Every year, I eagerly await the holiday season so I can get my share of wassail, give some gifts, listen to some old songs, and spend time with my family and friends. But in the last few years, there’s been something even better to look forward to: The War on Christmas. You see, according to Bill O’Reilly, the American Family Association and others, stores allowing its staff members to say “Happy Holidays” is:
all part of the secular progressive agenda … to get Christianity and spirituality and Judaism out of the public square.”
“[B]ecause if you look at what happened in Western Europe and Canada, if you can get religion out, then you can pass secular progressive programs, like legalization of narcotics, euthanasia, abortion at will, gay marriage, because the objection to those things is religious-based, usually.
Apparently, stores are using the word “holiday” because they’re pushing for the legalization of meth and crack, forced abortions, death panels, and whatever else might horrify Sarah Palin. It’s a completely logical position they’re taking, compared to the hippie bullshit excuses that stores might give, like the desire to accommodate all of their customers who might celebrate different holidays (or the fact that American Christians celebrate at least three holidays between the end of November and the first of January).
But this year, I had heard little about the War on Christmas, beyond some kind of a kerfuffle because actors in a Gap commercial dared utter the word “solstice.” I was saddened that my favorite holiday tradition may have lost some of the popularity it had earlier this decade.
That’s why I was relieved to find the Focus On Family’s “Stand Up for Christmas“ site. Shoppers are asked to report how Christmas-friendly certain chain store might be. You know, whether they say “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays” and what kind of Christmas policies those stores might have. The comments on the bulletin boards are so hilarious that I’m not sure whether the posters are real or hippie liberals trying to mess with James Dobson’s friends or if they are earnest fundies.
Let’s take a look at the postings about the Gap, the store at the center of this year’s WoC controversy:
I just watched the commercial for GAP, I was truly repulsed when they mentioned that we should liberate and how they put Christmas next to solstice. Pretty much what they said was we need to break free and do what we feel is right which goes against everything for this Christmas season. Please go to youtube and watch the commercial if you haven’t already seen it. I will NEVER step foot into one of their stores or any store affiliated with them. They have completely lost my business and my families too.
Doing what you feel is right goes against everything that has to do with Christmas? So instead of doing what you feel is right, you’re supposed to not do what’s right? And um, Christmas and solstice kinda rhyme. And don’t forget that the early Christians put Christmas around the time of the winter solstice so that the new Christmas holiday would be able to take the place of the old Pagan feasts to celebrate the solstice.
I went into the store and asked a manager about their Christmas policy. The manager was very polite,but didn’t know anything about their Christmas policy. She took my number and promised to call me when she had more information. I never heard from her. I will not shop at Gap. There are plenty of other stores out there to take my money. Merry Christmas!!!!!!
Um, maybe the manager didn’t call you back because the store doesn’t have a Christmas policy? May she thought you were a bitter and angry fundie with whom it’s always best to avoid contact.
Very offended by the recent advertisement. How dare they suggest we celebrate what we want? This is a Christian nation.
At first, I was sure that post was satirical, but upon reflection, I decided that it’s mostly likely not, as that kind of thinking seems to perfectly express what Palinism is all about.
The new TV commercial by the GAP still refuses to mention Christmas and finishes with Happy Holidays. I do not find this acceptable anymore. Only Merry Christmas is an acceptable response this time of year.
That’s true, except that Christmas is the first holiday mentioned in the commercial. Besides that and the fact that people have the right to not wish you a merry Christmas, your statement is correct.
It seems to me that the fear-mongering about the WoC is about intolerance of good business practices and loathing people with different religious views driven by people who seem to spend their time looking for fake controversies to fuel their addiction to adrenaline.
Merry Christmas!