Merry happy Kwanhanukamas holiday! And a happy New Festivus
Sometimes, just for fun, I listen to conservative talk radio.
It always, no matter the topic, gets me enraged. Which is great if I'm travelling a long way and get sleepy. Wakes me right up.
But, yesterday, I was on my way to work and listening to a local right-leaning talk radio station. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the show. But they were discussing Christmas. Specifically, Wal-Mart's alleged mandate to its employees not to say "Merry Christmas" to its customers.
According to the show hosts, Wal-Mart was trying to be all-inclusive to its varied customers and their many religions and backgrounds. I can understand why a business would want to do that. And, suprisingly, the show host agreed with me. Why alienate customers? If you're in the money-making business, you don't make money by pissing off your customers.
What surprised me was the host's next statement. He wasn't upset about the ban on "Merry Christmas" (Which, by the way isn't even true. Check out this story.). He was bothered by the fact Wal-Mart's current ad campaign was "Home for the Holidays," instead of "Home for Christmas." He was outraged that a national retail chain would choose to slight the most major of Christian holidays. And I think his views are colored by this Fox News' commentator John Gibson's book, "The War on Christmas."
But wait.
I thought Christians were sick and tired of the commercialization of Christmas. I thought it was about the birth of Jesus.
So now that Wal-Mart has agreed with the Christians and taken Christmas out of its advertising, the Christians feel left out and want back in?
Ok. Now I'm really confused.
2 comments:
I thought Christians were sick and tired of the commercialization of Christmas. I thought it was about the birth of Jesus.
So now that Wal-Mart has agreed with the Christians and taken Christmas out of its advertising, the Christians feel left out and want back in?
Ok. Now I'm really confused.
Then you should stop confusing yourself with false arguments. ;)
Despite your comment that "Wal-Mart has agreed with the Christians," I haven't seen anything saying that Wal-Mart took the action in deference to Christians. To the contrary, as you stated earlier, the action was taken in deference to other groups.
And I think any notion that Wal-Mart has agreed with Christians that Christmas should not be commercialized can be belied rather quickly upon walking into an actual Wal-Mart.
That said, I myself have no problem with them saying "holidays" instead of "Christmas." I understand they have a larger audience than just me.
And, frankly, when the Christian church is upset because they can no longer count on getting evangelism done through a Wal-Mart ad flyer, they've got much bigger problems than that.
Oh, that is so appropriate, aviyah! Thanks!
That's pretty much what I wanted to say, but so much more eloquently and with historical facts.
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