Walmart is anti-christian in its advertising.

How is wishing people Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas
"anti-Christian"? There are Mid-winter religious festivals all over
the world. Also, if you did a little research you would learn that
what Christians call Christmas is a modification of pre-Christian
festivals. December 25th was declared the birthday of Jesus by Pope
Julius I in the 4th CE to compete with other popular religions that
held festivals around the Solstice.

So please enlighten me, how is saying Happy Holidays or Season’s
Greetings to a Christian any more offensive than saying Merry
Christmas to someone who is Jewish, Moslem, Pagan, Agnostic, Atheist
or another faith that observes religious festivals in the Mid-Winter?
Happy Holidays seems like the most polite and fair salutation,
especially if you are not sure of an individual’s spiritual views.
Please, I would really like to understand this logic. Do Christians
believe that their feelings are more important than the feelings of
others? Christians are not the only people in the world, or the only
people who shop.

By the way, thanks for the heads up about Walmart. I never liked this
company before now, but in light of this policy I WILL definitely
start shopping there. I will of course be informing them of my
approval. So one customer lost, but one gained for Walmart. Thanks!

Happy Holidays encompasses ALL religious and secular holidays in
December and January. Practice some Christian love, kindness and
acceptance and enjoy the greeting as it was intended--to be a polite
way of wishing you an enjoyable holiday. If you find yourself unable
to do this, maybe you aren't living up to your potential. Take care
and God bless!

Do you ask that people say happy Easter as well? Or Happy valentine
day? ( St. Valentine) Do you send your kids out on Halloween, do you
celebrate New Years with a kiss and a glass of champagne, and do you
believe that maybe your twisted thought on how everyone should wish
you Merry Christmas would go against the teachings of Christ.
HYPOCRITE who are you to judge the manager who didn't wish you a Merry
Christmas back? Are Christians not suppose to judge but spread the
word of the lord, love, kindness. You should have embraced him and
shown him the way of the light, not judged him. Geeesh I am not even
Christian and I know that. I've read the bible (front to back), have
you? Next get drunk on Saturday night then wake up and go to church.
HA hope your wife never gets on top while having sex either, and you
are only suppose to have sex to procreate. If you are a man you can
beat your wife for talking back, its in your holy quoted in the bible.
Oh I always forget, you only take verses that from the bible that
suits your needs. GOD, why aren't Christians more Christ like? Don't
forget to say Amen when flicking off that person that cuts you off in
traffic.
Merry Labor Day (God did give us the ability to work and use our
minds)

DOG

I love christmas I will always say Merry Christmas If wamart dont
wantMerry Merry Christmas I will go to a store who will >I hope
walmart Will lose for not loving Jesus its His birthday

Dear Wal-Mart,

Today is February 10 and I just got back from your store. When I
walked in, no one said "Merry Christmas" to me. Not the greeter. Not
the cashier.

This bothered me so much, because my faith in Jesus Christ needs to
renewed each and every day by having Wal-Mart employees say "Merry
Christmas" to me.

So, I went to the manager and said "Merry Christmas" to him. He said
"uh, yeah... thanks..." Sounds like he's some sort of atheist
Christ-hater, because he didn't say "Merry Christmas" back to me. Or
maybe he's in league with Satan himself, since any good American would
know that Jesus Christ is our Lord and that saying "Merry Christmas"
is REQUIRED at least 10 times per day, every single day. Or else God
is going to send a plague on all us.

When Osama sends us another attack, you know who will be to blame?
Wal-Mart. Because God is upset that that their employees don't say
"Merry Christmas." It will be all your fault when that dirty bomb
comes.

You have taken the Christ out of my life. I must demand that you
require every employee to seek me out and to say "Merry Christmas" to
me when I'm in your store.

Thank you my Lord, Jesus Christ, for allowing dying for my sins and
dying so that I could my gallon jugs of grape High-C at discount
prices. Please do not send your wrath because Wal-Mart wants to
destroy Christianity and to estinguish you from our lives.

Amen.

Wal-mart is just anti-Christian as a buisness. They get most of their
products from overseas sweat shops,all so we can pay a couple bucks
less. For all you people gettting upset by "Happy Holidays" how
Christian is it to support sweat shops and exploited children workers?

I know this may sound petty, but I like to defend what I believe in
however I can. Therefor, EVERY check I write to Walmart, in the memo
line I add "merry CHRISTmas'....maybe if enough people do this,
they'll get it thru their head, how many people they have not only
offended, but also, they can see just how much money they could
possibly lose if we chose to take our business elsewhere, where they
still say 'merry christmas'....my question is this....if your one of
those people who support Walmarts decision of 'happy holidays', I want
you to seriously take time to consider this....if you are so offended
by someone saying merry christmas, why are you celebrating that
holiday? Why do you buy CHRISTMAS presents to give to others,
CHRISTMAS wrapping paper to wrap those CHRISTMAS presents, and why are
you benefiting in the CHRISTMAS time off from work and school. If at
any point you say to yourself, 'ya know, shes right, I do celebrate
it', maybe you should reconsider your view on how 'terrible' it is to
say merry CHRISTmas.

Yes, Christmas has its roots in celebrations that occurred long before
the birth of Jesus. There is nothing godly or biblically correct
about its celebration. However, that is beside the point. You are
offended by being wished Happy Holidays. You instead want your
religion validated and pushed upon everyone else, including Jews who
do not subscribe to Christmas - those are people of the same religious
faith as Jesus! For a few weeks, every day that I went to the post
office to get my mail, there were Salvation Army bell ringers
furiously shaking those bells, making lots of noise, and frankly
irritating me. I was all for donating to them, since they do provide
important help to people, but there will never be a day that I donate
a dime at the bell ringer's kettle. I for one would more likely send
a check or go to their office to donate, and it wouldn't be a dime or
a quarter. I have reconsidered and applaud Target for disallowing
their solicitations. On Xmas Eve, I went to fill up my gas tank. The
attendant wished me a nice day! He DID NOT wish me a Merry Christmas,
and I'm telling you, he really did make my day!

Your first mistake was watching Fox News. Ugh!

Does it really bother you if someone wishes you "happy holidays"? Must
not have anything else to complain about.

Hmmm, I have an idea. All the Christians that are worried about this
need to
quit their jobs, stay home, pray and fast until it all goes away.
Within a few weeks we wouldn't have this problem!... Issue resolved.

Dude:

PLEASE!

CHILL!

Take a DEEP breath...

It's OKAY...

I was in a San Leandro CA WAL-MART in mid-December and EVERY greeter
and EVERY checkout person said "Merry Christmas!" (much to my
surprise, I must say!)

My question to you is:

If your GOD and CHRIST is as almighty, loving and forgiving as you
claim, do you REALLY THINK HE CARES if we "mere mortals" say "Merry
Christmas!" or not?!

I DON'T THINK SO!

Get your priorities, straight, okay?!

peace,

billyjinsa

;-)

Yes, respect other religions and replace "merry christmas" with "happy
holidays"

Did you in fact know that the word holiday's origins is "holy
day"--which obviously the term holy day is applied to Christs
birth----so well...either way...

Here is a good site for everyone with aggrivation over this post:

http://members.cox.net/kyosei

enjoy!
ja

I am so offended that Wal-Mart has disrespected this holiest of
holidays by not wishing me a Happy Hannakuh. Instead, they had the
nerve to say Happy Holidays, like they think I might be a Christian or
Atheist or something! Can you believe that crap? How could they NOT
know I was jewish? They are deliberately taking the Han out of
Hannakuh and persecuting me as a Jew by not having the decency to say
"Happy Hannakuh". This is obviously a war against us jews. If
Wal-Mart doesn't say Happy Hannakuh to me next time I go there I'm
boycotting them. I will buy my dreidles and menorahs somewhere else.
This is blasphemy!

Oh yeah, Wal-Mart, it's on now!

By saying, "Happy Holidays," they ARE respecting ALL religions. If
they said, "Merry Christmas," they would only be mentioning your
religion. So, why don't you just freaking say what you mean: I want
them to say, "Merry Christmas." To hell with everyone else.

Thanks for not saying what you really mean, you selfish pig!

Here is a search result that I posted in a previous message thread
concerning Wal-Mart's ignorance of Christians.

Excerpt:

You also state, "PUT CHRIST BACK IN CHRISTMAS!!! WHEN YOU DO A SEARCH
ON THE Wal-MArt Website and you type in Christmas there is NOTHING BUT
YET IT COMES UP WITH ALL THE RELIGONS THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH
CHRISTMAS!!"

This interested me a bit as I am an undocumented authority on
web-surfing. I did the search you mentioned as well as others and
came up with some figures that may show Wal-Mart to be the best friend
a Christian can have in the retail world.

First, I searched for Christmas and the other two large holiday
celebrations:
Christmas yielded 7851 results. Hanukkah had 203, and Kwanzaa only
got 77 hits. These figures hardly support Wal-Mart's ignorance of the
needs of Christians. In fact, it may show a bit of insensitivity to
the groups that we haven't been hearing from lately.

Just for interests' sake, I searched the Wal-Mart site for the five
living religions of the world:

The Hindus were last with only 234 hits, preceded only slightly by the
Buddhists with 611. Islam took third place with 956 hits. The Jews
are running in second with 3018 hits but nowhere near the number one
religion in our search. Christianity took a staggering lead with
80,490 hits. This is hardly going to support any arguments that the
Christians aren't getting a fair shake in Wal-Mart.

End of Excerpt.

How do you like those figures? Wal-Mart overwhelmingly respects
Christians.

I try to remember, God made us all in his image, yet all very
different. I
say, Celebrate Diversity and appreciate what makes us different. If
God wanted
us all Christian he would have made us that way. He didn't. He made us
all
different colors and with different cultures and races. This
expression of his
awesome diversity is throughout nature. We need to all learn to stop
hating
each other for our differences and learn how rich our cultures and
races are.
We are all different by design.
On a side note, if you haven't seen Yanni's Tribute DVD, you have to
see it,
make sure you watch the making of the DVD. It is amazing. Yanni gets
it...
Too bad so many of us don't.
JA

I am a christian also, and i do appreciate it when someone wishes me a
merry christmas.but you must remember, wishing someone a merry
christmas is that same as shaking hands in this day and age. people
aren't as sincere as they used to be. im sure was mart why just trying
to be un-biased to one religion. your just a tad uppity my friend.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, there I said it!

Again...
All,

I would like to thank Wal-Mart for taking such a respectful and
honorable action. Too often (some) Christians forget we live in a
country where we have religious freedom, not to mention many different
cultures, religions, and races. Saying "Happy Holidays" is the most
respectful thing anyone can say if they are not certain what religion
the person they are addressing is.

I feel badly for those that are making a stink out of this whole
situation. It's time that we all start respecting each other and
rather than judging each other for being different start celebrating
what similarities we have and seeking to understand and respect what
differences we have. It is what makes the American culture the most
admired in the world and the corporate philosophy that has made
Wal-Mart the number one company in the world.

I admire them for doing the right thing and respecting everyone. Not
just those that feel they are the only ones that matter.

Merry Christmas to those that are Christian, Happy Hanukah to those of
the Jewish faith, Happy Kwanzaa to those of African heritage, Happy
Ramadan to those that are Muslim and Happy Holidays to everyone.

It is time we stop hating each other and start acting like true
Christians and really love and care about each other...

Sincerely,
Brad

Your problem is that you think Christmas is the only December holiday.
I recall someone by the name of Adolf Hitler having a problem with
people saying Happy Holidays because it included Chanukah...GROW UP
AND REALIZE THAT CHRISTIANITY ISN'T THE ONLY FAITH, EVEN IF YOU THINK
IT IS! I am not Jewish, nor am I Pagan. Oh, and stop calling
everything that isn't Christian pagan. There is a difference between
non-Christian and Pagan, just as there is a clear difference between
Pagan and Satanist (I am neither, but you people seem to have trouble
understanding this.)

Wal-mart is not being Anti-Christian with saying happy holidays. If we
follow your same logic, they are being anti-jewish and anti-kwanzaa
because they don't outright say it. Think before you open your mouth.

This is just an example of uneducated morons ranting about things that
don't make sense to us educated
people.
Christmas is not a christian holiday. It began in europe because this
christ person decided to make himself a martyr. Just like muhammod
and other "magicians" the slow gullible people believed thelies..
don't distort holiday by putting your communistic beliefs into the
mix.. I would for once love to go out without some psycho christian
screamingmerry christmas. I want presents and love and family not
bullshit. i wantmy holiday to have class not some controlling mob
telling me whtat to do with mylife.. grow up fearing people your fear
is thedeath of you

"I would like Walmart to respect Christians as well as other
religions. "
But your complaint implies to me that you think that your religion
should be above all else. Is Christmas not a holiday? I always thought
it was. Just like Hanukka, Kwanza, and any other holiday. By saying
"Happy Holidays" They /are/ being respectful to all religions, you
idiot. I know I'm being harsh, but come on. This is just stupid.

How would YOU feel if people said "Happy Kwanzaa" to you every =time
you walked in a store when you celibrate Christmas. Happy Holidays is
just a way of spreading Holiday Cheer to everyone and every Holiday.
Stop getting so bent out of shape over such petty things.

They are respecting Christians as well as other religions. They are
respecting everyone by saying Happy Holidays! Im catholic but I can
imagine that Jewish people or people celebrating Kwanza (spelling?)
feel a little left out during the holidays when nobody recognizes
their holiday!

Christmas isn't a pagan holiday. It's just that some of the
traditions are. Instead of worrying about the name, why not worry
about how commercial Christmas has become? However, for WalMart to
respect all religions, they have to say Happy Holiday, since the term
is going from Thanksgiving all the way down to New Years Day.

So people should say "Merry Christmas" instead of Kwanzaa,Haunaka(I
cant spell it),New years,and romadon?You sick little idiot.

WOW-- it is people like you (and Bill O'Reilly) who are hoarse from
screaming at the top of their lungs about stupid, nonsensical things
like the whole "Merry Christmas"/"Happy Holidays" debacle. There are
much more important things in the world, actually, but you have to get
up from your LAY-Z-BOY recliner, turn off "Jerry Springer," and put
down the Cheez-Whiz to actually get it accomplished.
Yeah, boycott Wal-Mart. With millions of people shopping at their
stores daily, I seriously doubt that the small amount of money you
might spend there will really hurt them all that much. Please try
organizing a boycott-- your narrow-minded movement (led by an equally
narrow-minded loudmouth desperate for a cause) won't last.

Everything in this nation focuses around Christian believes and
slogans even the money says in "God we Trust". Believe what you want
as long as you are not forced into it by your parents like so many
are. But keep in your own home or place of worship and out of
politics, schools, and my front door. To boycott a store just because
of so many nit picky politically correct people are offended is just
Stupid. Get a life and live it!

Natalie.Fields it sounds like you are the BITCH!

You are the kind of SICK person that keeps Christ out of our Schools
ect. You could careless about our country and having a clean safe
place to live. CHRISTmas is a Christian Holiday - CHRIST MAS!! A day
we have to celeibrate the birth if JESUS CHRIST! It is the ANTI
CHRISTIAN folks like you that cry every time you hear the word
CHRISTIAN. Well thats okay what will you say when to DIE and STAND
before the CHRIST to hate ???

You are completely ignorant and devoid of respect for other people.
How selfish of you.
You are what we call an "entitlement bitch".
YOU, the ONE ANGRY CUSTOMER in a thousand or more, decide that people
in the service industry should be able to read your mind and know
whether you are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Pagan, whatever...and that
makes you right?
No.
Go get an education.

The whole anti-"Happy Holidays" movement is stupid. Get over
yourselves.

Christians have that whole "What would Jesus do?" question they ask
themselves in rough situations, and I bet Jesus wouldn't flip out over
semantics.
If someone is wishing you a nice day, a good time with family during
the coming weeks, then for Pete's sake, just smile and say "thank
you," you ungrateful swine.

And for the record, Christmas is set on a pagan holiday -- Winter
Solstice. :)
Even non-Pagans use the term "Yule" around the Christmas holidays.
Yule is celebrated on the Winter Solstice (December 22nd), on the
shortest day of the year. Since the days get longer from this point in
the year, Yule is a celebration of the returning sun and the rebirth
of the God who died at Hallowe'en. As with Easter, the Christian story
of the birth of Jesus fits nicely with the Pagan mythology of a God
reborn. Traditions such as wreaths and Yule logs are remnants of the
original beliefs. Gifts were exchanged at Yule long before the Wise
Men offered their gifts to the baby Jesus.

"Support bacteria! It's the only culture some people have!"

http://www.walmartfacts.com/newsdesk/article.aspx?id=1527
Clarification on Wal-Mart's Holiday Greeting

There seems to be a growing misperception regarding the use of the
phrase "Merry Christmas" at Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart would like to clarify
that it has no policy that prohibits an associate from wishing
customers "Merry Christmas."

According to Sarah Clark, Wal-Mart spokesperson, "We encourage
associates to use their best judgment when greeting our customers and
to assess which greeting or greetings best suit the customers and
associates in their local store. We want our stores to reflect the
communities they serve. If 'Merry Christmas' is the preferred
greeting, that is fine and appropriate. Or, some associates may
choose to say 'Happy Holidays,' which may be more inclusive for Happy
Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Three Kings' Day, Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year."

In regards to advertising, Wal-Mart's theme this season is "Home for
the Holidays," reflecting the importance of family to our customers
and associates during this special time of year, regardless of
individual faiths. Wal-Mart features a large selection of Christmas
merchandise in our stores and online, recognizing that a broad segment
of our customer base wants to buy Christmas trees, cards, and Nativity
items in celebration of the Christmas holiday. Many items used in
celebration of Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Three Kings' Day and other
observances this time of year are also available.

I am a cashier at my local Wal-mart. I have been with the company for
3 year and
I have never been told I can't say Merry Christmas. My father is a
people
greeter, he's been with the company 8 years and never been told he
can't say
Merry Christmas.
Infact Christmas is a paid holiday and Wal-mart is not open on
Christmas so
there employees can spend it with there familys
I am a Christian I wear an I Love Jesus pin on my smock and this has
never been
a problem.
In my Wal-mart there is a sign that say XX shopping days until
Christmas, and
they play Christmas music over the speakers from Wal-mart radio.If you
do a
search on Walmart.com you will get over 9000 items for Christmas.
And if a cashier does not tell you Merry Christmas maybe it's because
you are
not displaying a good holiday spirit....

Would you be this offended if a friend or family member sent you a
card that said "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" instead of
"Merry Christmas"? Would you tear the card up and send it back? Would
you refuse to speak to them ever again? Probably not. So why get so
upset over what greeting you get when you are in the store?

I am a Christian. I celebrate Christmas. However, my own greeting
cards say "Happy Holidays", and have a snowman on them. Why? Because I
have many friends of the Jewish faith that I exchange cards with this
time of the year. We still enjoy seeing pictures of the kids
regardless of our differences in faith. I was getting sick of sorting
cards with baby Jesus on them from the cards with the sled, so I got a
card that encompases all holidays, New Years included.

But, what I'm trying to say here is: Don't be so selfish! Christians
aren't the only people celebrating a holiday this time of year. Have
you no friends, family, or aquaintences of faiths that differ from
yours? If you don't, I will pray for you that you be more open minded.

TELEVISION POLUTES YOUR MIND. DO YOU BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE.
INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT FAULTS OF OTHER, FOCUS YOUR TIME AND ENERGY
GETTING YOUR ROOT DEEP IN THE WORD OF GOD. YOU ARE A WALKING TEMPLE
OF GOD, YOUR THE ADVERTISEMENT. GOD BLESS.

I personally like the word "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" is
fine too.

Looking up the word holiday in the dictionary may be food for
thought:

holiday- 1., A day free from work that one may spend at leisure,
especially a day on which custom or the law dictates a halting of
general business activity to commemorate or celebrate a particular
event.
2., A religious feast day; a holy day.

Wishing you all the warmest best wishes at this Christmas holiday.
WRH

AMEN!! My husband walked into Sears on Saturday and they have a banner
that says "Merry Christmas" Yeah.. glad to see that huh? When ever
someone says to me Happy Holidays.. I say Merry Christmas and the
smiles you get are priceless and then they say it back. I'm a
Christian also and you know the merchants have no problem saying After
Christmas sales huh? Need I say more??

Now if Wal-Mart was actually anti-Christian, it seems like they'd be
threatening you with bodily violence for wishing them a Merry
Christmas. or following you home and chopping up your Christmas tree
in front of your family. Nobody's stopping you from saying Merry
Christmas. They're just choosing not to say the same to you.

Isn't there something more important you could be wasting your time
on? Maybe take up a hobby, like building a ship in a bottle?

I don't believe Walmart is anti-christian. It is a store, not a
church. Christmas is very commercial and most people don't even go to
church at Christmas anymore. There are many other holidays at this
time of year, so wishing people a Happy Holiday is appropriate. I
wish they would say Merry Christmas, because I hate anything PC but
I'm not going to sit around stewing about something this trivial. If
anything, I'm just appreciate an store employee making eye contact and
speaking to me. That is a miracle.

This is a very funny topic. I guess we all need something to complain
about. I am a Christian and the other day as I was leaving the
dentist's office on my last visit, I shouted out 'Happy Holidays!' I
knew nothing of this controversy, but I know that I did so because I
would not see any of those people until after the entire HOLIDAY
SEASON which includes New Year's Day.

If it were indeed CHRISTMAS DAY, perhaps I would have shouted 'Merry
Christmas!' This all seems to be 'much ado about nothing'. Put your
Christian face on and try to be more tolerant. You sound like the
Pharissees complaining that Jesus healed the sick on the Sabbath. The
truth is that there are many holy-days around this time. I hope you
enjoy yours and go out of your way to keep it HOLY.

The fact that you even watch Fox News, and believe anything that they
tell you, makes me automatically question your intellect. There isn't
a more biased news source out there than Fox News. Not to mention, the
talk show hosts they use are all loud, pushy morons with biased
political standpoints.

Fox News...*snort* "We demand, you obey" would be a much better
tagline for their network than what they currently use.

Oh, and regarding your christian pushiness on this topic, not everyone
is this country is christian.

WalMart is NOT disrespecting christians at all. However, if they force
their employees to say "merry christmas" rather than "happy holidays",
they will be disrespecting EVERY person out there who is NOT
christian. "Happy Holidays" is the statement to use to respect
EVERYONE. Anything said that refers to a specific holiday is
disrespectful to at least one group or more.

Also....in case you didn't know this, most people in the world are NOT
christian.

Something about the tone of this message is a bit off-putting to me.
I think you could make your point without being snide.

I don't see the problem with stores who choose to use a neutral "Happy
Holidays" to greet customers. Our newspaper had an editorial
yesterday about this. The columnist, also a Christian, wrote that the
stores are making a reasonable accommodation to those who don't
celebrate Christmas.

I have a feeling that you would take offense if a clerk greeted you
with "Happy Chanukah," because you aren't Jewish. People of other
faiths may not show it, but I'm sure they take offense at being told
"Merry Christmas," when they may not even believe in God or Jesus.

However, since you are displeased with Wal-Mart, you are doing the
right thing to take your business elsewhere.

Why NOT greet customers of all faiths with a universal "Happy
Holidays" instead of just targeting your personal faith? I have many
friends of diverse faiths and enjoy sending them greetings of happy
holidays and including everyone in my warm wishes. I can't help but
feel that it's always the people who label themselves "christians"
that always insist on special treatment based on their religious
beliefs. Are these people so insecure about their faith that they need
all others to constantly reassure them of it. I am sure there are many
"christians" who are not so narrow minded.

That's nice, but I as a non-Christian am currently feeling quite
squeezed by a lot of Christians who think just because they follow
Jesus, they are entitled to impose their viewpoints and lifestyle on
me while judging me as a "devil", "sl*t" or stating since I "reject
the Christ" I will burn in hell. Perhaps if the Christian community
was more live and let live instead of PAY, PRAY and OBEY, I would
support your complaint. But at this point, I am tired of your
community's invasion of my privacy as well as its propensity to
infringe upon my choices in what is advertised to be a free country.
It is ridiculous that in 2005 I am ostracized by Christians, and then
expected to support them when they feel they have been discriminated
against.

That, and not to mention that Christmas is supposedly a cherished
religious holiday, not a commercial frenzy shoved down consumers'
throats starting every Thanksgiving. I have to wonder, what is it,
exactly?

I know my faith and where my heart is. I know how I was raised and
how I raise my children. I also know that when someone says Happy
Holidays...Christmas is included in there.
It doesn't matter what it is these days but no matter what it is,
someone out there will find fault with it and try to change it.
I do believe we have freedom of speach. So say which ever makes you
happy. A Christmas tree isn't a Christmas tree until you decorate it.
A Christmas present isn't a Christmas present until you wrap it and
put it under the tree.
All I am saying, is there are more important things going on in this
world that need more attention than this.
On that note.. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings.
etc, etc.

First and foremost, I don't shop at Walmart because I think it's the
downfall of American business.

Secondly, as a Christian and Catholic, I will admit that I am not that
familiar with the traditions surrounding other holidays around
Christmas, such as Kwanzaa or Hanukkah.

However, the ads for most of the stores seem to advertise for this
particular date: December 25th. Last time I checked, that was
Christmas.

To my fellow Christians and Catholics-and I don't mean the ones who
only know the inside of a church when it's Christmas, Easter, a
wedding or a funeral-when someone wishes me a "Happy Holidays" I don't
get mad, I simply reply with a "Merry Christmas."

I think that it is total BS that wal-mart and other comapnies and such
are taking the Christ out of Christmas. It is not fair, if you are
offended, get out. I'm also tired of hearing spanish options on a
phone before engish, if you are here, abide by our rules and the way
things are for us. That is like those idiots who won't say the pledge
because of Under God, so I guess youre going to stop using our money
to because it does say In God We Trust, yea we trust in God to stop
creating Mindless Arrogant Ignorant A**holes. Lets fight to keep
America America.

After reading a recent news story about how most American "evangelical
Christian" megachurches -- these are the huge, politically influential
churches that attract upwards of ten thousand people at their
servicess -- will be closed this Christmas Sunday because it's just
too inconvenient to actually get people to show up on the day
officially designated to celebrate the birth of their lord and savior,
I'm not inclined to believe a corporation's use of "holidays" instead
of "christmas" is in any way part of the problem here.

So it's not disrepectful to the Muslims to be wished a Merry
Christmas, but because they simply wish that you have a Happy Holiday,
regardless of your religion, they are insulting Christianity?
Entitlement much?

"Holiday" encloses all the religions. They're not persecuting you,
you are being treated the same as everyone else, except you're whining
about it.

Actually most of the "traditions" associated with Christmas are of
Pagan origin. Christians who celebrate this holiday need to do some
research. From snopes.com:
Origins: "Christmas is a holiday steeped in superstition and folk
belief. Almost every tradition we unthinkingly observe during the
festive season has its roots in long-ago times, a fact we're
comfortably though vaguely aware of even though very few of us modern
fellows have any idea of the whys of our symbols and rituals. We know
to erect a Christmas tree, for instance, but we don't know why we're
supposed to, other than it looks good in our living room and gives us
a place to leave presents under. We know we're supposed to kiss under
mistletoe, but we don't know why, and we harbor a vague sense of
wanting to give something to carolers who come to our door, but
offhand can't think of any reason to other than ordinary hospitality.

Evergreens are symbolic of enduring and renewed life, which is why
decorate our homes with them at Christmastime. The fetching in of
green branches is a magical rite to ensure the return of vegetation at
winter's end. Our modern day Christmas tree is the centerpiece of this
belief.

Although these days when we think of decking the halls only Christmas
trees, holly, and mistletoe come to mind, our ancestors decorated
their homes with all those, plus ivy, rosemary, bay, laurel, and
anything else that still showed green. Our choices have become
standardized in a way theirs didn't because we modern types observe
the ritual without understanding what underpins it whereas our distant
forefathers didn't lose sight of the concept that a plant's greenness
was what counted"

Sounds like you to need to research Chrismas. I did. I am a Christian,
but I do not celebrate this holiday.

I agree with you, there is nothing wrong with a happy holidays! Who
cares if they don't say Merry Christmas really? It really doesn't
matter to me.
I don't think the person who orginally wrote it was saying it our way
or no way. I think people are just upset with the way our society is
now with the way we treat Christmas. It actually is pagen if you study
it out. That does not mean we aren't going to celebrate Christs birth,
the whole reason for the "giving".

I don't believe that Walmart is anti-christian because the door
greeter tell you "Happy holidays". We in America are comprised of all
the religions in the world. Several of these celebrate religious
observances during December. The word "holiday" is derived from the
words "holy day" so if you're Christian it means Merry Christmas. If
you're Jewish it means Happy Hannukkah etc., etc. And if you are not
very religious like me it means the generic use of the word
holiday...days off from work. Enjoy your holidays whatever they are!!

Why don't we all simply call a spade a spade?

Somewhere around Halloween (no certain date so retailers can
continuously move it back)we all start wishing each other what is
REALLY going on: shopping!

After watching video of this year's Black Friday stampedes, we might
want to include "safe" also.

So to all you letter writers, commentators, and guests I want to wish
y'all a VERY....

$$$$$$$ HAPPY & SAFE SHOPPING SEASON! $$$$$$$$

"Deck the malls with bales of money..fa la, etc."

By saying Happy Holidays they can respect ALL religions that have a
winter holiday.

"I would like Walmart to respect Christians as well as other
religions."

Why should you get special treatment? Happy Holidays is respectful.

Perhaps you should be more concerned with remembering Christ on
Christmas, than whether or not the store you shop at remembers Him.

-From a godless heathen :D

Christmas is in fact a Christian holiday, but it is true that many of
the traditions associated with Christmas are pagan. For example the
concept of the Christmas tree is rooted in Druidic tradition. In fact
the timing of the holiday was decided on by the church so it would
coincide with the pagan celebration of Yule, in hopes that the pagans
would be more likely to celebrate it and eventually convert.
The issue here was not that Christmas is or is not pagan. The issue
is that Christmas is not the only holiday celebrated in December.
There are several holidays going on around this time, for example
Hannukkah, Kwanzaa, and of course the pagan Yule Sabbat. These are
all holidays every bit as important to their celebrants as Christmas
is to Christians. Therefore the only appropriate greeting to a person
whose religious background you don't know is "Happy Holidays."

A day where they throw moron Xtian fundies like Patrick and Belinda to
the lions at the local zoo.

You have got to be kidding me. The sad thing is that I know you're
not. After nearly two thousand years of you people comminting genocide
and torture in the name of your religion, you're offended that you
don't get a personal customized greeting acknowleging your religion?
Try having your family murdered by missionaries and then see where
WalMart's slogan choices sits in your priority list.

Apparently, Patrick and Belinda, enough people share your sentiments
to prompt Wal-Mart to issue the following statement:

Clarification on Wal-Mart's Holiday Greeting

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Nov 30, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ --
There seems to be a growing misperception regarding the use of the
phrase "Merry Christmas" at Wal-Mart (WMT). Wal-Mart would like to
clarify that it has no policy that prohibits an associate from wishing
customers "Merry Christmas."

Complete press release: (copy & paste)

http://www.marketwatch.com/tools/quotes/newsarticle.asp?guid={F42F68D8
-0A36-465C-BC78-6114DD7076FA}&siteid=mktw&dist=nbs&symb=

You know whats funny is if you ever get a chance to go to NYC and go
to Fox on 6th Avenue. There aren't any signs in the lobby that say
Merry Christmas. Nor do the guards say Merry Christmas when you
enter.

Now the fact of the matter is as a Christian we should be secure in
our faith not to worry that if someone says happy holidays to us we
will somehow turn into pagans because our faith will be weakened.

Happy holidays is not a slur. It is not meant to degrade. Being thrown
to the lions now that was degrading.

If I can as a simple fellow Christian make a simple suggestion to aide
you in your dilemma. When someone wishes you a happy holiday, you
smile back at them and say and a Merry Christmas to you too. There now
you've both bonded and all is well.

Have A Merry Christmas and lighten up!

Corporations want Christmas money without acknoledging Christmas. It's
all about money yet they don't want to offend either. They want to
have their cake and eat it too.

Let's see retailers stop ALL Christmas ads and change them all to
Kwanza ads. They won't do that. Why not? Because they won't get the
revenue they seek by advertising. Bottom line, they want the Christmas
MONEY without acknowleding Christmas.

America is a predominantly Christian country. Christmas is a Christian
holiday. Corporations claim to take "Christmas" out of Christmas so
they don't offend other cultures. This is Political Correctness gone
haywire. If I were in Africa in December, I would expect someone to
wish me a happy Kwanza. If I were in Israel in December, I would
expect to hear Happy Hanukah but since I'm in America... I expect to
hear Merry Christmas just like I expect to have people talk to me in
English. For those that do not like the American culture, you have a
choice to go back to the culture you like - or did you leave it for a
reason? Was that reason money related? I don't plan on going to Africa
in an attempt to make everyone stop saying happy Kwanza because I
might be offended by it. In turn, don't come here and tell me I
shouldn't say Merry Christmas because I might offend somebody.

Aside from that standpoint.... Do any of you know what Kwanza is and
how it is celebrated? I can tell you that it is not celebrated with
"holiday trees", snow flake decorations, big red bows and leaves of
holly... Yet every "Holiday" commercial has those clichs in them -
they simply take out any words that say Christmas. Is that supposed to
include those that celebrate Kwanza? If you want money from people who
celebrate Kwanza, make a Kwanza ad. If you want Christmas money, make
a Christmas ad. It all comes down to money - like it always does in
this country. I love my country but if there is anything I do not like
about America is the greed. People will compromise anything in order
to make a buck. It's sad. I, for one, will not do any "Christmas"
business with any company that chooses not to acknowledge Christmas.

HERE ARE MORE ------------------>Companies Ban 'Christmas,' Not
Worried About Backlash
Several retailers have joined in the push to ban the use of
"Christmas" in their in-store promotions and retail advertising. The
new push to ban "Christmas" and replace it with "Happy Holidays,"
"Season's Greetings," etc. is gaining ground with several retailers
participating.

So far, the list includes Kmart, Sears, Kohl's, Home Depot, Lowe's,
Target, JC Penney, Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Kroger, Office Max, Walgreens,
Staples, BJ's, and Dell.

Update: Lowe's has removed all "Holiday Tree" signs and now refer to
ALL trees at "Christmas Trees."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
----------

A Petition To Stop The Ban On The Use Of "Christmas" By Major
Retailers

I am offended by the move to ban "Christmas" by major retailers. I
care enough to take into consideration the actions of any company
which bans "Christmas" when I do my shopping. If they don't care if
they offend me b

Just wanted to add one more thing. Its amazing that ALL of these
people are saying, Oh my, not everyone celebrates Christmas. Well,
does that keep people from saying Happy Halloween, or Happy
Thanksgiving becuase not everyone celebrates those either. Being that
Halloween originated from a Pagan holiday, I would like to start a
campaign to call it Happy Costume Day. People need to really be more
honest with themselves and stop repeating what they hear on TV. They
(retailors, etc.,) are isolating Christmas, this has happened during
no other Holiday.

PLUS, I'm sure everyone on this post who says EVERYONE doesn't
celebrate WILL BE celebrating Christmas themselves. I have yet to see
one person say they are offended when they hear Merry Christmas. This
is so absurd and ridiculous. You all will still be RECEIVING gifts
with open arms just like the next person. I'm sure none of you could
name 5 people who dont celebrate Christmas, so stop fooling yourselves
like you care about others FREEDOM so much. I'm tired of people
tossing this around at their leisure.

IN ADDITION, if people don't want to celebrate Christmas, I think they
should not get the day off from work. All of you who don't celebrate,
why take the day to observe it or acknowledge it? Because you use it
when it is beneficial to you, and downplay it when it doesnt? It's
only fair. HAHAHA. Celebrate your HOLIDAY by going to work, PLEASE it
only makes more sense since EVERYBODY doesn't celebrate. I'm sure
nobody will be giving that day back to their job. Give me a break
people.

I just wrote a similar letter to TARGET stores. They have not only
removed Christmas, but they have removed the Salvation Army greeters.
In the letter I said,

"People don't decorate Holiday trees, they decorate Christmas trees,
people don't buy holiday gifts, or thanksgiving gifts, or Halloween
gifts, they buy Christmas gifts, people don't put up Holiday lights in
their home, they put up Christmas lights. People are celebrating
Christmas, not some vague idea that you are trying to pass of as
HOLIDAY. It's a shame that a retailor such as TARGET that profits
greatly from the exploitation of Christmas would remove the word like
it does not even exist."

Thank u Patrick and Belinda for standing for something and saving
Christmas!!

"Christmas is not a pagan holiday." Actually if you would research a
little you would see that many Christmas traditions are Pagan. If you
put up a tree and tell your kids Santa Clause is coming...THAT IS
PAGAN. Where in the bible does it talk about any Santa or tree?
Jesus's birthday has nothing to do with that. You are very ignorant
and excuse Wal-Mart for being more open minded that there are OTHER
holidays that are being celebrated around that time. You are in
America hun and this may come as a shock to you but..... NOT EVERYONE
CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS. Thanks for the laugh

This is about the most silly thread I have ever seen on PFB, next to
the old Walmart "child pornography" complaint from a couple of years
ago. Does PFB have a "search" feature?

they are respecting other religions by saying happy holidays. you
don't see them saying "happy channuka" to those they think are jewish,
you can't tell by looking at a person what religion they are. would
you prefer they ask when you go in?

while i think you have a grammatically correct letter, i don't think
you complaint is valid, and it won't really matter anyway because
Walmart only accepts feedback through their own website.

There's nothing wrong with covering everyone's holiday with one simple
greeting. 'Happy Holidays' doesn't exclude Christmas. Anyway,
Wal-Mart is know for carrying Christian products when no other store
will. For example, the DVD movie Megedo, about the book of
Revelations. Also, other movies advertised on the Trinity Brodcasing
Network. TBN certainly has no problem with Wal-Mart.

You know I don't have a problem wishing people Happy Holidays. Nor do
I have a problem telling EVERYONE Merry Christmas. If they get
offended by my telling them that phrase then perhaps they need to wish
me a Happy Hannaka (sp sorry) first. I'm a Christian and I don't wear
it on my sleeve but believe me people around me can tell. I don't
swear at work nor do I tolerate it from my subordinates or coworkers.
I work at Lowe's where there are tons of male employees that seem to
have no problem spouting off explitives. I don't tolerate that around
me. I just don't swear and the funniest thing is when someone around
me swears and I correct them by saying...oh my HECK!!! Then I smile at
them and roll my eyes and say excuse my potty mouth. They get the
hint. It's not professional to ever swear at work and just shouldn't
be done. I'm ok with Happy Holidays because it encompasses ALL of the
holidays, the Thanksgiving day, Christmas, Hannakah, Kwanza, New
Year's day.

Thank you for listening to my rant...I'm off to work now to prepare my
departments for the day after Thanksgiving shoppers.

Yawn. This sure is a trendy right wing issue this year. Businesses
have been using "Happy Holidays" for years, instead of "Merry
Christmas or Happy Channukah or Happy Kwanza or
whatever-your-particular faith chooses to celebrate" (so much easier
to fit onto a store sign or website banner). But this is the first
year I recall hearing so many complaints about it. I'm not sure if Fox
News was the first, but all the right wing media outlets are jumping
on the bandwagon now and encouraging people like Patrick and Belinda
to spread the word. Most retailers I know of won't even bother to
respond. They just can't win on this issue, you know? No matter what
they say, SOMEONE is going to get their shorts in a knot.

Christmas is very much a pagan holiday. The holiday was around when
Christians decided to incorporate the celebration of the birth of
Jesus around the time of this pagan holiday.

Not that I really give "two figs" about it. I haven't really
celebrated this time of year for a good 10 years. It brings out the
worst in people -- not the best. I guess working in retail has helped
do this to me. Very early on (October) I select my mother's gift and
in early December I mail out gift cards to my niece and nephews.
After that I try and forget about Christmas as much as possible.
Except for my own store and grocery stores I don't step foot inside of
retail establishments until after Christmas.

Are you kidding me!?
I hate Walmart, but they're finally doing something right!
Trust me, as a Jew, everywhere I look, it's Christams, Christmas,
Christmas!
Every store you go into, every movie that comes out, every show on TV,
ALL focused on Christmas.
Are you so selfsih that you can't even put yourself into the shoes of
a non-Christian and try to understand how alienating and depressing it
is to have Christmas shoved down your throat everywhere you look? To
feel like you are a peon in a culture that ususally ignores all but
the money spending majority?
To be mad at a company that is trying to include everyone is VERY
UNChristian of you...you should be ashamed of your lack of
compassion...I'm sure your lord and saviour is!

Its not anti-christian. Its being respectful of everyone's beliefs and
holidays. Christmas isn't the only holiday this season, why should the
wal-mart employees just assume that everyone celebrates it. They
don't. And it would be disrespectful of them to say "merry christmas"
to someone who celebrates Hanukkah or Kwanzaa. "Happy Holidays" is a
much more appropriate greeting, as it respects everyone's beliefs and
celebration. Just because someone is being respectful of other
religions, doesn't mean that they are anti-christian. IT means that
they don't judge others like christians do, they don't force their
beliefs on others, and they DON'T think that if you AREN'T christian
that you're going to Hell. Right wing christians are what is ruining
this country right now, its your way or the highway and we are headed
down a dark road.

As a Jewish person, I don't get offended when Wal-Mart doesn't wish
anyone a Happy Chanukah. I don't like Wal-Mart, but I think it's more
appropriate to wish people a Happy Holiday since we are a country of
many religions, and there are people that just celebrate the holiday
season . . .not any particular holiday at all.

You, my friend, are absolutely correct!

Technically, If you want to go waaaaaaay back when, Saturnalia was
celebrated by the Romans. When the Christians came to convert them to
Christianity, in Order to please the Romans they allowed them to
continue to have thier feasts on one. December 25. Shortly after, One
of the Popes Declared that we would Celebrate the Birth of Christ on
December 25 to integrate the Pagan and Christian holiday.

Look it up if you don't believe me.

And shame on Walmart, trying to include all religions and holidays.

No matter how you feel about the Christmas issue, the information
presented here is incorrect. Wal-Mart does NOT have anti-Christian
advertisting. There is no ad on TV, radio, or in print that makes any
negative remarks about Christians.

In the case of Mr. Gibson, he is relating the experience of a single
customer and a single Wal-Mart employee. Do not confuse the situation
here with a company policy to actively offend Christians in
advertising.

That said, I have to wonder if you faith is so shakey that you need
someone to say "Merry Christmas" to you. I worry about you, if you
cannot accept Christ as Savior simply because some Wal-Mart employee
says "Happy Holidays" to you.

Are you freakin' serious?!??

Someone tells you to have a nice day, and you're offended because they
didn't specify that your nice day should occur on a religious holiday
of your choosing????

I think the point is that, gasp, shock, not everyone is a Christian.
There are a lot of religions that have holidays/celebrations near
Christmas. It's much easier to say Happy Holidays than take the time
to discover exactly what religion each customer is BEFORE giving them
a greeting.

I think it is quite respectful to everyone to wish them a happy
holiday.

Many of the Christmas traditions are based in much older Pagan
religions. Your Christmas tree was once called a Yule tree-
celebrating the pagan day of Yule, obviously.