So the other day we talked about the Liberty Counsel's increasingly ridiculous "Naughty or Nice" list, which encourages the faithful to boycott retailers who use the generic word "holidays" in their December advertising, rather than the more demonination-specific "Christmas." Now, the American Family Association is going after the Gap. Why?
Because Gap's super-annoying-yet-still-marginally-cute, Glee-inspired holiday commercial, Happy Whateveryouwannakah, features the line "Go Christmas, Go Hannukah, Go Kwanzaa, Go Solstice!" AFA representative Randy Sharp says the line is just plain offensive.
A Gap rep says their brand "is and has always been an inclusive, accessible brand in which everyone can participate and we embrace diversity across all of our customers, and more importantly respect their beliefs as individuals."
You know, I'm not sure how exactly one can come to the conclusion that inclusiveness is offensive. Really, AFA guys, you're not the only ones who have a December holiday. Even kindergarteners know how to share. Then again, when you're looking at things through the Dominant Religion Lens Filter, I suppose it's really easy to play the victim card. And seriously, is there anyone who's forgotten that Christmas falls on the 25th?
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Because Gap's super-annoying-yet-still-marginally-cute, Glee-inspired holiday commercial, Happy Whateveryouwannakah, features the line "Go Christmas, Go Hannukah, Go Kwanzaa, Go Solstice!" AFA representative Randy Sharp says the line is just plain offensive.
A Gap rep says their brand "is and has always been an inclusive, accessible brand in which everyone can participate and we embrace diversity across all of our customers, and more importantly respect their beliefs as individuals."
You know, I'm not sure how exactly one can come to the conclusion that inclusiveness is offensive. Really, AFA guys, you're not the only ones who have a December holiday. Even kindergarteners know how to share. Then again, when you're looking at things through the Dominant Religion Lens Filter, I suppose it's really easy to play the victim card. And seriously, is there anyone who's forgotten that Christmas falls on the 25th?
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Oh Good Grief! It’s a Commercial. And yes, it mentions more than just Christmas. That’s the point!
Wow, that’s funny, I have decided to start shopping at gap because they are inclusive. The AFA isn’t much about Families if they are excluding a loage number of them. When will people stop being so Childish?
This reminds me of the time when I went to a Christian church where the pastor said to boycott Coke and drink Pepsi, because Coke was a sponsor in gay parades. I don’t know where they get these ideas. People are starving, the world needs saving in Christians’ eyes, and there are problems all over the planet, but no, let’s drop everything for a company’s ad campaign that doesn’t advertise our religion exclusively. If Wiccans did the same thing, there wouldn’t be anyplace to shop. This AFA is a frivolous and useless group.
Geez… the Christian groups are gonna boycott their way out having anyplace to shop at all it seems. I mean, really, they actually used the word “Christmas” and even put it first in the damn list. But that’s not good enough for the AFA, oh hell no! It’s got to be just Christmas and to hell (pun intended) with everyone else’s beliefs.
I saw this ad last night, and immediately thought “Boy, that’ll piss off the war on christmas folk”. They get mad if you don’t put “Christmas” in, they get mad if you put it in along with other holidays. Make up your minds, people.
This is so ridiculous. It’s not like the commercial left out Christianity, they are just mad because they were not the ONLY religion mentioned. Geez, get over yourselves already.
As the years go by,I get to the point that I cannot understand how “mainstream” Christianity still is alive in this more open and intelligent country of ours.When today’s “Christians” are not in the company of their contemporaries…they themselves are in defiance of their own. Yet they still waste the tithes of the congregations on this type of stupidity. How can anybody give money to a church that chooses to argue about idiotic values, instead of using that money to help people? I will never believe that their “GOD” shows them to not help others, instead fight “the stupid fight”!!! Another way that they prove to thinking people that Christianity is nothing but another way to take your money!!!
Does anyone thing Jesus would have wanted it this way??? He does claim to be the “Prince of Peace”.
My first reaction is to rail against these so-called “christians” and their self-righteousness…but then I calm down and know, I really don’t want to act like they are acting. I truly want them to get we are all in this together. peace and love, and the highest good for all concerned, for everyone, no exceptions.
Nevermind that Christianity basically “hijacked” a pre-existing Pagan holiday in order to get more people to buy in to their religion.
Yay Nan! I agree completely! There is no point to sinking to their level nor do I wish to become that which I despise. They have every right to believe as they will, use their resources as they see fit, and advertise whatever they wish to promote, boycott those they disagree with but then again – so does everyone else. I wish they could honor that. On the flip side, I am getting just as tired of the witchier than thou as I get of the holier than thou.
i havent seen the commercial or shopped at the gap since i was in my 20′s…but i will now!
I’ve seen the ad, and yes, it is a little annoying. But because they’re inclusive, I am inclined to shop there. As for the ones that only say Christmas, if they don’t want to include me, then they must not want my Yule gifts money. As for the rabid “war on christmas” freaks, there’s no arguing or discussing with these people. I stick with “this is America, I have rights too, and if you don’t like it, maybe YOU should go elsewhere. Might I suggest Afghanistan under the Taliban, or Medieval Europe during the Inquisition if you want a theocracy.”
I’ve never shopped at gap before (i’m 22 and im poor, most of my clothes come from target) but after this i’ll atleast be stopping in to see if there’s anything i would wear.
We should all be sending our “will shop there now” comments to Gap as well. I also would check them out after including Solstice. We should let them know.
Would JeeZus refuse to ship at GAP?
Man!!! They are crazy I love that commercial and I appreciated the fact that they did include several different holidays. Especially coming from an open minded multi religious family. People are just bitter!
I saw the commercial when it first started running & was thrilled to see it included Solstice. Maybe we Pagans are becoming more mainstream?
When I first saw the commercial, I thought, ‘oh boy, now I have to put up with this for weeks.’ Then they mentioned the Solstice, and I was flabbergasted! I felt…oh, I don’t know…included in the whole holiday thing. The naysayers can take a running leap into Sarah Palin’s book for all I care. Besides, they have more important tasks; they should be out there protesting the fact that all their women and girls are lusting after moody vampires.
These silly Christians are a minority in their own religion. I can’t imagine a shopkeeper turning away business in December because the merchandise might be used as a Yule, Chanukah, or Kwanza present.
It’s so much easier to put their energy into keeping Christmas the exclusive December holiday than it is to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide clean water for the thirsty, visit the sick and imprisoned. All these are things their Christ commands.
This is actually the second year in a row that The Gap has mentioned Solstice in their HOLIDAY ad. If these cranky yo-yos at the AFA really want to make a point, why don’t they suggest a boycott on all stores that use December 25th to promote shopping and not “the true meaning of Christmas”? And for that matter I hope thay haven’t brought any pine trees or boughs inside, I sure wouldn’t want them polluting their good Christian homes with Pagan symbols. And to Mr. Sharp, the only one making “a joke” out of this wonderous season when we all try to be a little nicer and a little better is you!
I was excited when I first heard this commercial and realized they said “Solstice” along with the other Holidays. Even though I am a great grandmother, I would buy things for my grandchildren from Gap. Let those others say what they will.
Our Black Hat society group wrote individual emails to The Gap thanking them for their gracious consideration of all the holidays this season and especially for Go Soltice! Its so important to realize that there is no exclusive holiday. How hard is it to tolerate another’s beliefs? But I’m happy to report that we each received different responses, not a copy/pasted reply, and I must say, they have a great marketing department. I say “Go Gap!”
I love this commercial, and actually went into a gap store for the first time EVER after seeing it…why do christians feel so threatened…I don’t feel threatened by them. Sorry for them yes, but not threatened by them. GO GAP!!! and a Happy Solstice to all!!!
Maybe we should inform Mr. Sharp that we Pagans are offended that Christmas was mentioned first and Yule was mentioned last. I mean, since we’re getting all silly-nitpicky and all.
He’ll probably care that we are offended as much as we care that he is.
Gap posted the commercial on their website if anyone (Like me) hasn’t seen it because they don’t watch TV XD
A lot of people have commented on it, Christians and Pagans both (even some Muslims I think) about how it really isn’t offensive, people just take things out of context and whatnot.
sorry about making all the text a url o.o I dunno what happened with that one…
I am going to start shopping at the GAP now, hearing this. It’s so nice to hear them say happy everything, instead of just happy holidays. The commercial literally includes everyone! It’s such a positive message… Happy whateverthehell you celebrate!!
Let’s see – I’m not suppsed to shop in any stores that have customers who might be of a different faith than I am? Get a life folks! find something that really needs to be cared about, sick children, homeless children, children who are thrilled when they can move from living in a car to living in a garage, I refuse to be bossed around by self rightous “christians” A true christian does not behave this way. Shame on you
I don’t remember hearing Festivus mentioned in the commercial. I suppose some Seinfeld fans will feel excluded…
It was really cool to finally hear Solstice mentioned in and ad. Thanks GAP.
The above should read “It was really cool to finally hear Solstice mentioned in AN ad.”
And Merry ChristmaChaunaKwanzaRamadanaYule to everyone!
GO GAP!!!!!!! Never thought I would say that about them but I’m pleased to now be part of their cheering section!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love & Blessings
All I can say is what kind of families are the AFA ‘protecting’? Certainly not mine! We are more accepting than that!
Su
So, the fundalmentalist Christians don’t want to hear the word Solstice, huh? What about Hannakah? A Jewish holiday, right? True. But… Jesus of Nazareth was not a Christian. He was a 100%, practicing Jew. And he would have celebrated Hannakah every year from the day he was born until the year he died, at which time he celebrated Pass Over…not Easter. So, where does that place him in the inclusive-noninclusive circle of things? Curious minds want to know.
I went to cheerfactory.com to listen to the happy whateveryouwannakah and they took the solstice line out. I guess we don’t count.
Haketa, it has nothing do with people “not counting.” The commercial at Cheerfactory is a shorter version that doesn’t include a lot of the references contained in the original. This is not uncommon for longer commercials — there’s the full version and the abridged one.
The original, full length Gap commercial can still be seen if you click on the link in the story I posted above. Also, both versions are still being aired on television, depending on time slot availability.
patti
I found the GAP add to be a little bit weird, but that’s about it. Nice to be included, but I’m not sure it was necessary. I am very disturbed by the chilling effect groups like the Liberty Council and the AFA have on the entertainment industry. This is the first time I’ve looked up the AFA, and I am not surprised that they are simply an extremist right-wing Christian group and as such are immune to seeing reason. Maybe our problem is that there is that we have no counter-activism to celebrate those companies which are inclusive of other religious points of view. Maybe we should start one!
Boycott the AFA.
I personally loved that cute little commercial, and when i heard ” go Solstice” i was kinda shocked, and then felt such a happiness that we were included in that.
I want to contact the Gap personnaly to let them know my appreciation for that!
Go Gap Go!! Boycott afa!! I commend Gap on their views and their commercials and I hope to see more open mindedness from more companies in the future!
I think the issue is that they used a holiday which has been a fundamentally Christan holiday since the Roman empire changed it to such and put it in the same sentence as a holiday for witches. Kwanzaa isn’t associated wtih a religion and Hanukka is from the same God as Christianity. It’s a free market or at least it has been. Christians can send their message anyway they want…why concern yourself wtih it? You don’t own Gap so why should it bother you what these people you seem to belittle and dislike do?