Retailers Discriminating Against Christians

Columnist : L. Henry

Some stores ban use of the word ‘Christmas’

What two words are you least likely to hear while shopping for presents this year?  They would be: Merry Christmas.

A number of America’s biggest retailers – who derive some 20% or more of their annual sales during the Christmas season – are refusing to acknowledge, or to let their employees acknowledge – the very existence of the Christian holy day.  Want proof?  Look at the slick ads that swell the size of your daily newspaper at this time of the year.  Leaf through the ads and see how many actually mention the word Christmas.  You’ll see “holiday” greetings, or “seasons” greetings, even “cool Yule,” but rarely will you find Christmas greetings.

Perhaps the biggest offender of Christian sensibilities is the retail giant Target. They have gone so far as to ban the iconic Salvation Army kettles from their properties on the flimsy excuse that “soliciting” is not allowed on their premises.  Especially this year, when the Salvation Army has been particularly cash-strapped in providing assistance to gulf coast hurricane victims, you would think Target would relent.  But no, the Salvation Army has a Christian affiliation and the only thing about Christians Target will let in allow in their stores is our money.

The American Family Association (AFA) is monitoring the advertising, and the Christmas policies of the nation’s biggest retailers.  The results to date are shocking.  On November 27th they gathered advertising inserts from eleven different companies.  Of the eleven only one specifically mentioned the word Christmas.

Which retailers, you might ask, are discriminating against Christians by refusing to mention our holiday? Among the offenders are Target, Kroger, Office Max, Walgreens, Sears, Staples, Lowes, J.C. Penney, Dell and Best Buy.  When asked why, most stores told the AFA they didn’t want to offend anyone.  Apparently Christians don’t count as “anyone.”  They certainly have offended me.

In an effort to reverse the trend of overt discrimination against Christians by retailers, the AFA has begun a petition campaign.  Such efforts have been successful in the past.  Last year the AFA lead a boycott against Federated Stores (including Macy’s) and this year the department store chain has adopted a different policy.

Claiming a “great deal of misinformation” was circulated last year, Federated now says it is “important for our stores to reflect the diversity of our customers . . . whether they celebrate Christmas or other holidays.”  To that end, Federated is encouraging its associates to wish customers “Merry Christmas or Feliz Navidad, or Happy Hanukkah, or Habari Gani, or Happy Kwaanza, as appropriate.”  A letter from Federated reports the word “Christmas” is used in their television jungle and appears in their holiday print ads.  Display windows at the chain’s flagship Macy’s store on Herald Square in New York is themed “Christmas Time in the City.”

The AFA’s campaign is also making progress this year.  Lowe’s has taken down signs proclaiming the sale of holiday trees and now again calls them Christmas trees.  Walgreen’s is promising to return the word “Christmas” to its advertising next year, and Kroger has adopted a more inclusive policy that allows employees to wish customers a Merry Christmas.

Almost 80% of Americans identify themselves as Christians. And while we certainly don’t wish to deny those who celebrate another holiday from doing so, the politically correct movement to erase Christmas from the Christmas season must be stopped.  In an effort not to discriminate against the minority, the PC crowd has succeeded in discriminating against the vast majority of us who don’t celebrate holidays, but who celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The American Family Association is working hard to ensure the rights of Christians to celebrate Christmas are restored.  Do your part by logging onto their web site at www.afa.net and sign a petition today urging those retailers who have banned Christmas from their stores to stop their discriminatory practices.  And, make sure you shop only at those stores that remember the reason for the season.