MERRY CHRISTMAS at Target is a dirty word!

I called 4 Target stores in the Maryville/Knoxville, TN area to ask
about a certain toy. EVERY SINGLE one of the employees that helped me
told me "Merry Christmas" before hanging up. I was really shocked
becuase I thought Target was one of the stores where they weren't
saying Merry Christmas.

This is 100% NOT TRUE! I myself work for Target Corporation as a
Cashier. We were never told what to tell our guests, but have been
encouraged to say Merry Christmas and/or Happy Holidays. We have signs
all over the store that say Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays on the
reverse (so no one would be offended or left out). There are like 5
different gift cards that have Christmas scenes on them one even says
"Merry Christmas". Corporate office has not told any of its employees
what to say to guests during the Holidays, instead it is up to each
individual employee. They have the right and the freedom to wish
someone a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Have a great day, Happy New
Year, Enjoy your Holiday, and etc.

And about Target not supporting the Salvation Army - Target
Corporation supports the Salvation Army! We donate hundreds of
thousands of dollars to the SA each year, just like Target does for
hundreds of other non-profit organizations. The SA actually benefits
from not having the bell ringers at Target! Target donates more money
to the SA throughout the year (unlike once a year at other retailers
such as Wal-Mart, Kmart, CVS). Target even has a special holiday CD
that guests can buy - and we donate a percentage of the sale to the
Salvation Army.

Target has a committed to ensuring that every guest feels welcome at
their Target store. Should any incident arise, please don't hesitate
to speak with management at THAT store. Corporate has a hard time
dealing with guest comments, questions, etc. If something has happened
at your Target that needs management attention, DO NOT HESITATE TO
ASK! Go to ANY team member wearing Red & Kakki that is proudly
displaying their team member name badge; and ask them to someone from
guest relations or management.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL if you dont like it GET OUT OF OUR COUNTRY!!!!!

Merry Christmas!

My question is what in the world was the cashier doing telling you
information that was given out during an employee meeting for the
store? That was confidential information and shouldn't have been
disclosed to you in the first place. Her bad mouthing her employer
like that could very likely cost the company business. From a complete
business perspective of this, that cashier should be held accountable
for speaking in a negative way about the company. She may be upset
about not saying Merry Christmas. You may be upset about not hearing
Merry Christmas. But the retailers have every right to respect the
population of our society that doesn't celebrate Christmas. If they
ever stop selling Christmas trees and decorations because it'll offend
those that don't celebrate it, then maybe there's a complaint there.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS *chuckles*

Funny how these people who are offended by "merry Christmas" don't
DEMAND to work on the paid holiday though, huh?

We received a Target catalogue in the mail a couple weeks ago. On the
cover is a string of Christmas lights. One of the lights "opens" to
reveal the next page, and when you open the light, you see "Merry
Christmas"!

The reason why people arent free to express themselves and say
whatever holiday greeting they would like is because of people, like
yourself, that like to complain and make their opinion known. You want
to hear the words "christmas" there are also people who write letters
saying that they dont. The squeaky wheel gets the grease and
unfortunately there are alot of squeakers out there. In order to try
and please everyone people have to keep their mouth shut. Like your
mom always said... if you cant say something nice.. Not everyone finds
merry christmas to be nice. Its a personal issue for individual
americans not a corporate issue.

Btw I'm not disagreeing with you at all. Personally I think this
country needs to stop trying to be so politically correct and start
emphasizing personal responsiblity. But that would never happen
because god forbid someone get offended when we tell them they are in
control of their own lives.

As a Christian I do NOT keep Xmas because it's a pagan holiday (no, I
am not a JW). I'd rather the cashier say "Have a good day." One size
fits all there.

Even if she said Happy Holidays, shouldn't that be acceptable to you?
Xmas is not the only December holiday. In fact Hanukkah just started.

1) F Target for doing that. 2) As far a free speach. There is no
such thing when you are working for someone. While on their clock and
in their building you live by their rules.

Does it really offend your ideals that a purveyor of goods and
services doesn't acknowledge your holiday? Has it really affected the
way you celebrate Christmas? Isn't it ironic that Christmas has
nothing to do with shopping anyway according to your ideals, but the
place you go to shop for presents in what has become a commercialized
season rather than a spiritual one doesn't acknowledge your beliefs?
Don't you see the amazing hypocrisy in this entire argument?

I don't even buy from Target anyway after an issue that happened. I
just BOYCOTT THEM ! I will not even own a credit card of theirs.

I take my business elsewhere, Like Wal-Mart, Sams Club very
courteous service Sears also, My dad has bought alot form Sears, so do
I .

BTW I also Support Salvation Army when it comes to having their
Ringers and Target Does Not another reason I don't go to Target.

TARGET Corp. some of your management staff treated me poorly and I
have never set foot in your stores after that, I have a VG credit
Rating.

Thanks !

OK...enough PFB...time for a new letter.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/target.asp

last year while working at my job on Christmas Eve, I said Merry
Christmas to one of our customers and after the customer left, she
told me that I was to say "Happy Holidays" from now on. I turned and
I told her that I have been saying Merry Christmas for 40 (I'm 45)
years and that I wasn't about to change!

"85% of Americans claim to celebrate Christmas, so I don't think it's
worth protecting 15% of our population" I am glad you think that the
other 15% of the population is not worth much. Not to mention is the
85% of the population are annoyed by a measly 15% then I think they
are the ones who have issues.

Secondly, this has already been mentioned, you cannot say and do and
say whatever you want at work because no matter what people still get
offended by the most miniscule things. Happy Holidays or Merry
Christmas, unfortunately people never grow up and then it is the
companies that are forced to deal with it.

I don't know what kind of Target you shop at but I can easily find
Christmas cards and other products at the two Target locations where I
live.

Freedom of speech? You do know the constitution is to protect us
against the government, not our employers, right? People can't just
say whatever they want at work and claim "freedom of speech".

Happy Festivus!

I love the whole "War on Christmas" argument. It provides such an
abundance of entertainment to me during the holiday season. Can't we
all agree that christian religious radicals are very laughable?

I was in Lowes yesterday at 9:57pm. A CSR was helping me find
something, and was lingering (I thought he would excuse himself
because closing was in three minutes). The topic of the holidays came
up, and in an exasperated manner he said he can't wish anyone a happy
holiday. He went on to say "Did you hear it isn't Black Friday
anymore? It is called Super Friday now." I pointed out this thread,
and he shook his head. He said someone was in the store last week and
threated to sue if a sign that said "Happy Holidays" wasn't taken
down. As we parted, he said "Happy Thanksgiving", and I did the same.
As he strolled away, I said "And Merry Christmas." He replied "Thank
you, and you have a Merry Christmas also." I really like the fact
that
he stood against his store's policy.

I ate at an Applebee's after this, and this same issue came up. She
shook her head and said "If someone threatened to sue in my presence
over such a thing, I think I'd punch them in the mouth." She wished
me a Merry Christmas, and even tacked on "God bless" and I did the
same to her. There's another person I could have gotten in trouble.

I think it's time to start a grass roots rebuttal against this crap.
Whenever I'm in a store, I'm going to smile and wish the CSR and
anyone else I run into a holiday greeting. If they just stare back
because management has muzzled them, fine. But let's not let saying
"Happy [appropriate religious holiday]"
become a a swear.

The next time I see a linen store advertising "White Days" I'm going
to go in and threaten to sue them!

As a retail employee, I prefered "Happy Holidays". This is the
perfect greeting in my eyes, taking in all faiths/celebrations/beliefs
and wishing them the best for the season. It was never meant to
EXCLUDE anyone, it was meant to include EVERYONE and their faith of
choice, and spread good cheer; isn't that what the season is supposed
to be about?

Amen!

That is one of the reasons I really wanted to protest that store when
they wouldn't even let Salvation Army outside their door.
And, if you try to find gift wrap with angels, or peace, love, and
hope, give up. Same for Walmart. And, at this point Walmart could
use a little divine intervention.
We have stood by quietly and watched the Christians' rights disappear
right in America. No prayer in school. No "under God" in our pledge.
Some no pledge at all.
Just like you sit comfy in your pews and don't go out and win the lost
to know HIM, you pay the price now. When our grandchildren, are
adults, who knows if they will even be allowed to say His name.
Don't expect this world to get better.What are you doing to share
Christ?
The issue at Target targets you also. What is a Christian? What does
that mean? It doesn't mean to sit and find things to complain about.
It means to go out into that evil world and share Christ with them.
It doesn't mean to sit in your pew and be self-rightious, but to love
and encourage, to share Jesus with all people. Perhaps, if we were
doing what our forefathers did, and shared God's love, it wouldn't be
this way. What will God say to you when your time on earth is done?
Works doesn't get anyone to heaven. Being good doesn't get you to
Heaven. How will they know HIM, but by Christians sharing their
faith.
Merry CHRISTmas and God bless!

What a sad world we are living in! I am like you, as i do not believe
the minority should dictact what is seen, heard or spoken. It's about
time we "take" back our freedoms!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and GOD Bless us all!

I think the person who wrote this letter either was misinformed or
just did hear correctly.

I was at the Strongsville Target the other day and asked the cashier
(Amy) if management had suggested what greeting to use to the
customers for the upcoming holiday season. She looked at me rather
strangly (I don't blame her) and then I explained why I was asking.
She said she they had not been instructed and she is an assistant
manger.(She was training a new employee on the register.)

Personally I have friends of all faiths so I have gotten into the
habit of saying "Happy Holidays". But that is just my personal choice.

Not all of Target's customers are of the Judeo-Christian faith. "Happy
Holidays" is sufficient to cover Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever winter
holiday you celebrate.

May I suggest you get a life and stop worrying about trivial crap,
like whether your cashier says "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays"?

Bull hockey. Shenanigans. Liar, liar, pants on fire.

I was at Target today. I couldn't help but notice the HUGE "Merry
Christmas" banner hanging from the ceiling at the checkout area. I
also perused Christmas cards, and not only were there PLENTY of
easily-found cards that said "Merry Christmas," but there was a
good-sized section of Christmas cards specifically labeled
"religious."

But honesty doesn't make for a contentious letter that lingers in the
top spot, now does it?

This letter, along with 99% of the responses, is a bunch of garbage!
And it gets to be #1? Get a life, people.

Why can't people say "Merry Christmas" if they celebrate it as such
and "Happy Holidays" if that's what the holiday is for them? I'm not
Jewish nor do I celebrate Kwanza but I will, and have, uttered those
greetings to customers who I know celebrate those holidays. Why am I
not allowed the same consideration? How difficult is it for someone
to simply say, "I don't celebrate Christmas" so the person uttering
the greeting can amend it to something else? You take offense, it
isn't forced upon you.

It would be nice if this year people thought about the people around
them instead of themselves and offered them the greeting that best
fits the person you're responding to (as I do) or if you receive a
greeting you don't agree with, simply informing someone of how you
celebrate, rather than removing someone else's rights.

though I agree with most of what you are saying, I hate when
Christians feel a need to point out that they are the majority.
Besides, just because some one celebrates Christmas does not mean they
are Christian. In case you have been under a rock for the last few
decades, Christmas is about spending more money than you have to
purchase a gift for someone that you see once a year that they will
never use. It's about scrambling to visit many different parties in
one day because families no longer stick together. Now you have to
visit the stepmom, the stepdad, the stepdogs. It's about filing our
landfills with more useless crap.

I love Christmas. I wish we could do away with the gift giving. Or at
least tone it down. I just want to visit with family and friends and I
want my kids to feel that way too. But unfortunately, it's all about
gimme gimme more.

I just don't understand why people get so frazzled about this crap
each and every year. Are you there to shop for items, or to receive
well wishes for whatever holiday you're celebrating? I couldn't care
less what a cashier says, or doesn't say to me, as long as they ring
the items up properly.

I mean really - would someone saying "Merry Christmas" to you actually
make your holiday merrier? Conversely, would someone saying "Happy
Holidays" make your holidays less happy? If you answered "yes" to
either of those questions, then you have far more problems with life
in general than you do with whatever some Target employee happens to
say (or not say) to you.

Happy Christmahanukwanzakah !!!

Inquire as to whether the customer would like a holiday greeting or
not. If the customer answers "Yes", inquire as to whether they would
like a religious greeting. If the answer is "Yes" inquire as to what
the religion is.

Now the CSR reviews the answers the customr typed in. Obviously the
CSR has all the information they need at this point to act the
appropriate way. If the customer doesn't want a holiday greeting, the
CSR smiles and enthusiastically says "HAVE A NICE DAY!". If the
customer wants a non-religious holiday greeting, the CSR says "HAPPY
HOLIDAYS!".

etc etc. Problem solved.

Happy [insert greeting here], people!

Alright, this has gone on way too long and I'm sick of it. I'm ending
this debate once and for all.

MERRY CHRISTMAS is not a dirty word, alright? It's TWO words. TWO. So
if anything, MERRY CHRISTMAS is TWO dirty words. Alright? Now
everybody just shut the hell up.

Bambi, it comes down to this:

If you want to control what Target does, buy 51% of all of their stock
and go for it.

You don't think it is worth protecting 15% of the population????? Do
they matter less than you? Maybe we should just ban that 15% from
Target? Maybe we can just send them to someplace like Darfur and let
them fend for themselves?

Free speech? Do you have free speech at your job? There are plenty
of things I would like to say to the people I work with but if I do I
will get fired! What if an employee decides they want to come to work
in a KKK robe? Will that be ok as well?

It's attitudes like this that create minorities. As a minority myself
I am offended by your comments.

BTW, I personally think the ban on "Merry Christmas" is silly but not
for the reasons you do.

If even ONE person is truly offended by the phrase than I think Target
is doing the right thing.

I'd knock you out if you said "merry christmas" to me. I used to work
in a community that was a majority of jews and terrorists, I mean,
arabs. I don't think they would be happy if you said it to them
either.

I don't think that the president (bush) should get up in front of TV
cameras and groups of americans and say anything about "our thoughts
and PRAYERS are with..." or "god bless..." - that should be outlawed.
I don't believe in god or prayer so I shouldn't have to hear about it
or have someone assume that I'm praying for anyone or need some
imaginary figure to "bless" me.

I feel that if any store doesn't want to say Merry Christmas to me or
even if they say Happy Holidays I don't want to spend my hard earned
Merry Christmas dollars at their stores.

I don't honestly think the other 85% is truly annoyed, just the small
fringes who believe that the majority way should apply to all.

I celebrate Christmas. I have friends and co-workers who celebrate,
Hanukkah and Kwanzaa as well. I don't feel that it's right to
minimize any religious celebration in favor of any other, so
regardless of how "many" people celebrate it, its easier from a social
standpoint to say Happy Holidays or nothing at all. Target has opted
to say nothing at all.

I'd be willing to bet that someone somewhere with no life and an axe
to grind was offended (much like your offense at the LACK of a
greeting) that Christmas was promoted over his or her holiday
observance and apparently Target felt the brunt of that axe.

If you are truly a Christian, then wish the clerk a Happy Holiday and
let it go. I can't recall anywhere in my Bible studies that said God
expected everyone to observe Christmas or even acknowledge it. So why
are YOU making a big deal out of it???

I recently saw a holiday Target commercial...the one with the play
house and windows that open up to show all kinds of holiday
goodies...well I noticed that they put Merry Christmas on one of the
windows. I thought to myself at least this year there won't be
complaints about Target not celebrating/supporting Christmas all over
planetfeedback....I guess I was wrong.

Here's a thought though...when most cashiers say stuff like "thank you
for shopping at x store" or "have a nice day" or "happy holidays" or
whatever, it's not because they feel it "appropriate in their heart"
it's because they were trained/are expected to/or just need to say
something to end your transaction to move on to the next one....so
lets not make a mountain out of an ant hill.

If a cashier expresses a nice sentiment as I'm leaving I'm happy with
it, because honestly they don't have to do it. It's better than the
here's your change - buh bye brush off.

I'm just not gonna do it this year. This is my third winter at PFB,
and every year we have this discussion. This year, I'm just gonna say
it once then I'm gonna move on with my life.

This letter is far better than some of the poorly spelled diatribes we
have to look forward to as the season approaches. I commend the OP
for writing about a very touchy subject in a calm and friendly way,
and for the record I hope she has a very merry Christmas. But I have
to point a few things out.

1. Employee's don't really have free speech while they are on the
clock. Yes, they have the right to say what they like without risking
legal action (excepting libelous, obscene, or hate speech of course)
like any other American, but they do not have the right to say what
they like without disciplinary action from their employer. All
employees have the legal right to say, "Merry Christmas," "Happy
Winter Solstice," or, "go eff yourself," but their employers are well
within their rights to fire them. "Freedom of Speech" only extends to
legal protection, and when you agree to work for a company you waive a
portion of your rights when you agree to follow their rules.

2. Not to be argumentative, but where are you getting your numbers?
In 2001, 79.8% of Americans reported that they identified with some
variation of Christianity
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_the_United_States#Religi
ous_affiliation). Atheists and Agnostics make up another 15%, and
"Other" makes up the remaining 5.2%. Not a huge difference, but as a
general rule if you cite statistics it's good to check them out.

3. Just because a majority of a population believes something, this
does not mean that the rights of the minority should be overlooked.
If we as people decided never to worry about the rights of a minority
group, the Civil Rights movement could never have happened, just to
name an example. In fact, there was a time when Christianity itself
was a small, isolated sect among many, and if that minority group had
never sought to be seen as equal we wouldn't be having this debate
right now.

4. For the record, I don't much care what you celebrate (or don't
celebrate), as long as you enjoy it. If you celebrate Solstice,
Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Festivus, or something altogether
different, have a happy one. For that matter, I don't care if you
don't celebrate anything at all. Have a great day anyway. The
holidays to me are about goodwill, regardless of the details of what
pantheon inspires it (or not).

So that's all I got. I'm not getting sucked into the debate over
Merry Christmas this year. It always gets so ugly on both sides, and
it never resolves anything. Besides, there are so many more fun
things to talk about during the winter holidays, like what
TwinkleToe's is getting her kids for Christmas, or what vc wrote in
the snow this year. :)

You're right!

These corporate stores are so afraid of "radical" viewpoints they
would rather offend the 85% of Americans who believe in GOD!

But they don't mind making money off the "Christmas Season" do they?

Any business who tries to remove the focus of God and the birth of our
saviour ( again, the 85% of Americans) in their "Christmas themes"
does NOT get my business.
And please, don't patronize me with that "inclusive" crap.
Stand up America for what you believe!
Prais God.

What ever happened to have a nice day? I know that in Toronto we are a
very multicultural city. I don't feel right wishing someone a Merry
Christmas as they may not celebrate christmas, channukkah or any
december holidays. I think a whole hearted have a nice/good day is a
lot better. And here's the great part, it never goes out of style.

Reading this letter makes me giggle with delight.

You want to know why? this is my first holiday season NOT working in a
mall! Or retail for that matter. So I'm sitting here grinning from ear
to ear because I will NEVER have to deal with this crap ever again. No
more crowded store, no more grumpy shoppers, no more people fighting
over the last "black friday" item (I've seen people dive over boxes to
get to things, im not kidding!)

Sorry if that was tangent-y. Retail just really strips you of your
holiday spirit. Maybe this year I can actually enjoy the festivities
isntead of recovering from work at the end of every 10-14 hour work
day. Either way, I agree that people should have the right to say
whatever they way, whether the choose to say "merry xmas", "happy
holidays" or nothing at all.

Oh for the love of God....

"Happy Christmas"
"Merry Holidays"
"Seasons Greetings"

WHATEVER!

Just celebrate, however you feel and get over it!

I don't take offense to anyone elses celebrations or what they believe
in...why would it matter?! You can say "Free Speech" all you want and
take it to extreme points but in the end it just doesn't really
matter...one day we will all meet our maker and then won't we be
shocked?!

You said the bible doesn't describe him, and yet, here is proof that
the bible DOES describe him.

Just admit it: You make up all your bullshit as you go.

There were a few people I would have liked to have told to **** off!

But seriously, you sound really annoying. What would you think of free
speech if this cashier chose to tell you God didn't exisit and
Christmas was a sham? You probably wouldn't like it. That's why
RELIGION and POLITICS don't belong in places of BUSINESS. The cashier
should have kept her mouth shut and not complained about her employer
to a customer.

No one's stopping you from going home and drinking a whole gallon of
egg nog under the Christmas tree.

I agree, in part, with you. I am 50 years old.. old enough to think
for myself and say what I want..as long as I don't purposefully offend
anyone. But, in today's (annoyingly) politically correct society,
employees are being forced to take "sides." They do, bottom line, work
for a business and business makes money when customers are happy.
After hours, they can say what they want!

I find it "ok" for employees to say what they have to say (to keep
their jobs!) but, no one can force me to reply with the "correct" term
of that year!

I will continue to say Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or just "omg!!
I'm sooo stressed out"..whenever I choose!! :)

BTW.. nice letter! :)

Right on, and Amen.

P.S. the term is "melding" pot (not "melting"). Thought you might
like to know.

Bambi, may you have a bright and peaceful Solstice this year. :)





I'll admit, my first thought upon seeing the title of this letter was
'IT'S ONLY NOVEMBER!!!' Then I read through the comments, especially
Bambi's calm and mature replies and decided that it would be great if
Bambi would stay around for a while. That would be a lovely Christmas
gift.

Why should it matter? Are you so insecure in your Religion that you
need some one to tell you? Who cares!

Christ was NOT born on December 25th (as we know it) It states that
the Shepherds were watching their flocks by night. Not in the WINTER
in that time of year in that area of the World. Too bloody cold.

We are not Christians, but we DO celebrate Christmas. It is a day to
get together with the family and not worry about all the crap that is
wrong in the World and just "be".

Christmas it what you make it and you shouldn't need some one to tell
you "Merry Christmas" to have a Merry Christmas.

(Personally, I like the "Brit Speak" of "Happy Christmas". I would
LOVE to see that here in the States.)

Flame away!

OK, I shall put an end to this once and for all.

Technically, up to and including the 24th and all the days following
the 25 are technically THE HOLIDAYS, saying Happy Holidays is
perfectly acceptable.

December 25th is the day we celebrate the birth of Christ. Shouldn't
the 25th be the only day we say "Merry Christmas"?

As far as I am concerned, we should celebrate Jesus every day off the
year not just Christmas and Easter.

Clete

Oh God, not this again! Not again!

Is this going to happen every single Christmas now?
The war of the holiday greetings is starting already.

I need to lie down with a good stiff drink and stop reading complaint
websites again.

Scrooges love to make a fuss out of anything they can. They have
nothing better to do. I kind of think its like people pulling the race
card.

Oops. Am I late, early? When the devil is it? Oh let's just forget
it.

I agree, I think people should be able to say whatever they want. If I
didn't celebrate Christmas and someone said Merry Christmas, I
wouldn't care. People need to grow up. So they get offended, so what?
They can just say Happy Hanukkah or Happy Kwanzaa or whatever back.

I received an email today from Target assuring me that this is no
longer their policy. They feel that perhaps the employee
misunderstood or the management was unclear at the last staff meeting.
So good news!

I am celebrating Festivus this year and so should Target.

This entire Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays debate is getting old.

Why do Christians insist on having stores say "Merry Christmas". What
is wrong with Happy Holidays? It sounds like the Christians want to
ignore every other religious holiday this time of year. Is
Christianity more superior?


I don't think it is very Christian like to be acting like this
(insisting on Merry Christmas). This is not the example Jesus would
have shown.

Happy Holidays everyone!

I personally get offended when Target cashiers refuse to acknowledge
my belief system and wish me a Merry Potatomash. They have no excuse
for ignoring it. Potatomash is every day, when you believe in your
heart that all good things come from the potato.

So, in that case, I have no problem with Happy Holidays. Because in my
mind, Potatomash is the holiest day of all.

"First, 85% of Americans claim to celebrate Christmas, so I don't
think it's worth protecting 15% of our population, just to annoy the
other 85%."

This is just me, but if it's okay with you to annoy 15% of the
population, then you don't seem to have grasped what the season is all
about.

I long for the days when people finally get it. The words "Merry
Christmas" never once appear in the Bible. It's a phrase made up by a
greeting card company; the Ten Commandments it is NOT.

Lighten up and - all due respect - get over it.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/target.asp

I don't think this is a real complaint. Even if it is though, I loath
the portion of this letter where the OP says "I don't think it's
worth protecting 15% of the population"! Who is she to say that? And
when did it become offensive or annoying to not hear Merry Christmas?
Where I come from it is a COURTESY to receive a greeting, not a
necessity. What is the harm in saying Happy Holidays and encompassing
all religions? I consider myself to be Christian, but I must say that
I am terribly embarrassed at the number of "Christians" that feel they
are entitled to the continued national use of the word Christmas.
Target has every right to tell their employees what they can and
cannot say while on company time. If Target were to use the OP's
logic regarding employees and free speach, then employees would be
able to cuss and say whatever they want without recourse. That makes
sense doesn't it?

Bill O'Reilly? Is that you?

Here is the down and dirty: I could really care less about what
someone does and does not say to me when I am shopping. If the truth
be told, I'd rather they don't say anything at all.

I don't think there is a single word that can be uttered that won't
offend someone for some reason or another.

Christmas is NOT: sending cards, putting up trees, putting up lights,
spending money to buy gifts, santa claus, reindeer, snowmen,
fruitcake, The Grinch, Sale Ads, Well Wishes, candy canes, stockings,
mistletoe, credit cards, shopping malls, the north pole, elves, Jim
Carey, etc..etc...etc..

Christmas is the one day out of the year when we should celebrate the
birth of Christ. We should ask ourselves, what is the significance of
His birth? The bible tells us that God being a just God sent His Son
into the world to take on our sin so that we may appear sinless in His
sight. Christmas is about salvation, not all the other stuff I listed
above.

I know that not everyone believes or "buys into" this belief and that
is their right. God's gift is free, but it should not be imposed on
anyone. The term for this is FREE WILL

The next time you are in Walmart fist-fighting someone's grandmother
over a $29 DVD Player, try to remember this: For God so loved the
world that He gave His only Son, and who ever believes upon him shall
not perish, but have everlasting life.

So...the next time someone fails to wish you a Merry Christmas, just
remind yourself that even if they did, they probably don't mean it the
way it was intended in the first place.

I know it isn't even Thanksgiving yet, but...Merry Christmas to All.

Clete

it has nothing to do with free speech. They can advise their
employees to not promote anything they wish.

Others have pointed out there is stuff on the website and in the store
that does proclaim Merry Christmas.

I don't see how one of these precludes the other. They may well have
educated their employees as to their wishes, but post messages and
carry merchadise that is a bit more libreral. I can see how an
employee might relate this event out of either frustration, loose
lips, or whatever.

My own opinion is things have become far too PC. I would prefer
someone to mention any one of the greetings you mentioned to "Seasons
Greetings". If someone said "Happy Kwanzaa" to me I would be happy
for them celebrating their religion.

Bambi-

I hope you have a very happy Saint Lucia day.

Shenanigans. I think you're completely lying about every bit of this.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/christmas/target.asp

Target's web site contains the word "Christmas" by the way. Right
there on the home page.

There is no free speech violation. Freedom of speech applies to the
government trying to control speech.

Any corporation, private company, business, private college, etc... is
free to limit the speech of their employees. If the employees have a
problem then they need to find a different job.

Employees have no freedom of speech right on the job period, ever.

This is SO NOT TRUE!

Walk into your local Target, there are signs that say Happy Holidays
AND Merry Christmas all over the store.