For the ninth year in a row, the Liberty Counsel, a pro-life, pro-family litigation group based in Florida and Washington, is releasing its annual “Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign.”
“We’ve seen a major shift in the last several years, and now the ‘Nice’ side outnumbers the ‘Naughty’ side,” said Matthew Staver, Liberty Counsel’s founder and chairman. “For just one example, CVS was historically on the ‘Naughty’ side, but now it’s come over on the ‘Nice’ side.”
Staver noted a major shift came in 2006. In 2005, Walmart “forbade employees even returning ‘Merry Christmas’ when customers initiated (saying) ‘Merry Christmas.’ And they called their trees ‘holiday trees.’ When we pointed that out on our list, some people complained and returned goods to Walmart.
“Then, in 2006, Walmart said it will mention Christmas early and often, and it has done so. And last year we’ve seen Best Buy change from the ‘Naughty’ to the ‘Nice’ side.”
As Staver added, “Polls year after year show 70% of the people prefer being wished ‘Merry Christmas’ than ‘Happy Holidays.’”
Customers should let retailers know why or why not they’re shopping too, Staver said: “We recommend you not just patronize or not patronize those stores, but tell the stores why you’re shopping or not shopping. When you’re in a store that’s ‘Nice,’ compliment them. If you don’t go to a store on the ‘Naughty’ side, send them an email, call them and tell them why you’re not shopping in their store in December.”
Liberty Counsel also works to support Nativity scenes on public property and against censorship of religious words from carols in public schools.
This year the evergreen’s role is at stake. Rhode Island’s Gov. Lincoln Chafee has decided the Christmas tree in the State House cannot be called a “Christmas tree” but must be called a “holiday tree.” According to press releases, John Leyden, who owns Big John Leyden Christmas Trees and yearly donates the tree for the State House, said he may take it back because it’s not a holiday tree.
Liberty Counsel said the governor is even ignoring a resolution passed recently by the state Legislature that states trees during this season should be called “Christmas trees.”
Said Staver: “Anyone knows the green, pointed, prickly thing we decorate in December is called a Christmas tree. A Christmas tree celebrates only one holiday. It’s called Christmas. Everyone knows a Christmas tree is used to celebrate Christmas, not Hanukkah, not New Year’s.”
Staver added that Gov. Chafee ought to “wake up and exercise common sense. By trying not to offend people he’s offended the vast majority of people, and he has made his action look absurd.” He called on the governor to immediately reverse his decision, do the right thing, and call the tree by its correct name.
In the meantime, Staver urged citizens to call the governor’s office and ask Chafee to reverse his decision.
Similarly, Providence’s Bishop Thomas Tobin released a statement.
“Governor Chafee’s decision to avoid the word ‘Christmas’ at the State House ceremony is most disheartening and divisive,” Bishop Tobin stated. “It is sad that such a secular spirit has swept over our state. The governor’s decision ignores long-held American traditions and is an affront to the faith of many citizens. For the sake of peace and harmony in our state at this special time of the year, I respectfully encourage the governor to reconsider his decision to use the word ‘Christmas’ in the state observance.”
As an answer to the tree lighting, on Dec. 6, Bishop Tobin will lead a prayer service and Christmas tree lighting on the lawn of the nearby St. Patrick Church.
To help win the “Christmas Wars,” Liberty Counsel also offers material to educate everyone, from government officials to businesses, that it’s legal to celebrate Christmas; it offers items like “I ♥ CHRISTmas” buttons and “I Helped Save Christmas” bumper stickers.
Register staff writer Joseph Pronechen is based in Trumbull, Connecticut.
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How dare these people take away our Christmas? We would pray for their souls, but not deny them the freedom to believe as they wish. That is not so for those of us who are Christians. These non-believers have ruled long enough. Give us our religious freedom back, this is supposed to be America but it is a far, far cry from the America I grew up in. I prefer to die for my Lord rather than live in a country such as this. (too old to go to Europe) If people choose to worship evil, so be it. Give us back our freedom, now! MERRY CHRISTMAS
Someday, in the distant future, alien archaelogists will examine the ruins of this once great nation. They will marvel at the remnants of our documentation and likely wonder how we allowed ourselves to die at the hands of “political correctness”.
When writing to those on the naughty list remind them as follows: If you only want to sell to those who would somehow be offended by the word Christmas so be it- but remember that those don’t celebrate Christmas don’t need to buy Christmas presents.
We set the bar remarkably low. We should be demanding the traditional Eastern Nativity greeting “Christ is born!” and the corresponding response “Glorify Him!” Maybe, reluctantly, we might accept “Merry Christmas” as a compromise, be we should make it clear that it *is* a compromise.
I think, though, that we might as well call a spade a spade. Homestarrunner.com has it right: the secular holiday may well be called Decemberween, and it has less and less to do with the Feast of the Nativity.
As for “Happy Holidays”, my response is, “What are you talking about? Pearl Harbor Day? Why is your store celebrating Pearl Harbor Day? Don’t you think that somber reflection is a better mood for it than celebration?”
There’s another article here in NCR website about Christmas wars. When they say “Happy Holidays” say - I celebrate all the holy days in Decembers - start naming them: St. Nicholas’s Feast Day, the Immaculate Conception, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Christmas, etc. Holidays means holy days. Merry Christmas everyone!
As an atheist, Christmas is my favorite secular holiday. I can’t imagine why anyone would be offended by a hearty “Merry Christmas!” - these days, there’s almost nothing religious about it. Merry Christmas to all - it’s a holiday everyone (and I mean everyone) can celebrate.
Let’s pause for a moment and think about what most people do at Christmastime, not just what they say.
Consider:
The most popular Christmas music has almost nothing to do with the story of Christ.
The most popular Christmas movies are about non-religious themes - Santa, elves, Frosty, Rudolph, and family.
The trappings of the season have non-religious roots - mistletoe, evergreens, lights, reindeer, 12 days, and really most of the rest.
Pop culture, businesses, entertainment, and many of the people you know embrace the holiday, but save the god stuff for the privacy of their own homes and churches if they are so inclined.
Churches across the country are canceling or curtailing services on Christmas Day, arguably the holiest of days in the Christian calendar. In interviews, many church officials attribute the decline to a change in focus of the holiday, away from church attendance in favor of spending time with family and friends.
Like many others, I’m unhappy about the base commercial aspects of the holiday, but I enjoy the sentiments, the sense of wonder, the sights and sounds of the season. I’m glad Christmas has become so inclusive, yet we can all celebrate it in our own ways, religious or not.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
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