What's a Christian To Do? SCCN Provides Shopping List of Places Where You Can Buy
..and Still Have a "Merry Christmas"
As Christians try to navigate through the Christmas shopping season most are mindful that it's important to pay tribute our Lord whom the season is all about. SCCN has done its best to compile a list of stores and services which are honoring Jesus Christ, as well as those which refuse to allow even the word "Christmas" within its walls.
To be fair, most major department stores have backtracked in their effort to install the word "holiday" into their vocabulary, replacing "Christmas," but only after backlash from alert Christians--who turned into instant activists upon realizing clerks weren't even allowed to say "merry Christmas" to customers.
One holdout for 2006 reportedly is "Best Buy." This major retailer has announced they will be using "Happy Holidays" this coming Christmas shopping season, and they will not be using "merry Christmas." Best Buy, the largest consumer electronics company in the nation, will not refer to Christmas in any of their advertising as well. As of this publishing, the AFA Action Alert website reports that the company is now blocking all emails, since they've received so many complaints.
The AFA spoke with Dawn Bryant, a spokeswoman at Best Buy Co. Inc.
"We are going to continue to use the term holiday," she said, "because there are several holidays throughout that time period, and we certainly need to be respectful of all of them."
One has to wonder if there is something more to their decision in light of a recent Zogby poll showing that 95% of Americans are not offended when greeted by the words "merry Christmas." However, 46% are offended when greeted with "happy holidays."
It is still possible for you to call Best Buy to express your feelings. You can call their corporate office and ask for Chairman Schulze. The number is
1-612-291-1000.
Kohl’s Corp., Macy’s, and Wal-Mart are some of the retailers which have done an-about face regarding its use of the word "Christmas."
“We learned a lesson from that," Wal-Mart Spokesperson Linda Blakely told MSNBC this year. "Merry Christmas is now part of the vocabulary here at Wal-Mart."
The Container Store said it would steer clear of "Christmas," although we found "Merry Christmas Gift Tags" for sale on its website. All other references were "holiday" references.
The following is a breakdown list provided by Agape Press of what they found were "Naughty and Nice" retailers.
Naughty:
Banana Republic: website refers to a "Holiday Gift Guide," no mention of Christmas
Best Buy: spokesperson says the use of "merry Christmas" is disrespectful
Gap
Crate & Barrel
Old Navy
Home Depot
Bed, Bath, & Beyond
Nice
Dillard's
Hobby Lobby
JC Penney
Jo-Ann Fabrics
L.L. Bean
Wal-Mart (after backlash from Christians the past few years)
Sears (after backlash from Christians the past few years)
Target (after backlash from Christians the past few years)
K*Mart (after backlash from Christians the past few years)
If you have had an experience with a local store or service that honored CHRIST this Christmas season let us know! E-mail us now...
