Here Come the Grinches, a Full Month Early
Sunday November 18, 2007
Thanksgiving is next Thursday, and that can only mean one thing. It's time for the uber-conservatives to start howling about how the winter holidays aren't quite Christian enough. Case in point, the American Family Association (AFA) has already targeted two major retailers, saying their holiday catalogs didn't include enough references to Christmas.
Petsmart has come under fire because while there are 252 references to "holiday" items, only 43 of those products contain the word "Christmas". Worse yet, when you look at the "Christmas" tagged merchandise, it's the same stuff that appears under "holiday". Oh, the inhumanity of it all. Home improvment giant Lowe's committed a major faux pas in the eyes of the AFA, because a printing error caused the chain's Christmas trees to be listed in a catalog as "family trees". You can imagine how well this went over. Lowe's jumped in with some quick damage control, however, and notified the AFA that they are "proudly committed to selling Christmas trees this year".
In an interesting side note, conservative icon Pat Robertson reminded his flock on The 700 Club that Christmas trees aren't really Christian at all, but a holdover from the good ol' days of Teutonic paganism, where people "worshipped winter". Robertson was quick to point out that he himself does not, in fact, worship winter.
But I digress. Going back to the fun folks who don't want you to celebrate anything non-Christmasy, apparently there's a big list (.pdf) each year of retailers that shouldn't be shopped at because they don't use the word Christmas in their marketing, or because they ask their employees to be sensitive to the needs of other faiths. The funniest part? The group that puts this list out is called "The Liberty Council".
And just because it amuses me, there's this: The Reason for the Season
Petsmart has come under fire because while there are 252 references to "holiday" items, only 43 of those products contain the word "Christmas". Worse yet, when you look at the "Christmas" tagged merchandise, it's the same stuff that appears under "holiday". Oh, the inhumanity of it all. Home improvment giant Lowe's committed a major faux pas in the eyes of the AFA, because a printing error caused the chain's Christmas trees to be listed in a catalog as "family trees". You can imagine how well this went over. Lowe's jumped in with some quick damage control, however, and notified the AFA that they are "proudly committed to selling Christmas trees this year".
In an interesting side note, conservative icon Pat Robertson reminded his flock on The 700 Club that Christmas trees aren't really Christian at all, but a holdover from the good ol' days of Teutonic paganism, where people "worshipped winter". Robertson was quick to point out that he himself does not, in fact, worship winter.
But I digress. Going back to the fun folks who don't want you to celebrate anything non-Christmasy, apparently there's a big list (.pdf) each year of retailers that shouldn't be shopped at because they don't use the word Christmas in their marketing, or because they ask their employees to be sensitive to the needs of other faiths. The funniest part? The group that puts this list out is called "The Liberty Council".
And just because it amuses me, there's this: The Reason for the Season
Isn’t that – unbelievable. And then, if they DO mention “Christmas” everyone else is gonna complain about them sticking with just “one religion…”
Ya just can’t win. What happened to the good ol days!
I am really glad that I am swedish – and so our name for the big midwinter celebration has nothing to do with Christianity, but is called “jul”, which of course comes from Yule, a word in common for the germanic languages. Not that I begrudge the CHristians of their celebration, but they should leave others to celebrate in their own way. And what you´re telling sounds more than ridicolous!
Nice article and thanks for the list. I can’t stand when rather than standing up for equality, a company caters and kisses up to such hateful groups who not only can’t respect the right for people to believe and worship as they please but feel compelled to cram their religion down the throats of everyone else. I’ll be doing MY shopping from the Naughty side!
My wife works for PetSmart, so we are financially affected by idiots like the AFA and other “war on Xmas” clowns. Is the Xian religion in such a tenuous position that its adherents find it necessary to complain about something so trivial as “only” 43 references to Xmas on a website?
Then in one of the comments, and Xian tells us to come up with our own religions (and punctuates his ignorance with the loving word, ‘idiot’). I took the time to clear up the obvious irony of his statement.
My favorite “holiday” t-shirt says:
“Axial Tilt—the reason for the season”
I get funny looks, but most fundies seem to science-challenged to ‘get’ it.
I think it’s funny; I’m Wiccan, and so I celebrate Yule in my house (as well as Christmas, for my oldest daughter, who, oddly enough, is being raised Catholic, by her father and grandparents). I don’t complain about not seeing “Happy Yule” all over stores! My Jewish friends don’t whine when they aren’t greeted with “Happy Hannukah” upon entering a store. And my black friends don’t get upset that they aren’t wished “Happy Kwanzaa” in a store’s mailings!
And if anyone does complain about the saying the merry christmas signs, they are villanized as trying to steal christmas away from little kids, like the grinch story or something. At least that’s what the link to the conversation pat robertsons was having looked like to me.
Is diversity such a bad thing, is respecting the fact that not everyone sees this time of year as christmas so hard for them to understand. Yule, Hanuka, quanza, solstice. There are so many celebrations that merry christmas just does not honor. Happy holidays does honor all or them and does not intrude on christian beliefs in the least bit. Unless you consider they want the advertising for the spread the word ideology.
I personaly think we should vilanize them in some way, if they want to say the crinch is taking christmas away from the kids, we should fight fire with fire
Never in all of my years in retail have I ever offended anyone by saying “Enjoy YOUR holiday.” I use the term “your” because I know that not everyone believes as I do, nor do I expect them to. I’ve never been offended when someone wished me a Merry Christmas, it just doesn’t seem worth it to jump up and down in protest of something so menial. My holidays are my own, they are based on my faith and my enjoyment of the time. I don’t begrudge anyone else of their enjoyment either. I think the stores are doing a fine job of keeping the “holidays” happy, even if they don’t use the word “Christmas”.
Hmmm….seems like that list is JUST the thing I need to organize my shopping this season — I’ll be sure to patronize them over other retailers offering the same products. If the Xtians can hold a boycott, then I can hold my own anti-boycott!
I was raised Christian, and lived that way (at least in a token fashion) for most of my life. I served for more than 20 years in the military for this beautiful (yet flawed) country.
I do not like being told what I can or cannot say about the holiday season.
The conservatives feel as though their primary faith is being attacked, and rightly so (in some cases).
The liberals feel as though they are being forced to endure faiths that are not their own, and rightly so (in some cases).
The fact is, extremism is pretty dangerous for almost all faiths and beliefs.
I don’t want Pagans and Wicca telling me I can’t display ‘traditional’ feeling toward the Christmas season, and I don’t want Christians telling me I must do it all their way.
I want to be left alone to decide what (if anything) to say or do this fall and winter. I believe that it is my choice, alone, to say and do what I feel is appropriate for the holidays.
I won’t get upset if people say Yule or Kwanzaa or Chanukah or Christmas, because that is their choice. All they are trying to say is “I hope your season is pleasant.” I respond with “Thanks! You too!” It satisfies their beliefs and promotes good will, and it doesn’t hurt me at all.
I think both (all three? Four? hundred, etc) sides need to take a look at what thier faith asks of them at this time of year – usually good will and peace – and continue on with their lives.
Stop hurting each other over little crap like saying (or not saying) certain words. We have way bigger problems to deal with, as Humans, as Americans, and as citizens of our world.
D.
David, you said it well! Thank you and have a very merry everyday! Angie
Well said David!
It goes for everyone, I want to be free to celebrate Yule, I don’t really care what my neighbour celebrates that’s hir choice to make!
In the UK we don’t get very much fuss about ‘Christ being taken out of Christmas’; every experiment at making Christmas more multicultural just hasn’t taken off and not just because fundies have protested. People in the UK accept that most people celebrate Christmas and so they get on with it and know that even if they don’t celebrate Christmas themselves, the month of December is dedicated to it in the UK. Every year you will see the same Christmas tree and trimmings in shops and you will get a ‘Merry Christmas’ whether you like it or not, which I don’t really think is a bad thing. If we lived in a predominantly Muslim country we’d have to put up with our neighbours treating us like we’re celebrating right along with them, so what’s the difference?
Christians just don’t know any valid history about Paganism. They are so self-centered that they think the world has always revolved around them and their religion. There was a world before Christiaity and there will be a world if Christianity ever dies off. Christians just seem to take it for granted that they are somehow the center of everything. That is the highest form of egotism there is. Every Christian I have ever known has always been very egotistical and brazen. They just love to shove their chosen faith system, and that is all it is, a faith system, down other people’s throats. Nobody likes a God-pusher. Nobody. It is the Christians who are being bigoted and intolerant of other people’s chosen faith systems in this case. It is the Christians who are being ignorant to the HIGHEST extremes. Happy Holidays!
To sum up my last post, the Christians at “The Liberty Council” are nothing but a bunch of “holier-than-thou” holy rolling religious bigots. They would attack any religion that is not Christian. This sort of bigotry runs in their blood. It’s to be expected from a monotheistic religion that claims to be the only true religion in the whole universe.
Savanthar, while I totally agree with you about the Liberty Council, I also have to point out that I realize they don’t speak for all Christians.
And David, you make some excellent points.
>>I won’t get upset if people say Yule or Kwanzaa or Chanukah or Christmas, because that is their choice. All they are trying to say is “I hope your season is pleasant.” I respond with “Thanks! You too!” It satisfies their beliefs and promotes good will, and it doesn’t hurt me at all.
Exactly. Needed repeating.
patti
I agree that the xtians shouldnt shove their religion down their throats. When I did worship as xtian(I am Wiccan now), I didnt feel obligated to control whose religion was right or wrong. Christians seem to think they have the market on that. No one has for a fact gone over to the other side and came back, so we dont know who is “right”.
I digress. I love pointing out that most xtian holidays were first Pagan and they put their holiday near them for popularity sake! (facts say their Jesus was born in spring, not winter)
Anyway, i get sick of the commercialized xmas anyways, so I dont mind seeing the name a few less times.
Blessed be and Merry Yule!
a few years ago I told a customer Happy Holidays and he about bit my head off asking why I did not tell him Merry Christmas I tried to explain to him I did not want to assume what his or anyone else’s religion is and that saying Happy Holidays covers everything! They can fill in the blank… So “Happy Whatever” to everyone. I think I’ll put that on a T- shirt.
Just think …Christian Conservatives didn’t exist until Protestant Christianity embraced Judeo-Capitalism. The Key word being Capitalism. For these guys to now bemoan the capitaistic bent of the “Season,” sounds a lot like the story of the Kettle and the Teapot. …Complaining just because it makes them look good!
Isn’t the reason for the Christian season the birth of Christ? Does shopping really have anything to do with Christ’s birthday, unless you are buying Jesus some new shoes? I’m just saying, don’t you think they have it all backwards too.
Sigh. I work in retail, and I’m really not looking forward to the next month. I think I’ll just stick to wishing everyone a great day.Personally, I think Happy Holidays is appropriate,but I live in a very RED state where many undertake the “Keep Christ in Christmas” battle each year.I find it kind of odd that Christians have “borrowed” customs from Pagans, then claim that the winter holidays should only be known as Christmas. That minister is technically correct about the Christmas tree being of Pagan origin. There is actually a scripture somewhere in the book of Isaiah, I think, that warns against decorating a tree with baubles and worshipping it. Yes, I know, my sincere Christian friends have told me they believe this is speaking of trees worshipped as idols, and that technically they don’t worship the Christmas tree. But irregardless, it proves that non-Christians were engaging in the practice of decorating trees with ornaments long before Martin Luther came along and used the evergreen to explain the trinity.
Lol! I had already decided where I was going to do my holiday shopping before I read this. Imagine that-all my stores of choice are on the naughty list.
Tab, your post made me giggle. All I could think of was these people boycotting PetSmart — because the kitty litter isn’t branded with “Christmas” anywhere. I mean, really… how holiday-themed can you make a pooper scooper or a bottle of hairball medicine?
patti
who will probably shop on the Naughty List too
I just don’t understand the fuss – why get upset when the real point of what people are saying is to wish you good will? Who cares if they say “Merry Christmas,” “Happy Holidays,” or how they say it? If they’re not saying it out of a desire to control your religion (and most often they aren’t) then the real purpose is to share holiday cheer! Why put a stop to that and make them feel bad in return for their good wishes? I don’t expect people who don’t know me to know my beliefs and I certainly don’t take the stand that every comment made that includes Christmas is an effort to convert me. If someone wants to argue about my “Happy Holidays,” I just shake my head and walk away. They obviously don’t get the point of the season, whatever their religion!
Yeah, how Christmasy CAN you get with a pooper-scooper? LOL
I have to agree with everyone above. EVERYONE and not just this Liberty Council, but everyone takes what the call this time of year way too seriously. To tell you the truth, even when I was a Christian the only thing Christmas meant to me was spending time with the parts of my family that I dont get to see on a regular basis. It meant buying or making gifts for all of my family and friends and just spending wonderful quality time together. Putting on some good holiday tunes and decorating the house and yard with my mom and brother. And that is what it still means to me. So no matter who it offends, Im gonna say Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Yule, and Blessed Season to everyone I see.
So to all of you…Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Yule, and have a Blessed Season!!!!
*rolling eyes* Some people need to seriously get a life and worry about the big things….war, famine, poverty….and not the stupid stuff (i.e, what to call the special days in December).
This past January, when I arrived at my job here on the NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson, they were taking the last of the decorations down. I was told that one of my shipmates (who is no longer attached to the ship) had been ‘offended’ by the ornaments, and being wished merry christmas. But, when no one got her a gift or a card, she complained about that, too. Much like when I worked at an assisted living community, when the jewish holiday of purim came around, some kids from the local synagogue came around with little bags of treats for the jewish residents. They had a list of just the jewish people, and that is who they sought out for their gift giving. But, when a local chistian sunday school came over and gave christmas gifts to the christian residents, some of (not all, just a few) the jewish residents were heard saying, “Where are our christmas gifts?” I thought it was pretty funny, as one of the elderly jewish ladies couldn’t even tell me what Purim was celebrating. As others here have mentioned, when I am wished a merry christmas, I say ‘thank you’, and I wish them a Blessed Yule. No one has ever said anything cross ways, but sometimes I wonder in the world where we are all being forced into the politically correct cattle chute, if we will one day not be able to wish anyone a ‘happy’ anything, for fear of making those diagnosed with depression ‘uncomfortable’…
My Vote –
Boycott all the ones on the nice list, until they are reminded that:
WINTER SOLSTICE IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!
Hmm, what looks sinister to me is the heading of “The List” — Liberty Counsel Naughty & Nice List (sounds cute so far) Friend or Foe 2007 (ominous,sinister). Apparently things are pretty black & white for the Liberty Counsel — you’re either with them or against them.
Even though i am a big ol’ Pagan, Christmas IS a Federal Holiday and I love my country.
I’m a Christian (who also celebrates winter solstice) who doesn’t care what money-hungry stores call their holiday season. Do people really think it honors Christ when Walmart’s commercial says, “The more money you save, the more Christmas you can give”? Blah…if Jesus had issues with WalMart, it would probably be over unethical business practices, not whether or not the word “Christmas” is used on their signs.
FWIW, The Liberty Counsel is attached to Liberty University, which was run by Jerry Fallwell. As such, their behavior isn’t surprising.
- If Isiah does speak of decorating trees, I’d love to know where.
- Where can *I* get an ‘axial tilt/reason for the season’ t-shirt?!?
And to everyone, happy birth of the sun god(s) of your choosing!
Ask, and you shall receive.
http://www.cafepress.com/acc_axialtilt.36822555
patti
I am writing from the yawning black hole of the the bible-belt south,where xtians seem honor-bound to inflict their religious views on anything that walks upright and breathes.
As a lady of mature years (I’m 47) I feel that I have earned the right to a certain puckish curmudgionliness. And so, in the spirit of the season (and since I am in the envyable position of having both hot flashes AND pms),I have taken to (possibly vaguely humourously) replying to the Merry Christmaser’s greetings by saying:”Unless your a turkey!”
Even Fundies have been known to crack a smile at that – at least I think it was a smile. Or maybe they just had gas.:)
I hope everybody who is not a turkey has a wonderful Holiday Season!!
Most Christians don’t understand how difficult it can be not to belong to the religious majority. Our culture (in the U.S.) is so thoroughly inundated with everything Christian that many of us (”non-believers”) go through a sort of spiritual crises before being able to admit to ourselves that it’s O.K. to believe something else.
I grew up where Christianity is the default religion, and anything not Christian was thought of as silly at best. I felt as though I had been brainwashed into thinking that any other belief system was either misguided or completely ridiculous. I personally am still in hiding. My fiancé’s family is extremely religious (his father only recently quit the ministry) and will never understand. I can count on my fingers the number of people who know my shameful secret
So, in defense of those of us who are happy with who we are in spite of our inability to fit into the most popular mold, I would like to see our belief systems treated with some respect. Why can’t I hang a pentacle on the side of my house next door to your cross and why can’t my dog have some Blessed Solstice chew toys?
P. s. I’m so glad that I’m not alone.