AFA declares near victory in ‘War on Christmas’
Adage has a good piece up on the American Family Association’s battle to try and make sure all retailers use the word “Christmas” for holiday advertising instead of other more general terms.
Here’s a few good snippets:
Randy Sharp, director-special projects at the AFA, said that in the past five years the group has seen the percentage of retailers recognizing Christmas in their advertising rise from 20% to 80%. Just eight retailers are left on the group’s list of “Companies Against Christmas.”
“We’ve had a complete flip,” Mr. Sharp says. “The politically correct holiday verbiage is going away. Companies are getting the message.”
Interestingly one of the retailers being targeted as “anti Christmas” by the AFA is Dick’s sporting goods. Apparently they don’t care if you name your business after a penis, just make sure to get those Christmas decorations up.
And I just love this other quote from the AFA guy:
Plenty view the tactics of the AFA and other groups as bullying, but Mr. Sharp rejects that. “It’s not bullying, it’s consumer advocacy,” he said. The AFA’s stance is that retailers should not profit from Christmas, if they refuse to clearly acknowledge it. “When your advertising has trees and ornaments and gift wrapping, you’re advertising Christmas, so don’t call it holiday,” Mr. Sharp said, adding that the group is not at all offended by Happy Hanukkah messages.
Because of course as we all know trees, ornaments and gift wrapping were all extremely important to Jesus and the three wise men.
Full story is at: adage.com