American (fascist) "Family" Association starts Christmas threats

[kevinbgoode]

That enduring "American" institution of faux religious nutcases, people who crave fear and paranoia, and rightwing conspiracy theorists has launched their petition drive to order retailers to market holiday sales directly to the religious Right.

If ya'll remember last year's joke of the "War on Christmas" the Jerry Falwell christo-fascist legal arm (which calls itself hysterically the "Liberty Counsel") joined together with other American Taliban organizations in demanding America's retailers eliminate all references to anything but "Christ-Mas". . .stopping just short of demanding white baby jeebus manger scenes to be displayed in each retail department.

This year is no exception - the AFA is already gathering signatures on petitions to retailers to demand that they either adhere to AFA guidelines for retail marketing over the holiday season or face a boycott by . . .well, these boycotting professionals. Despite the fact that the AFA boycotts just about everything anyway (which makes me wonder how these people can even purchase a loaf of bread that hasn't been blessed by Don Wildmon first), I think it's important that some others start speaking up and telling retailers that we will not shop at stores which are forced to adhere to the AFA guidelines for properly honoring "Christ" in the mall.

I suggest we ask these retailers (which you know the AFA will list) to post signs in their stores admitting they have buckled to the religious Right and that their products and marketing departments are pre-approved by the American Family Association. It's time the public gets a chance to make their own decisions about shopping, and I have no intention of being coerced into supporting their intimidation tactics.

Perhaps we could also ask retailers which conspicuously ONLY advertise Christmas sales (banning the words "holiday" or "seasons greetings" in order to comply with the Taliban's demands) if the rest of the public is allowed to purchase products at the sales price, or are the sales reserved exclusively for members of the American Taliban. That might shake a few people up.

The AFA "call to action" is located at: http://afa.net/060206.asp

[NMMNG]

1. Moronic spin doctors

Saying "happy holidays" or "season's greetings" has nothing to do with trying not to offend "a handful of non-Christians". It has to do with being inclusive. There are several holidays during the month of December and the person giving the greeting generally has no way of knowing which the other person celebrates. Therefore it is only polite to give a generic greeting rather than no greeting or just assume they celebrate one particular holiday.


But as usual the Christofascists think it all has to be about them.

[tenshi816]

4. I don't understand why all of a sudden

they're objecting to "Happy Holidays". People have been saying that for decades and no one ever complained. My own fundie grandmother loved the Irving Berlin song Happy Holidays and played it over and over during the season. She never saw it as being "offensive to Christmas".

These idiots are always just looking for something to make them feel persecuted.

[NMMNG]

6. Of course they are

The more they can make it seem like they are being persecuted, the easier it is to get their troops riled up to take action. It's also easier to get laws passed, when the opportunity arises, to "protect" them from all of the awful persecution they face. :eyes:

[tenshi816]

7. True, oh so true.

The ringleaders in this BS know exactly what they're up to and how disingenuous it is, but once you get down the rank and file fundies (that's most everybody in my family), you discover they've swallowed it hook, line and sinker and they really, truly do believe they're being persecuted.

My stepmother likes to talk about how Christians are prohibited from praying in public places and makes a big show of praying every time she's in a restaurant prior to beginning her meal, even if said "restaurant" is a Burger King (I know, I've been with her when she does it). I think she's secretly disappointed when no one tries to stop her or even takes notice of what she's doing. It's been hammered into her for so long that Christians are persecuted that she's nonplussed when the persecution isn't forthcoming.

You're up either awfully late or awfully early, aren't you? It's just after 10 a.m. in the UK and I thought all of America was asleep!

[NMMNG]

8. They do buy into it

They'll lament endlessly about how "I can't even wish somebody a Merry Christmas" or "I can't even pray in public". But if you ask them for a specific example of when they were forbidden to do so all you hear are chirping crickets, because it's all BS.


Right now it's 5:15am here. I'm up because I work nights . However it's not so bad because it's pretty quiet during this shift.

[tenshi816]

2. I think that "white baby jeebus"

in the nativity displays should be replaced by one who looks more like Jesus actually would have looked. Whether people believe he was the Messiah or not, the fact is he wouldn't have been the blond-haired, blue-eyed cherub he's usually presented as. Ditto Mary and Joseph.

Boy, the nutcases are getting started early this year, aren't they?

[987654321]

3. Remember that Jesus was a fascist.

Yeah, that's how he knew Judas would betray him. He had him wiretapped.

Oh yeah, and remember how he had his disciples round up all of the Romans and they held them in prison as enemy combatants?

I can't believe that anyone would say with a straight face that we should boycott Home Depot because somehow it would hurt Jesus if they sell a holiday tree rather than a Christmas tree. I think Jesus would wonder why the hell people are cutting down all of those trees, but that's just my opinion.

[Warren DeMontague]

5. Well, you know, if the damn atheist whackjobs would just keep their mouths

shut...

none of this would be a problem, and we could woo all these 'values voters'.

:sarcasm:

[moose65]

9. ridiculous!

Don't these people have any common sense?? Who in their right minds are offended if someone wishes them Happy Holidays? It wasn't too many years ago when they were complaining of the "commercialization" of Christmas and that all this shopping really wasn't in the spirit of the holiday. And now this? Jeez.