Wal-Mart Confronted on 'Happy Holidays'

[Omaha Steve]

Dec 17, 9:06 PM (ET)

By TOM CHORNEAU

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A group of religious protesters demonstrated outside a Wal-Mart superstore Saturday, hoping to turn away customers by calling attention to the retailer's decision to use "happy holidays" rather than "merry Christmas" in its seasonal advertising.

But even shoppers who agreed with the protesters weren't willing to interrupt their quest for holiday deals.

"I believe in Christ, and I don't like the use of 'xmas' or the use of 'happy holidays,'" said Steven Van Noy, 39, as he left the store loaded down with packages. "The bottom line is that they had what I needed at Wal-Mart, so I went to Wal-Mart to buy it."

Controversy over the secularization of Christmas is nothing new, but this year religious groups are publicly taking on retailers who have decided to tone down the religious aspects of the holiday in their store decorations and promotional material.


Full story: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20051218/D8EIC8AG0.html

[rsmith6621]

1. I Wonder When These.......

Hypocrites will finally feel the bush war on cival libertys right in their collective asses?????

Something has got to burst to show them they have been mislead and lied to.

[NMDemDist2]

2. we should be demonstrating at WalMart about Chinese forced abortions

and watch the fundies heads explode

[NanceGreggs]

3. Has anyone heard ...

... any of these 'religious organizations' say word one about giving to the poor, the homeless, the less fortunate during the Christmas season?

I sure haven't. I was just watching "Merry Fuckin' Christmas" ( a Denis Leary special -- which is awful, I hate to say). I said to my husband, "I guess all of these 'war on Christmas' fundies will be recommending this show -- after all, he is saying Merry Fuckin' Christmas, and not Happy Fuckin' Holidays.

They only seem to be interested in the use of the word 'Christmas' -- everything this holy-day is supposed to represent has been lost in the shuffle.

Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus -- hope you appreciate what your 'followers' are doing in your name!

[Mountainman]

4. How many of these fudies are going to partake in the pagan ritual of

decorating a tree or burning a yule log

[IrishBloodEngHeart]

5. Here's the deal

1) the government should not be allowed to promote religion, so should not talk about Christmas.

2) Individuals and private companies should be allowed to say whatever they want, be that Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Seasons greetings, whatever.

3) People should not be offended when a private company or individual wishes them a happy holiday, be it Christmas, arbor day, Chanukah, or new years.

[Arkana]

6. What the Christ?

"I believe in Christ, and I don't like the use of 'xmas' or the use of 'happy holidays,'" said Steven Van Noy, 39, as he left the store loaded down with packages. "The bottom line is that they had what I needed at Wal-Mart, so I went to Wal-Mart to buy it."

So, what he really means is "I'm a dumb fuck who does pretty much whatever Bill O'Reilly tells me, but I still want to shop at the Megalomart because I like to exploit cheap labor! Hooray for me!"