The Christmas (cash) cow
Unsurprisingly, the phony "war on Christmas" is a cash cow for the radical right.
These attitudes are the unfortunate result of several years of noise machine propaganda. I would consider it good manners not to make assumptions about total strangers' religious beliefs, but I guess that's just an old-fashioned notion. Far more modern to just jam religion down everyone's throat, and if anyone refuses to participate for any reason, create some false "crisis" over the thing.
Part of this is common sense. If I'm buying chocolate Santas, a wreath and a package of Christmas cards, it's okay with me if the clerk makes an assumption that I can be wished "Merry Christmas." If however, I am purchasing a cordless drill, that assumption may not be so easy to make. I bet even the Joos need power tools.
Why someone would be offended at being wished "Happy Holidays" is beyond me. Those who are so offended must have pretty weak faith in the first place to feel so threatened by good wishes. You'd think those who want to examine the role of Christmas and faith this time of year might want to bring up the whole money changers in the temple deal, but then, that might upset the folks at Wal-Mart headquarters or something.
It's enough to make you want to hear a certain Christmas carol.
The American Family Association, a conservative activist group, has rung up more than $550,000 in sales of buttons and magnets stamped with the slogan "Merry Christmas: It's Worth Saying."Further down in the article, a Zogby International poll is cited that says 46% of Americans are offended if a clerk wishes them "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." Zogby, which does not enjoy a reputation for pinpoint accuracy, also supposedly found that one-third of Americans have resolved to not go back to a merchant because the clerks "didn't show enough Christmas spirit."
Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit law firm affiliated with the religious right, has taken in more than $300,000 with its "Help Save Christmas Action Packs." The kits include two buttons, two bumper stickers and "The Memo that Saved Christmas," a guide to defending overt religious expression, such as a nativity scene in a public-school classroom.
These attitudes are the unfortunate result of several years of noise machine propaganda. I would consider it good manners not to make assumptions about total strangers' religious beliefs, but I guess that's just an old-fashioned notion. Far more modern to just jam religion down everyone's throat, and if anyone refuses to participate for any reason, create some false "crisis" over the thing.
Part of this is common sense. If I'm buying chocolate Santas, a wreath and a package of Christmas cards, it's okay with me if the clerk makes an assumption that I can be wished "Merry Christmas." If however, I am purchasing a cordless drill, that assumption may not be so easy to make. I bet even the Joos need power tools.
Why someone would be offended at being wished "Happy Holidays" is beyond me. Those who are so offended must have pretty weak faith in the first place to feel so threatened by good wishes. You'd think those who want to examine the role of Christmas and faith this time of year might want to bring up the whole money changers in the temple deal, but then, that might upset the folks at Wal-Mart headquarters or something.
It's enough to make you want to hear a certain Christmas carol.
