Plead the First

The Associated Press had an article this week about consumer boycotts of retailers for various causes. Some groups, such as the American Family Association, advocate boycotts on retailers who they feel haven’t sufficiently displayed the word “Christmas”:

This year’s high-profile targets include retailers Sears and Target. In the eyes of some conservative activists, the companies have made insufficient use of the word “Christmas” in ads and store signs.

“When you take away ‘Christmas’ and replace it with a generic term like ‘holiday’, you take away the very essence of what is being celebrated,” said the Mississippi-based American Family Association, which spearheads the Target boycott. [Emphasis added]

So let me make sure I understand: To appropriately celebrate the essence of Christmas, the word “Christmas” must be displayed prominently on ads and store signs? What exactly is the essence of Christmas again? I was under the impression that it had less to do with “10 Percent Off Merry Christmas Sale! Ho ho hurry! Let’s get giving!” and more to do with this:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

I think the folks at the American Family Association could use a viewing or two of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 10th, 2005 at 1:04 am and is filed under Politics, Religion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.