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Christians See
'War on Christmas' Momentum Shift : Nathan
Burchfiel, Staff Writer
(CNSNews.com) - While the city of Chicago is
distancing itself from a movie on the nativity
for fear of offending non-Christians, stores
across the country are embracing the "Merry
Christmas" greeting and Christian groups are
claiming minor victories in what some have
called the "war on Christmas."
Chicago officials this week acknowledged they
had asked the organizers of an annual Christmas
festival - the German Christkindlmarket - to
reject sponsorship money from New Line Cinema,
which was using the festival to promote its
upcoming release, "The Nativity Story." The film
depicts the biblical account of the birth of
Jesus Christ.
After Christian groups strongly criticized
Chicago officials Tuesday, the city released a
statement saying its decision was based on New
Line's "aggressively marketing the movie" and
not on the movie's theme.
The statement said that "prominently placed
advertisement may be insensitive to the many
people of difference (sic) faiths who come to
enjoy the market," adding that the city's
guidelines "are to refuse to reduce any blatant
commercial message."
"The City of Chicago has acknowledged the
celebration of the birth of Christ with a
nativity display on Daley Plaza for many years,"
the statement said. "Similarly, there has been
an Islamic Crescent and a Menorah to celebrate
the Jewish Chanukah."
But while Christian groups continue to argue
with Chicago over the film, they are seeing some
victories in the "war on Christmas" as some
companies that had once rejected Christmas
terminology are beginning to embrace the
holiday.
Among the most prominent stores now wishing
shoppers a "Merry Christmas" rather than the
generic "Happy Holidays" are Wal-Mart and
Macy's.
Others like Target, Dillard's and J.C. Penny
also make Christian advocacy groups' "nice list"
as they are this year allowing employees to say
"Merry Christmas" and are advertising Christmas
sales and selling Christmas products.
While Christian activists are seeing victories
in some areas, there are still numerous U.S.
retailers that shun Christian terminology and
symbols. Liberty Counsel's list of "naughty" and
"nice" stores include 12 that are using
"Christmas" and 14 that prefer to use more
generic terms.
Spokesmen for Best Buy, Eddie Bauer and Barnes
and Noble, all of which are on Liberty Counsel's
"naughty list" of stores that avoid Christmas,
did not respond to requests for comment Monday.
The American Family Association, which in 2005
led a campaign against Wal-Mart's use of
"holidays" instead of "Christmas," is now
targeting Best Buy.
In an "action alert" encouraging members to
voice their displeasure with the electronics
superstore, AFA criticized the company for not
mentioning Christmas while still "want[ing] the
shopping dollars from those who remember the
Reason for the season."
Jenn Giroux, founder of the Catholic group
Operation Just Say Merry Christmas, said her
group has tapped into frustration she described
as "unbelievable."
The group sells bracelets that display the
slogan "Just Say Merry Christmas." Giroux said
the bracelets' popularity suggests that
Christians are looking for stores that
acknowledge their beliefs. Stores that don't
recognize them risk losing their business.
"In the effort to offend nobody, they're just
offending Christians," she said.
Some of the companies on Liberty Counsel's
"naughty list" maintain that they do celebrate
and recognize Christmas.
Chris Ahearn, a spokesman for Lowe's home
improvement warehouse, said Tuesday that the
stores "absolutely say 'Merry Christmas' and we
have not directed our employees one way or
another as to how they greet customers."
Liberty Counsel President Anita Staver told
Cybercast News Service the group's lists change
as the group gets more information on how
retailers are approaching the season.
"Stores get taken off as we find more
information," Staver said, adding that the group
gets calls from shoppers and companies daily to
update their information. "We're just reporting
what people have told us," she said.
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courtesy: crosswalk interview with Nathan
Burchfiel |
