked retail on and off throughout my life and I refused to use the generic Happy Holidays on a regular basis. Now, I also did the politically incorrect thing of profiling. If a woman was wearing a hijab I said nothing other than thank you. If I happen to notice someone wearing a Star of David I would say Happy Hanukkah. What I don't like is retailers demanding from their employees not to use Merry Christmas. There are a lot of people that dress up in Christmas garb when they do their shopping. If someone is wearing a Jesus pin or a Christmas sweater the words Merry Christmas are not going to drive them from the store crying from the shame of being wished Merry Christmas. I also don't understand anyone being insulted by it. This is a Christian nation. That doesn't mean that other religions are not allowed, it just means that the majority of the people who live here will be celebrating Christmas in a few weeks. I lived in Israel briefly when I was younger. I was not insulted that I couldn't go out bar hopping on Friday nights or shopping on Saturday afternoons. That was just the way it was. I didn't expect anyone in that country to alter their views simply because I happen to have another point of view. That is tolerance, it is not sweeping all views under the same generic rug. If someone is an atheist, have at it. It's your soul, not mine. I shouldn't have to refrain from wishing someone a Merry Christmas; a holiday that is holy to the vast majority of residents of this country.
Companies FOR "Christmas"
updated 11-17-10
Amazon.com
Bass Pro Shops
Bed Bath & Beyond
Belko
Best Buy
Big Lots
Books-A-Million
Cabella's
Collective Brands
Costco
Dick's Sporting Goods
Dollar Tree
Family Dollar
Dollar General
H.E.B. Stores
Hallmark
Harris Teeter Stores
Hobby Lobby
JC Penney
JoAnn Fabrics & Crafts Stores
Kmart
kohl's
Kroger
Lowe's
Macy's
Meijer
Menard's
Michael's Stores
Neiman Marcus
Nordstrom
Petsmart
Pier One Imports
Publix
QVC
Rite Aid
Sears
Super D Drug Stores
Target
Toys R Us
Walgreens
Wal-Mart/Sam's Club
Companies marginalizing "Christmas"
updated 11-17-10
Banana Republic
Bath & Body Works
Gap Stores
Hancock Fabrics
Hy-Vee Stores
Old Navy
Limited Brands
Safeway
Starbucks
Whole Foods
Companies against "Christmas"
updated 11-17-10
Barnes & Noble
CVS Pharmacy
Office Depot
Radio Shack
Staples
SUPERVALU
Victoria's Secret
Friday, November 26, 2010
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4 comments:
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.... they're out to get you........ and your holday........... oooooooooooooooooo...........
Great post, thanks for the info!
I don't think one should be saying 'merry christmas' unless it's christmas. until then, it is holiday season as there are many forms of holidays that happen around this time for a large portion of the population. i do agree with the christmas tree thing - though other european countries do have different ways of decorating them, and christmas tree is essentially for christmas.
so, i would think that 'happy holidays'is not just politically correct, but also humanistically intrinsic - especially if one wants to throw around the multicultural/cultural mosaic notion around.
So we shouldn't say Merry Christmas until Christmas Day? Or can we include Christmas eve too?
There is nothing wrong with acknowledging Christmas and we have become so politically correct that we are reducing ourselves.
If you want to talk about multiculturalism then you should be talking about being inclusive. The fact remains that the vast majority of this country describes themselves as Christian. Hannukah is now over. Most of the people that are in the stores buying things right now are doing it for Christmas. Wishing them a Merry Christmas is a nice thing, not a negative one.
If people are insulted by being wished a Merry Christmas then they need to get a real life.
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