Look who is missing from that list so far!

Maybe they are giving them a chance to repent unlike. the naughty!

Banana Republic
Barnes & Noble
Family Dollar
Foot Locker
Gap Stores
L.L. Bean
Limited Brands
Maurice's
Office Depot
Old Navy
Radio Shack
Staples
Supervalu
Victoria's Secret

Or maybe it is about avoiding saying Christmas, or Kwanza, or Christmas, for fear of limiting themselves. Or they just don't want to offend those who celebrate Chanukah or Kwanza. Don't they see out of their little ol' box? It doesn't bother me someone tells me to have a Happy Chanukah! I've never had anyone wish me an enjoyable Kwanza, but that wouldn't bother me either. I wish others were less sensitive about saying christmas sssshh! I didn't say that word.

And so it starts....

This political correctness garbage has gone too far. I have to be "sensitive" to the feelings,religions, etc of others so why can't they be sensitive to my feelings and my religious celebrations.

Beginning the first week of December I say Merry Christmas to everyone in the stores. I have noticed that over the years more and more people who work in the retail stores are saying Merry Christmas.

It used to be they would never say Merry Christmas, then they would say it if you said it first, the last couple of years many of them are initiating the sentiment. If we're not allowed to celebrate Christmas then as far as I'm concerned all religious holidays and celebrations should be cancelled.

It's really no big deal and I don't understand why some want to spoil the season by making it one.

I honestly don't know what you're talking about because no one is forbidden from saying "Merry Christmas." If retailers have made a marketing decision to use "Happy Holidays," that is their right. If it generates more sales, good for them; more sales tax and income tax paid, good for us. I still have my right to say "Merry Christmas, and a Blessed Feast of the Circumcision."

Nancy, I said the same thing. I think they are trying to make everyone happy. There are those who try to read in more, but that doesn't make it so.

Now that I brought up the annual Hiliday Rant.
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all who keep ih holy & the rest of you many happy regiftings!

For you it may seem like "political correctness" but I see freedom of speech being practiced. Perhaps I live in a more culturally diverse area than you, so I understand the consideration that some may wish to practice. I don't wish someone "Merry Christmas" unless I know that they are Christian, or am responding to someone who has wished me the same.

but I find it irritating that people can't leave Christmas in the mix.

We each have the right to chose how we present ourselves during the holidays. I'm sorry that it irritates you that not everyone shares your opinion on how to properly celebrate the season.

Your comments about other people:

I don't find it a war, but I find it irritating that people can't leave Christmas in the mix.

If you don't see the implications of what you wrote, I don't think it's possible to have a discussion. Good day.

You're confusing me too. Who is not allowing companies to say Merry Christmas? Who is being stifled and by whom?

The OP is about an organization that calls for a consumer boycott of those companies that DON'T use Christmas in their marketing. Which I find amazingly bigoted.

I hate being surrounded by tacky Christmas decorations and music starting in October. That's the real war against Christmas.

What's so hard about this.

You made me laugh!

I guess I'll be supporting my heathen stores even more...LLBean, Gap ,Banana Republic, B&N, Limited..all favs of mine.

Agree lily, I knew there was a reason they are some of my favorites.

-Ron-

No skin off my nose who says what. As long as peace and Christian as well as non-christian charity are behind the work of the season, it's all good for me.

Those Christmas-specific kind, good wishes otherwise rare, but so freely extended during the season -along with a turkey, box of stuffing and a can of green beans - tends to be the best part of the year that the helpless, homeless and poverty stricken can expect and are always so grateful to receive.

Now the Qur an says that when the pains of childbirth started, Mary went to a palm tree in a deserted area. Jesus was born there. In the moments of her anguish and grieve, angel spoke to her. By a miracle, a water stream came out around her and fresh ripe dates fell close to her. ( no Joseph in the Islamic version)

No, it's not. Where do you get that from?

As far as I remember, it was Bill O'Reilly and his like that started this nonsense.

Stores and people can say whatever they want. Some stores decided it was more inclusive to say "Happy Holidays" to acknowledge that not everyone in America celebrates Christmas. Then the O'Reillys of the world went balistic. Because heaven forbid anyone try to be more inclusive in this country!

With their hands out for all of Obamas' gifts.

I've been waiting for this little gem to get dragged back out for re release.

On the upside..I guess you can start Christmas too early ;)

E

I've been waiting for this little gem to get dragged back out for re release.

On the upside..I guess you can start Christmas too early ;)

E

Guess that about covers it! :-)

So, if you've felt some disdain, perhaps you're not being sensitive to others that do not celebrate the same holiday as you.

I certainly wouldn't boycott a store that said "Merry Christmas" to me but I do appreciate stores that try to be inclusive of everyone and not everyone celebrates Christmas.

"The OP is about an organization that calls for a consumer boycott of those companies that DON'T use Christmas in their marketing. Which I find amazingly bigoted."

Not everyone celebrates Christmas specifically, or another form of such a holiday. Some celebrate it quite differently, not at all, or for different reasons.

While I do often think the "politically correct" aspect of some things has gotten a bit out of hand, I certainly wouldn't want to force an idea on anyone, especially something largely religious in nature.

We're not about the materialism and consumerism of the season, though... nor are we about any religious aspect... we feel that the season is largely a tradition for kids, and a time for our family to gather in one place to enjoy each other's company and be grateful for another year together.

I don't let vocalized greetings bother me one way or another. I respond in kind, and go on my way.

No one is forcing stores to say Happy Holidays. It is simple freedom of speech and about atracting as many customers as possible.

There is no war on Christmas. But I am pretty tired of my tax money going to pay for Christmas decorations from local community to federal, even if they are using the term Pagent of Peace. Ive had several people tell me that Christmas trees are not religious, they are just seasonal. I keep asking which part of Christmas and Christ in Christmas tree are they missing?

The people that insist on stores focusing on Christmas are bent on imposing their religion on people that don't share their religion.

Kind of like the Christian version of Sharia Law.

Anyway, the stores just want to make money. Nothing wrong with that, but they couldn't care less about what holiday they push. Valentine's day, 4th of July. Whatever sells.

Oh, yes, kinka, I've heard that one too. It just shows how clueless they are to anything other than their own religion and traditions.

We do not observe Christmas on December 25th because it was the date in history when Jesus was born. Nobody knows exactly what that date was, but references in the Bible show it most likely did not take place in winter. Rather it is because this was the date that the Romans historically celebrated the winter solstice. This celebration was about dies natalis solis invicti: the day of the birth of the unconquerable sun, which took place on December 22nd. The winter solstice held the promise of the return of springtime and earthly renewal. In Roman history, this was the time of Saturnalia, honoring the God of Agriculture, for the week before the solstice, and Juvenalia, a feast in honor of the children of Rome, around the same time. On the 25th of the month they celebrated the birth of the sun-god Mithra. Masters and servants traded places temporarily, and everybody had a rollicking good time. It was during Saturnalia that the tradition of exchanging gifts was established. They gave one another Stenae or fruits which were intended to bring good luck. The Romans placed an enormous amount of pressure on the early Christians to rejoice along with them, and around the time of the fourth century, they began to celebrate Christmas around the same time. It was inevitable that Christians should make a connection between the rebirth of the sun and the birth of the Son."

More at link...

& a Joyous Winter Solstice to us all!

Waaaaay better than sitting around sipping egg nog and looking at LED-lit plastic trees.

I don't let either greeting get to me. I figure, whatever, it was meant sincerely, with no malice. I cut the greeter plenty of slack, as I figure it is the spirit in which it was said that matters. No resentment nor anger here....

I completely agree when it was meant sincerely with no malice. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. It was certainly not the case of the right wing media that started the whole "war on Christmas" nonsense. For them and their followers, it is a this is a christian country and if you don't like it leave scenario.

If it is ever discovered that such an entity as a god is a real, tangible thing, that god would be shocked and dismayed that the original message sent has been so distorted as to be the exact thing it was never intended to be.

And that's my opinion, and a good reason why I stay far away from it in real life.

"Original message sent"? What message, sent by whom? Seriously, what does that mean?

Hmm could it be "love one another like I have loved you"
or before that "I Am that I Am" or
" I am against you,' says the Lord ... , and will lift up your skirts over your face; I will show the nations your nakedness and kingdoms your shame.". (some of those messages must be a bad connection!
or the original tsimtsum or tzimtzum!
For the Universe & we all to be manifest the Ineffable Limitless No thing had to sacrifice it's original condition and become many things or manifest.
It get's so confusing there are so many tellers of the tales
But still it's good to know the tales!
This is after all a petty post!

Since it's about holiday messages I would thing the obvious
Christmas celebrates the "Word Made Flesh" or another shift in this seemingly changeable mutable entity.

Goodnight to this thread.

That's pretty much what I was getting at, Joe... the most basic of messages... the idea that we should treat others as we want to be treated... and not divvy up into groups based upon levels of differences and hatred, and then commence ingraining.

Leave my celebration alone without inserting disdain towards me and "the likes of me" (not all Christians are the same), and you'll not hear a peep outta me!

There is disgusting disdain towards Christians right here in this very thread. It's pretty much what I was addressing.

I don't get the same leeway to enjoy it in my way.

Why? Who or what is stopping you from enjoying Christmas your way?

Why do you feel disdain? Because stores choose to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas"?

I'm sorry, I'm not following you.

Fair is fair.

Kate

Unless it comes to processed vs. real food :)

Rob I really do not feel there is a war on my beliefs, I just accept that not everyone feels/believes the same way I do and that is their right.

Merry Christmas from OhioMom :)

I guess I'm just dense this morning...but I still don't get it. Where is anyone saying 'ew Christians'?

As Joe pointed out, the point of his OP is the list of stores one should NOT shop at because they don't say "Christmas" and the hypocrisy of Chick Fil-A not being on that list.

The fact that some appreciate that stores try to be more inclusive is not saying 'ew Christians' or 'ew Christmas' or anything else.

Sorry, don't want to drag this boring conversation out anymore. We can agree to disagree. I just wish I understood your point.

And, I agree re: processed vs. real food! :-)

Kate

I am atheist, but love the season. Love it. I spend time with people who are in need and this is the part of they year where they benefit even from those who look down on them, as a group, with suspicion and distain all the rest of the year.

*From the week of Thanksgiving until December 30th*,

this is the time when it tends to be that those in need will NOT be questioned about WHY it is they are in need, (why did you decide to be poor?) will not be looked upon with suspicion or distain or with the assumption that they would rather take (steal) my taxpaying dime, or revulsion that -along with a handshake - the full bellied person might walk away with lice.
This is the very tiny but, to me, treasured time of year when caring most frequently tends to come with some speck of caring and the fabled Christian-like charity. The donation which will supply that turkey meal is done with a glad heart by those who, so often during the rest of the year, deeply resent every crumb of cornbread stuffing put on that plate of the shiftless and lazy.

I have told several times by those in need that it is more the very LACK of the air of animosity and suspicion that is so treasured. I suspect it is treasured even more so than the very meal itself.

What I appreciate, personally, about this season is that it seems to inspire those who are SO very suspicious of the general population of needy - the needy will more often be treated with a kindness which implies that the person in need is actually *worthy* of a kind word or look. That the person does exist and is worthy of existence
Instead of being stared through as if the needy person does not exist, those who usually stare through them will, instead, look at them and often even speak to them as of they are deserving of dignity - and without that "look" I've come to know so well. The "look" is primarily of distain, but also with assumptions - assumptions which are so continuously so well covered in this forum in great detail. That look filled with judgemental assumptions about a general group of people whom they have never met or have any specifics about - about an entire group of human beings who are "other" than themselves.

So, for this atheist, I really love this season and I don't care what it's called - I'll take it with a glad heart because it benefits so very many in more ways than food and perhaps a thing to be touched. I can watch the real meaning of 'good will' be displayed - displayed with a kind heart.
We must treasure it because it promptly vanishes when the tree comes down, the bright lights dim and the first christmas shopping bill comes due, if not sooner.
I consider Merry Christmas to be a statement of good will as a given, but it is also a general statement of various wishes depending upon the wisher: of peace, of charity, of embracement, of inclusion.

In today's very complex world of complex people, the great thing about being wished a merry Christmas is, the wish can mean any nice thought the wisher wishes to give, and it can mean whatever nice thought the receiver decides to take.

...well as I said early on this thread, I wish people a Merry Christmas and I have yet to be attacked and/or thrown out of a store. If anyone/s chases me down the street with pitchforks and torches, I will let y'all know.

Meanwhile ... Merry Christmas to all and to all a season of peace and love with family and friends.

I would never spend my money at a place that isn't inclusive of all races, religious beliefs, or sexual preferences.
When shopping for gifts, I don't care if the storefront displays Merry Christmas, Xmas, or Happy Holidays. I'm in and out within 10 minutes (if I'm lucky).

I lost any faith I had in Vietnam when I saw how cruel the human animal can be. My pastor said killing in war is justified but I can read the Commandments as well as he. Since then my church has been my 1/4 acre garden. I give organic veggies and fruit to family, friends, strangers that show up, and the pastor of the church across the street for his needy. Makes me feel good and the sound of my hoe doesn't disturb their service.
My sisters are very involved with their churches and they drive church buses, do meals-on-wheels, and tutor (free) students that are language challenged. They even got me involved tutoring kids struggling with arithmetic and pre-algebra.
I'm actually an Agnostic, but I believe that what one does means more than the title one assumes.
Merry Christmas, everyone.

What better place to find peace then in a garden. I must admit your post brought tears to my eyes, may you enjoy the season with your family/friends Steve.

Merry Christmas

So this was a porn film then?

I'm sure all the young men who died in WWI are thrilled to be honored by cheap, tacky Christmas decorations, dogs barking out Christmas music and people bickering about saying "Merry Christmas." And The Prince of Peace must be pleased, too.

It doesn't matter what you say, it's how you live that matters.