Let's have some "War on Christmas" fun. . .

[kevinbgoode]

I often have my email contaminated by mass messages from Don Wildmon, the crazed charlatan leader of the American "Family" Association, one of the self-proclaimed wingnut guardians of "Christianity." As with last year, the AFA, in conjunction with the plethora of other American Taliban "Christian" political and legal organizations, is waging a war on retailers for not including enough "Christmas" greetings on sales promotions during the holiday season. Some of the leading retailers have irresponsibly caved to pressure from these wackos, who, among other things, demand the nation's retailers market sales exclusively to "christians."

The latest email is ordering the AFA flock to mass mail protests to Best Buy, because the company apparently refuses to use the AFA-dictated religiously correct format in their retail advertising during the holiday season. What apparently irks control-freak Wildmon the MOST is the following statement released by Best Buy:

"Dawn Bryant, a spokeswoman at Best Buy Co. Inc., says their advertising will not be using the term "Merry Christmas." "We are going to continue to use the term holiday because there are several holidays throughout that time period, and we certainly need to be respectful of all of them," Bryant said."

"While many other retailers have decided to return to the traditional "Merry Christmas", Best Buy will not be among them. Best Buy considers the use of "Merry Christmas" to be disrespectful."

Now I know that most of us could give a damn about how retail stores market during the holiday season - those of us who believe in religious liberty have no problem respecting the observances of whatever day anyone wishes to designate as a celebration, whether solstice or Kwanzaa or anything else. However, this latest email strikes me as Wildmon is throwing a tantrum BECAUSE other beliefs are recognized as part of the marketing campaign of retailers.

So I'm thinking it might be just fun to send off some emails of our own to retailers like Macy's and WalMart, who have caved to the demands of this self-proclaimed American Vatican for wingnut evangelical protestants. Perhaps we could say something like this:

Dear WalMart:

It has come to my attention that your retail operation has chosen to alter holiday retail advertising this year under pressure from an extremist political organization which claims to be representing America's "Christian" faith. While I have no issue with the concept of wishing the public a "Merry Christmas" in your advertising, I do have a problem with how your company appears to have come to this decision.

The American "Family" Association represents a tiny fraction of the nation's religious population, and their leader has no difficulty questioning the religious beliefs of other Americans, including those who are "Christians" whom he disagrees with on political and social policy matters. The organization also has an enduring record of protesting television programming such as "Three's Company" for not meeting the morally correct dictates of its leadership.

Since your retail operation appears to have changed its advertising strategy based on the complaints of this extremist religious organization, I'm rather concerned about whether those Americans who do not meet the criteria of Don Wildmon's organization for claiming to be "Christian" will be welcome to purchase your sale items at Christmas prices. Since there are millions of Americans who celebrate other holidays during this time of year (and some who do not celebrate any at all) do we need to ask sales personnel if we are permitted to purchase these products at sales prices without proof that our religious and/or spiritual beliefs have been preapproved by Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Tony Perkins, and Don Wildmon?

It appears the American "Family" Association members take offense at any acknowledgement of other "holidays" in advertising by any retail outlet - and thus demand that marketing be directed exclusively to his membership. While that is certainly a decision your company may make, the American public does deserve to be better informed about such endorsement of fringe religious beliefs so that we can, in turn, make better decisions about our own purchasing choices. Many of us feel that, in closing for the Christmas Day celebration, the retail operation is already paying homage to one particular religious belief - and while most of the population is perfectly willing to assist others in celebrating an important holiday by taking a day off of work, I'm rather hesitant about endorsing and assisting such beliefs if they are dictated by an extremist group making marketing decisions for a retail company.

I'm assuming your personnel have been briefed on how to handle those of us who, during this season, will be characteristically embarassed with questions like "Would you like a gift box?" when attempting to purchase products for our own use. Once that question is asked, is it now important that we confess that our religious and/or spirtual beliefs are not endorsed by the American Family Association and that we understand we are likely not eligible for the special store "Christmas" price?

I'm hoping that you'll be able to clear up these questions.

Best Regards,


kevinbgoode



hehehehe....

[Dr.Phool]

1. When does the Winter Solstice sale begin?

I'm in the market for a laptop!

[sui generis]

2. they could have just avoided all of this

by saying they'd be greeting guests with a variety of greetings during the season, including Happy Hannukah, Merry Kwanza, Merry Christmas, AND Seasons Greetings, Happy Holidays . . .

whey they would choose just one is a mystery . . . unless they knew it would appeal to the majority of their shoppers who are accustomed to making knee jerk decisions. "Christians have been persecuted, now Wal-Mart is fighting back on their behalf", on their behalf.

That's who's buying this. It's all very calculated.

[Porcupine]

3. Kill a Tree For Christ!!

Dear WalMart,

It is my understanding that your stores sell artificial Christmas Trees. I must demand that you immediately stop this practice as artificial Christmas trees are non-Christian. Everyone knows that trees are worshiped by devil-worshiping Druids and witches. Therefore it is every good Christians duty to kill as many trees as possible.

So in order to support the practices of good Christians we would appreciate it if you quit selling those fake trees and sold only real dead trees at your faboulously low prices. Please help the Christians in your area kill a tree for Christ.

Thank you,

Porcupine

[ThoughtCriminal]

4. How about a War on Solstice?

I'm really sick of Earth's axial tilt - hot in summer, cold in winter. I'm forced to spend and store multiple wardrobes, pay high heating and cooling bills, variable sunrise and sunset times...

Let's put NASA to work on fixing this defect and lock in perpetual spring!