unhappy

"i support more taxation on the biggest of the big businesses. it is
a
privilege to do business in this country, not a right, companies have
been allowed to amass great wealth on the backs of the lower and
middle classes for years, its time they paid their due. we bailed out
the banks, it time they bail us out! i disagree with obama on many
things, but regulating business NEEDS to happen, the corporate
rampage
needs to stop. i think a bonus of half a milion dollars is
outrageous!
at my current income it would take me 50 years to earn that much
money, and thats if i dont spend a single cent!"

this is from the washington post:

"The Obama administration pledged Thursday to provide unlimited
financial assistance to mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, an
eleventh-hour move that allows the government to exceed the current
$400 billion cap on emergency aid without seeking permission from a
bailout-weary Congress.
The Christmas Eve announcement by the Treasury Department means that
it can continue to run the companies, which were seized last year, as
arms of the government for the rest of President Obama’s current
term.

But even as the administration was making this open-ended financial
commitment, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac disclosed that they had
received approval from their federal regulator to pay $42 million in
Wall Street-style compensation packages to 12 top executives
for 2009."

just wondering if you feel the same outrage you do towards the
government that you do towards private business. Difference being of
course these are taxpayer funded bonuses.

Do you complain that they don't play Chanukah songs?

I don't know or care if they play Christmas songs but this country was
founded on religious liberty - not on Christian beliefs. I think it's
sad that you need to hear Christmas music while shopping to validate
your Christian faith.

Here's a thought, let's just listen to the sound of SILENCE when we
shop. Clearly there are too many "sensitive" people able to get in an
uproar over trivial issues like the kind of music played (or not
played) in a store that is has to become a problem for everyone.

And just so you know, our country was NOT founded solely on Christian
beliefs - in fact, the whole POINT of the revolution and our fight for
independence was to secure the right to do and say as we pleased and
NOT be told what to think or how to live. It's FREEDOM that every
soldier fighting today is enlisted for, NOT CHRISTIANITY. Sad that so
many people insist to get it twisted like that.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you want Christmas
music, buy yourself a CD and play it wherever you go. Get an iPod, an
XM radio - WHATEVER!

No store will ever be obligated to play the kind of music that any one
person (or group)likes, no matter how many people you tell or boycotts
you threaten.

I'm glad my faith is not so delicate that such trivial matters shake
it.

Oh... the weather outside is frightful
but inside it's so delightful...

It was minus 3 this mroning when I got to work.

Are you talking about Christmas music in general (i.e. Rudolph the Red
Nose Reindeer, Santa Claus is Coming to Town) or are you talking about
Christian Christmas music (Silent Night, etc.).

The reason I ask is because many (not all) Christians feel that
Christmas is to materialistic and choose to not celebrate it, only
celebrating the birth of Jesus. Therefore, to them, Christmas music is
"anti-Christian."

Personally, as a Christian, it doesn't bother me whether I hear the
music in stores or not. I'm not usually listening to it as I shop.

What are you going on about? So what if they aren't playing Christmas
music? Are they setting up Christmas trees? (Yes.) How about selling
Christmas ornaments and gift wrap or making references to Christmas in
their TV ads? (Yes.) Oh, and SELLING copies of the Holy Bible, which
contains the story of Christ's birth, life, death, and resurrection.
(Yes!)

Last time I looked, there was Christmas stuff all over the place in
Wal-mart.

Oh, and wishing evil upon others isn't very Christian. You might want
to think on that.

Whatever happened to Christmas being about friends and loved ones
gathering together? Why does everyone have to pick on every little
thing? It's like at the end of a Charlie Brown Christmas when
Charlie Brown realizes it's not about the tree and decorations, it's
about being with his friends. I have a magnet on my fridge year-round
that says "Christmas isn't a day, it's a frame of mind". My
grandparents used to put doors over old sawhorses and invite anyone
over for Christmas dinner - they were poor, but still with everyone
pitching it, had 2 dinners on Christmas so no one would be alone.
Isn't that what Christmas is really about? Not what music a store
plays?

You know, I kind of agree with the LW on this. Not on her whole
anti-Christian/anti-American rant thing she has going (she doesn't
really make much sense on that), but on the idea of not playing
Christmas music in the store during what is probably the predominant
holiday in this country.

My co-workers and I were just having a discussion about this today. My
boss threw a fit because our plant vendor brought in a Poinsetta to
put in our front office. "What would our Jewish clients think?" Um, I
don't know, maybe they'd just gloss over it the way they do with a lot
of other Christmas-related stuff they see at this time of year. I
mean, it's a Poinsetta; it's not like they brought in a fully-decked
out Christmas tree and dancing Santa.

It's not that I LIKE Christmas music (my previous retail experience
has forever soured me on this genre), and I'd be 100% happy if I never
had to hear Madonna's
trying-way-too-hard-to-be-sexy-and-not-even-coming-close rendition of
"Santa Baby" ever again, but really, it's freaking Christmas. I think
by now non-Christians are used to the music, lights, and myriad of
blow-up crap on people's lawns. To suddenly make a decision to not
play Christmas music in the store because "someone" might be offended
seems a little ridiculous to me. (If that is indeed the reason why
they've stopped it.)

Just yesterday I told someone at work that I was sick of the Christmas
music! I can not wait until it stops!

Maybe I should head to Wal Mart to shop for my kids - at least my head
will have some peace!

FWIW - if they elected not to play Christmas music 9which I am not
certain they actually did) aren't they actually excersizing the rights
you speak of? You are still free to play whatever kind of music you
like, in the store you own, your home, your car, etc.

I didn't realize that stores HAD to be Pro Christian. I thought here
in the US that ALL religions were accepted. And do you normally here
religious music playing at WalMart when you shop? I know I
don't...unless I am in a Christian bookstore. And I am still trying
to figure out what Christmas music has to do with being a Christan.
Since most Christmas music has NOTHING to do with Christianity. I
mean I don't think Rudolph's Red Nose, Jack Frost Nipping at my toes,
or having a Blue Christmas has much to do with the birth of Christ.

I say that the Good Lord above that they quit playing it!

If you don't like what the stores provide for their customers, then
don't shop there.

They are under no obligation to change the way they choose to operate
because you are unhappy about it.

We are a nation of MANY faiths, founded with the right to choose any
religion (Or none of them), to worship as we choose with none held
above another, supported or oppressed, by the government.

It works both ways: You are spitting on MY rights and beliefs by
saying that everyone in the military is Christian and is fighting/has
died for Christian beliefs exclusively. You insult those of us who
have family and friends who have served/fought in the military who are
NOT Christians.

Let us especially consider that probably a good chunk of holiday
traditions are NOT promoted, explained, celebrated or endorsed in the
Christian bible and are just for fun. Holiday music, wreaths, Santa,
trees and gift-giving are some of these non-religious traditions
celebrated by many people as modern tradition. Even the date on which
Christmas is celebrated is convenience and tradition rather than fact.
You're welcome to enjoy them just the way they are, but it's a more
than a slightly sticky argument to say that they are religious writ
from the finger of God.

A company's decision to practice their right to display what they want
to, should have no impact on you or your faith, whether you choose to
shop there or not. I'm really not sure how you think it does?

Since I'm not a Christian, and I'm not offended by hearing "Merry
Christmas," why does it offend you to hear "Happy Holidays" instead?

Thank you for reminding me of the many blessings in my life: I live
in America, where I can practice my faith. Thank you for reminding me
to treat people with love, compassion and respect, even when they are
angry and hateful. Thank you for reminding me not to judge everyone
of a certain faith by the words and actions of one. Thank you for
reminding me that I am not persecuted or repressed, and neither are
you.

I sincerely hope you find better ways to celebrate and enjoy your
faith. Have a blessed and peaceful holiday season.

There is absolutely nothing "anti-american" about not playing
Christmas music in a store.

And this country was NOT founded on christian beliefs. So you're wrong
on that too.

This country WAS founded with the goal of separating church and state.
Hence, I approve and applaud WalMart (for once in my life) for not
crossing this important and critical divide/separation.

I have vets in my family too and guess what? They all agree with my
viewpoint and NOT yours.

I am all for boycotting Wal-Mart for things like not paying their
employees adequately or sweatshops in the Third World...but this is a
first.

anti-Christian.
Boycott away!

...that it's this sort of thinking that's caused stores to STOP
playing Christmas music, saying "Merry Christmas, etc.

When people go around saying things like this, it scares those of us
that aren't Christian. And that, in term, causes a push-back on
businesses.

So, frankly, I blame this whole "war on Christmas/Christians" on the
people that assert this is a Christian nation and demand that
Christianity and American be synonymous.

after all many of the first colonists to north america came to escape
religious persecution, and to find a land where they could worship in
the way they chose.

i too am a military vet.
my vow in the military was to protect the constitution from all
enemies both foreign and domestic

and in honoring the constitution it is impossible to ignore that it
contains the bill of rights.

and what's the first item on the list?
the first amendment, which protects both freedom of speech and freedom
of religion.


now if a store choses to not express faith through christmas music in
my opinion that is their choice.

and yes as consumers you also have the choice to continue to be a
customer or to not continue.


but the notion that "not having christmas music is un-american" is a
fallacy.

in order for it to be un-american we would first need to set up an
official american religion.

and by the constitution there cannot be an official government
religion.

There are two letters to Wal-mart from the same person regarding the
same subject. Why?

This country was founded on the belief that people should be FREE to
choose whatever religion they wanted - it just so happened the
settlers were seeking to separate from the Catholic faith. That
doesn't make our country based on Christianity.

You are confusing the fact that your family fought for the FREEDOM to
do as one pleases with what YOU personally believe is right. You
can't have it both ways.

Your family's military honors, while noble, have absolutely no bearing
on a private organization's FREEDOM to choose not to promote one
group's beliefs over another.

In my store we have already had complaints that the Xmas music we play
is not religious in tone,that we don't carry lawn ornaments of a
religious nature,That we "sneak in" Beatles songs that don't belong
(and for that I'm thankful btw),that we don't say the proper greeting
etc...
Listening to those sorts of complaints gets real old,real fast.
All it shows me is that some people will complain about anything and
it leads me to complain about the complainers.

Gee, that's funny, I just saw a Wal Mart commercial that had Christmas
music and mentioned that unspeakable word..Christmas!

May I extend my sincere thanks to you, your son, your uncles, and your
great great grandfather for fighting to make this a free country. Even
if many of the ideas and thoughts you fought to defend "dont mean a
hill of beans to we patriots".

put this far better than I could ever.

I am Christian, yet I find the views expressed in this letter to be
distinctly non-Christian.

If I didn't already loathe shopping at WalMart, I would jump at the
chance to shop in a store that doesn't play Christmas music. We play
that at home as we celebrate our Christmas tradition - it cheapens the
whole holiday in our opinion when it is played in a store from
Thanksgiving and even earlier. We play it a few weeks before the
holiday at the earliest.

I think WalMart is spitting on your beliefs and not those of those of
the country, or those of Christians.

Let me see if I get your argument.

Not playing Christmas music means being against Christianity which
means being against America?

Ok.

Frankly, I never thought of Frosty the Snowman; Jingle Bells; Rockin
Around the Christmas Tree; Have a Holly Jolly Christmas; I'll Be Home
for Christmas; I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus; Santa claus is Coming
to Town; or Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (the type of stuff usually
played in a WalMart) as being "Christian".

So it is only Christians who are patriots and fight for our freedoms?
The last time I checked the armed forces are made up of soldiers of
many different backgrounds.

If Walmart chooses not to play Christmas music or use Happy Holidays
instead of Merry Christmas that is their right as a business. As a
business they should not be catreing to one specific religious group.
It is your right as a consumer to not shop there if you find this
offensive.

But so was Barry. How many millions more did barry spend to get
elected, and he only made it by a very low percentage. If Bsrry was a
strong candidate spending that money it would have been a runaway in
his favor.

"listen to a few anti christans"

Who said that the people who don't appreciate Christmas music are
"anti-Christian"?

"this country was founded on christan beliefs"

Really? I can't seem to find this in the Constitution.

"i am a christian "

Are you unable to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior because Wal-Mart
isn't playing Christmas music? I'd think you'd be a Christian
regardless of what's playing in a store.

"trying to keep this country free and safe for all of us"

Yes. So why are you fighting to keep this country free and safe, but
ONLY for Christians?

I was just in Walmart last night and they were playing Christmas
music.

Where did you hear they weren't playing Christmas music in their
stores? I couldn't find anything about it.

I do find a bit of irony in comments like yours. I agree, people made
extraordinary sacrifices to keep our freedoms. Then get very upset
when people practice those freedoms.