(AFA) Best Buy Bans Use of Merry Christmas In Advertising

[pstokely]

http://www.afa.net/petitions/email/bestbuy_11102006.html

[meisje]

1. a festivus for the rest of us

[qnr]

2. What exactly is their problem? Christmas is a holiday, it is included in "Happy Holidays" n/t

[BlueStorm]

7. I think it is because the term 'Happy Holidays'

is too broad for them and lumps Christmas with other holidays such as Hannukah and Kwanzaa. The fundies just want Christmas to themselves. Also they feel that saying "Happy Holidays" is an affront to their beliefs and a smack to Jesus's birthday. There is a book I just got done reading by Robert Lanham called "The Sinner's Guide to the Evengelical Right" that pretty much gives an insight to how these people believe

Blue

[Raine]

28. I'm sure that's their "thinking" but

it's stupid because "holiday" actually translates to "holy day".

[NavyDavy]

3. just saw a christmas ad from them here in New Mexico

[Nikki Stone1]

4. Wow! A Dem win, Rumsfeld gone, and now THIS!

The freepers must expect the Rapture any time now...:)

[CatholicEdHead]

Best Buy is just trying to reach out to the maximum of consumers

[The Straight Story]

5. Pretty damned silly IMHO of best buy

Hell, they could have ads up reflecting the various holidays, but are just too damned lazy it appears.

Happy Holidays is about as lame as it gets, and it looks like one is trying to please everyone without really pleasing much of anyone.

Cheap bastards. Throw up some signs reflecting each of the major themes of that time, and give a bone to everyone, instead of a lame saying which really says nothing at all.

[qnr]

9. So, how far do you go? Wishing everyone an individual happy birthday? Happy Holidays is fine IMO

Besides, as an atheist, should I complain that I'm forced to have to see them? The thought wouldn't even occur to me.

[The Straight Story]

11. You go as far as the statistics take you

Most Americans celebrate either Christmas or Hanukkah, so you start there since that is who you are trying to lure into your stores. Then add more if needed based on demographics of the area you are in.

I don't see a happy holidays thing for Halloween after all. You have a few holidays intersecting at one time, ain't that hard to acknowledge them since you are wanting the money from the people celebrating them.

[qnr]

12. Which Happy Holidays does perfectly, sorry, I just don't agree with your point n/t

[The Straight Story]

13. That's cool

We are a big tent ya know :)

I just don't get the point of not calling out in a friendly way to the customers whom you are trying to reach during a specific time - Christmas IS the biggest selling season of the year, why not throw em a bone? You could easily say 'Happy Holidays and a Merry Christmas to you all' or something.

If the goal is not to offend anyone, it is not working :)

[qnr]

16. Nothing really wrong with it, except for the inconvenience of saying it to someone

that doesn't celebrate Christmas. My only point was that I don't feel they're being inherently cheap by not doing it.

From my viewpoint it isn't so much a matter of not offending anyone as it is a matter of including everyone. Doesn't the use of 'Happy Holidays' make them "big tent"? It covers everyone, in addition to those that recognize it is a holiday season, but either have no religion, or whose religion has no holidays during that period.

[The Straight Story]

18. Which is why I say cover all the bases

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays for signs/sale ads, happy holidays for greeting people.

I think both can work together for the benefit of all, especially the retailers. Both sides of the issue would be happy.

[qnr]

19. Well, TBH, I don't really care one way or the other. They can cave in if they want, it's all fake

anyway. I would be surprised if one in 5,000 people that say it to me really spare a thought to the idea of my actually enjoying a happy holiday season/Merry Christmas, etc.

[The Straight Story]

21. With you on that one!

Personally I think it has more to do with tradition.

After mom died the Christmas following that was filled with many memories - her decorating for 4 days, shopping, the food, fun, etc and so on. It was a package deal. In the end, it was less about getting and more about sharing. Something about decorating and anticipation though makes it different than other times.

Family, hope, love, laughter -- has given way at times to stress, bills, not sure you are buying enough to please everyone, etc and so on. But then, I guess that is part of it all too. Never knowing who will like what, spending time thinking of others and what they want then shopping for yourself, and so on.

All I want on Christmas day is to look back and know I was able to show those I loved a good time during the cold/dark season here - and to see them happy and laughing.

[qnr]

22. absolutely :) n/t

[Bluebear]

26. I *like* happy holidays! Reminds me of the "Holiday Inn" movie

Happy holidays to me always meant "Merry Christmas AND Happy New Year". That is can inlcude all the other December holidays is a bonus! I don't think any disrespect is intended by the phrase!

[MannyGoldstein]

6. SanFransiscoValues... SecularProgressive... WarOnChristmas...

That time of the year again...

I think that, at this point, any time most Americans hear these nuts it's actually converting a few to non-Republican voters.

[Mike Nelson]

8. I used the link to THANK Best Buy...

...for this and wished them a happy holiday season!

[Warren Stupidity]

10. Noodlemas? Happy Pasta?

Of course it is time for WAR ON CHRISTMAS!

Gack. We still live in one of the stupidest nations on earth.

[Coexist]

14. I used their auto-email form to send this edited message:

Dear Chairman Schulze,

I am so happy that you chose to recognize all holidays in December, rather than be bullied into choosing one.

I will be sure to stop by for my electronics and music purchases this season.

[pstokely]

23. Best Buy is rated red according to the Blue Pages

[IntravenousDemilo]

15. Well, Merry Christmas to them anyway. n/m

[LoZoccolo]

17. I have no idea why they wouldn't want to reclaim Christmas.

It's a Christian holiday, right? Wouldn't they rather present it, than having it watered down by big box stores?

[BlackVelvet04]

20. I personally think being offended at the use of

Merry Christmas is a bit ridiculous. But I think other holidays should be given some equal time. Even as a Christian, I don't want Christmas shoved down my throat for damn near two months of every year.

It wouldn't be so bad if the Christmas decorations went up about Dec. 15 and were taken down right after Christmas, but NOOOOOOOOO we have to hear Christmas carols and see Christmas displays for well over a month. I was in a local mall today and all the decorations were up and they were playing carols in one store.

[pstokely]

24. Stores always begin the promotions months too early

Some stores even had school supplies out before some schools were even out for the summer in some places

[Raine]

29. Yeah and when they start so early with sales

using the term "Happy Holidays" is appropriate because it includes Thanksgiving too. Lately Thanksgiving is being just about squeezed out cause about all the money it brings in is to the supermarkets. Pisses me off they way Thanksgiving is just shoved aside.:-(

[Bluebear]

31. Soon we will just leave the holiday displays up year round.

:/

[pstokely]

35. Some freepers do that

[earth mom]

25. Those psycho wackjobs make me ill!

Why don't they get that they are the ones being insulting by forcing their beliefs on others?! :argh:

F* ck them! I WILL shop at Best Buy this "Holiday Season" because I don't want to hear "Merry Christmas" either! Even though as an agnostic, I honestly didn't really care how or what was said so much before they started this War on Christmas B.S. Not to mention I rarely shop at Best Buy, but it's worth making a show of support.

[LTR]

27. I don't see what the big deal is in all of this

Let's face it, Christmas has basically become a generic holiday. More people associate Christmas with Santa Claus than the baby Jesus. I'm not belittling Christmas, just stating the obvious.

I really don't see what the big deal about this phony "War On Christmas", except to give the fundies and the FOX News monkeys hard-ons.

Though I do tend to say "Season's Greetings" just to surprise people.

[rman]

30. Catering to fundi's fears: there IS a war on Chistmas

Now who stands to benefit from this?

[upi402]

32. LOL "take a stand for Christmas" (on right of link)

:rofl: :popcorn:
Republicans and the corporate media will go new-cue-lurr with this crisis!!!!

[ticapnews]

33. Happy Holidays Chairman Schulze!

Dear Chairman Schulze,

Just a note to let you know I am deeply respectful of your decision to use the term "holidays" in your holiday promotions. I ask you to disregard the idiots using form letters to spam your mailbox and try to change your mind. I am happy to say that Best Buy will be on the list of stores I'll be shopping at this holiday season.

Happy Holidays to you and your employees!

signed,

Kris Kringle
North Pole, AK :)

[DawgHouse]

34. Why do people care about this?

Seriously, do you think the average worker at the store really cares if you have a Happy Holiday or a Merry Christmas?