I heard about this story over at 1210AM radio-The Big Talker. I
looked it up, because I didn't get the full story while it was being
discussed. I don't totally disagree with Wal-Mart about the
"Happy Holidays" stuff, and do have a bit of a point. The
Catholic League For Religious And Civil Rights I believe have
a very good point too - one that I support.

( This problem is not just with with Christmas either. Christians
are going to have to start to speak up. Letter writing does make
a difference to voice your opinion. On the fence? Double-minded?
Indecisive? Maybe it's time that you find your voice, and find a
way to get involved.)

Frankly, People are not totally honest about Christmas in general.
Many people go about the holiday "spree" without really focusing
on what the holiday is really about, or about the history of why we
do what we do as far as the tradition is concerned. There ARE pagan
influences in some of what we do as far as many of our traditions.
Maybe it should be just a "Happy Holiday" with how it's being
watered down with all the spending and commercialism, and how
much does Wal-mart - for example - honor Christ anyway. (Maybe
it's being being made to be honest - It doesn't. The Lord does take
note of such things with his blessings of prosperity.)

I've noticed that some of the magic has been lost with some of the
children that I know - AND with many of the adults. It's awlful.
Maybe we need to take an honest look at our tradition and try to
reclaim the magic. Did we give it to Wal-Mart and American
Express...Doesn't it really belong to them?

I know that I'm going back to a more traditional route
starting this year.
____
An additional happy News Release:
November 11, 2005
WAL-MART CAVES; BOYCOTT ENDS
http://www.catholicleague.org/05press_releases/quarter%204/051111_boycott_ends.htm
_____

Wal-Mart Defends 'Happy Holidays' Approach
By MARCUS KABEL, AP Business Writer

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Thursday said it no longer employs
a worker who wrote to a shopper that Christmas is a mix of
world religions, but that the company does support the generic
greeting, "Happy Holidays," as being more inclusive amid year-
end celebrations by numerous faiths.

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights criticized the
world's largest retailer and called for a boycott over Wal-Mart's
approach to Christmas.

"We want a) an apology for insulting Christians by effectively
banning Christmas and b) a withdrawal of its insane statement
regarding the origins of Christmas and c) a revision on its
website," Catholic League President Bill Donohue said on the
group's Web site.

In an interview, Donohue dismissed Wal-Mart's statement
that it was respecting multiple beliefs as "corporate arrogance."

"If Wal-Mart, which is the family-friendly institution, gets away
with this, then all the other department stores will just fall into
line," he told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The dispute erupted after a Wal-Mart worker responded to a
woman who complained that the company was replacing "Merry
Christmas" with "Happy Holidays." The response described
Christmas as a combination of world traditions from Siberian
shamanism to Visigoth calendars.

The e-mail, which Wal-Mart spokesman Dan Fogleman said was
genuine, said Wal-Mart had to act as a global organization in a
world with many different practices.

"The colors associated with Christmas red and white are actually
a representation of the aminita mascera (sic) mushroom. Santa
is also borrowed from the Caucuses (sic), mistletoe from the Celts,
yule log from the Goths, the time from the Visigoth and the tree
from the worship of Baal. It is a wide wide world," said the e-mail,
from a customer service worker identified only as Kirby.

Fogleman said Thursday that Kirby no longer worked for the
company.

"We at Wal-Mart believe this e-mail between a temporary
associate and one of our valued customers was entirely
inappropriate. Its contents in no way represent the policies,
practices or views of our company. This associate, who was
hired less than three weeks ago, is no longer employed by
our company," Fogleman said in an e-mail to the AP.

"Wal-Mart is proud to welcome customers of all faiths, and
celebrants of all holidays. We sincerely apologize to any person
or organization that was offended by the inappropriate and
inflammatory comments made by this former associate."

Fogleman said the e-mail had been taken out of context and
that the stores, while encouraging employees to say "Happy
Holidays," did so to include celebrations from Thanksgiving
to Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Eve as well as
Christmas.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051111/ap_on_bi_ge/wal_mart_holidays_3
_____
On the Net:
Wal-Mart: http://www.walmart.com
Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights:
http://www.catholicleague.org.
_____
Wal-Mart Facts - News Desk
Catholic League Campaign
We at Wal-Mart believe this e-mail between a temporary associate
and one of our valued customers was entirely inappropriate. Its
contents in no way represent the policies, practices or views of our
company. This associate, who was hired less than three weeks ago, is
no longer employed by our company.

Wal-Mart is proud to welcome customers of all faith, and celebrants
of all holidays. We sincerely apologize to any person or organization
that was offended by the inappropriate and inflammatory comments
made by this former associate.
- Dan Fogleman, Wal-Mart spokesperson
http://www.walmartfacts.com/newsdesk/company-statements.aspx
_____
http://www.thebigtalker1210.com/