Wal-Mart Confronted on 'Happy Holidays' Options

[Chii]

Wal-Mart Confronted on 'Happy Holidays'
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - 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.

In an online petition, the American Family Association recently gathered more than 500,000 signatures asking Target to include Christmas in its promotions. Stores such as Sears and Wal-Mart are facing boycotts.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Amy Wyatt said the company has made no effort to remove Christmas from its holiday ads. She said a promotion set to run from mid-November to early January was simply misunderstood: its slogan is "home for the holidays."

"It was a matter of choosing a slogan that carries through the entire season," Wyatt said. "The signs went up before Thanksgiving and won't be taken down until after New Year's. The idea was to focus on the family."

About 50 protesters took part in Saturday's demonstration, organized by religious leaders. d**k Otterstad of the Church of the Divide donned a Santa Claus costume and greeted shoppers with the message: Don't forget about the meaning of Christmas.

"It is insulting that Wal-Mart has chosen to ignore the reason for the season," Otterstad said. "Taking the word 'Christmas' out of the holiday implies there's something sinful about it. ... This is a part of our culture."

what is the big deal with "happy holidays"? not everyone celebrates christmas, have these people not heard of kwanzaa or hanukkah? "happy holidays" just covers all the bases.

[Stephire]

Oi vey.
This is ghey.
I'm tired of the whole "political correctness".
My choir group got in trouble for saying Merry Christmas at the end of our concert.
If you're not christian then don't listen when I say Merry Christmas.
Go on with your day and deal with it. :p
But anyway, I do like the sound of "Happy Holidays" more. (:

[Rachel]

Oi vey.
This is ghey.
I'm tired of the whole "political correctness".
My choir group got in trouble for saying Merry Christmas at the end of our concert.
If you're not christian then don't listen when I say Merry Christmas.
Go on with your day and deal with it. :p

1. Oi vey is a jewish thing. Tis funny that you are saying don't listen when you say Merry Christmas, yet you use jewish sayings. Weeeird.
2. Political Correctness or just being respectful of all other religions?
3. You go on with YOUR day when I say Happy Holidays.

Seriously, what the hell is so wrong with saying Happy Holidays. It shows respect for all the other cultures and religions out there. Christianity is not the only damn religion in the country so stop acting like it! Besides, the true meaning of Christmas is lost, it is especially obvious in this stupid protest.

[Stephire]

1. Oi vey is a jewish thing. Tis funny that you are saying don't listen when you say Merry Christmas, yet you use jewish sayings. Weeeird.
2. Political Correctness or just being respectful of all other religions?
3. You go on with YOUR day when I say Happy Holidays.

Seriously, what the hell is so wrong with saying Happy Holidays. It shows respect for all the other cultures and religions out there. Christianity is not the only damn religion in the country so stop acting like it! Besides, the true meaning of Christmas is lost, it is especially obvious in this stupid protest.

1.I do go on with my day. I just said happy holidays sounded better.
2.Oy Vey is a yiddish expression, talk about disrespectful. Not all jewish people speak yiddish. Oooh and, Jesus was a jew.
3.The TRUE meaning of Christmas is Jesus being born. Get over it.
4.It really doesn't show respect; HOLIDAY IS AN EXTRACT FROM HOLY DAY.
5.Christianity is by far the most dominant religion. :p

Step down from your soap box.

[Rachel]

1.I do go on with my day. I just said happy holidays sounded better.
2.Oy Vey is a yiddish expression, talk about disrespectful. Not all jewish people speak yiddish. Oooh and, Jesus was a jew.
3.The TRUE meaning of Christmas is Jesus being born. Get over it.
4.It really doesn't show respect; HOLIDAY IS AN EXTRACT FROM HOLY DAY.
5.Christianity is by far the most dominant religion. :p

Step down from your soap box.

1. I am f**king Jewish idiot. I say it is a Jewish saying because, well, every damn Jew I know says Oy Vey. Also, it is called saracsm, get the f**k used to it.
2. I know Jesus was Jewish, good for him. That doesn't mean people should protest saying "Happy Holidays".
3. People don't love Christmas because it is the day Jesus was born, they celebrate it for the damn presents. I don't need to get over anything. Good for your religion.
4. HOLY DAY=A LOT OF DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS. HANNUKAH, KWANZA, AND OMG OMG OMG OMG CHRISTMAS. Holy shit idiot.
5. Why the hell does it matter that Christianity is the most dominant? It still isn't the only one.

Looks like you should step off your damn box woman.

[/endcaringaboutstupididiotswhotakethingstotheextremewithoutknowinganything.]

[Stephire]

1. I am f**king Jewish idiot. I say it is a Jewish saying because, well, every damn Jew I know says Oy Vey. Also, it is called saracsm, get the f**k used to it.
2. I know Jesus was Jewish, good for him. That doesn't mean people should protest saying "Happy Holidays".
3. People don't love Christmas because it is the day Jesus was born, they celebrate it for the damn presents. I don't need to get over anything. Good for your religion.
4. HOLY DAY=A LOT OF DIFFERENT HOLIDAYS. HANNUKAH, KWANZA, AND OMG OMG OMG OMG CHRISTMAS. Holy shit idiot.
5. Why the hell does it matter that Christianity is the most dominant? It still isn't the only one.

Looks like you should step off your damn box woman.

[/endcaringaboutstupididiotswhotakethingstotheextremewithoutknowinganything.]

Woooow, and you called me an idiot? Read my other posts. Sarcasm over the internet is usually an excuse for stupidity. The word holiday CAME FROM the words holy day. I already said why it matters that Christian is the most dominant. You took things to the extreme with out knowing anything. I wasn't even protesting, I was stating something. I do not in any way agree with the crazy christians who are doing this. FFS. Saying "f**k" makes you look so HardXcore lyke JEAHHH!!!11tartarsauce!!1</nowthatwassarcasm>