Gap & Old Navy join the War on Christmas

[pstokely]

http://www.afa.net/aa120506.asp

[Hippo_Tron]

1. Gap & Old Navy must be trying to appeal to those who don't celebrate Christmas

It's not like the ACLU is filed a lawsuit for using Christmas in their advertising. It's just a way of expanding their marketing.

[me b zola]

2. How considerate of Mr Donald E Wildmon to include a link...

...so that we can write & thank the GAP for remembering that not all people who are celebrating @ this time of year are christians.

[Tarc]

3. Thank you, American Family Association!

For providing an easy-to-use webform to contact the Gap Chairman. I encourage everyone here to click on the link, edit out the AFA's boilerplate message, and send em a note of support.

[petronius]

19. But do you think they actually read each message?

My guess is if they're getting multiple boilerplate messages from an organization, they just count up how many they got without actually checking to se if they all say the same thing. So, your strategy could easily make it look as if more people agree with the AFA.

It may be better to send your own e-mail to the company, from a different address and with a distinctive subject line...

[pstokely]

25. They are blocking them now

http://www.afa.net/aa120506.asp

[blondeatlast]

22. Don't forget to mark whether you will "pray for Don Fisher."

:rofl:

[originalpckelly]

4. Has anyone thought of annoying the fundie organizations with a letter writing...

campaign?

Why not write them letters telling them to stop trying to make America into a theocracy?

[Karenca]

5. Good! NT

[nankerphelge]

6. Good to know

I'll be doing some holiday shopping at the Gap and Old Navy this year.

[otohara]

7. Peace, Love, The Gap

such anti-Christ values....shame on them

[Lurking Dem]

8. I want to start an action alert system

for the War on Chanukah.

I have yet to see even blue decorations, let alone expressions of happy Chanukah in a single store I have been in. (Of course, where I live I have to go to the shul to even get Chanukah related wrapping paper.)

[Blue Belle]

21. No Kidding... I find it disgusting, and I'm not even Jewish!

I was in charge of the hanukkah room for our Winter Festival at the Community College I go to, and the hardest part of organizing the event was finding decorations. After realizing that there was not a Menorah available, I took it upon myself to go to the store and find one. I was quite surprised to find that every major retail outlet and specialty craft store not only did not have Menorahs, but little else in terms of decorating for any other Holiday besides Christmas. What was even more surprising was the odd looks from store employees when you asked if they had any Hanukkah decorations. Their responses ranged from one curt "no" to several sympathetic "sorrys". I finally found a Menorah in an obscure little drug store on the morning of the event. In retrospect, had I planned to shop for the decorations earlier, I probably would have found what I needed online, but then again I wouldn’t have had the experience of having to shop for a holiday that the majority of the populace does not recognize. We don’t think twice about running down to the store if we need an extra strand of Christmas lights for our tree, but come up a few candles short for your Menorah and it’s another story entirely.

War on Christmas my ass!

[Lurking Dem]

23. You get some mighty weird looks down here

if you say anything about not celebrating Christmas. I think they start looking for the horns.

[Tesha]

27. Our "Christmas" (yuletide) lights are blue and white

(We like to keep people guessing.)

Tesha

[nashville_brook]

9. what about the damn WAR ON Hanukkah?

[nashville_brook]

10. the GAP had a bitchin' Blessed Ramadan SALE!

[marmar]

11. Fundies probably already hate Old Navy....

All those commercials with inter-racial dancing. :scared:

[klook]

12. I sent them this edited version of the unWildmon letter

ORIGINAL:

I am disappointed that Gap censors the word Christmas in your in-store, online and printed advertising. Since we observe Christmas and you censor it, your actions make it difficult to purchase Christmas gifts in your stores.

I will evaluate your response to this issue. If you continue to censor Christmas, I will take your decision into consideration when I shop for products sold by Gap, Inc. stores in the future.

MY VERSION:
I am overjoyed that Gap censors the word Christmas in your in-store, online and printed advertising. Since millions of Americans do not celebrate Christmas, your actions make it easy for shoppers of all faiths, as well as non-religious Americans, to purchase gifts in your stores.

I will evaluate your response to this issue. If you cave in to pressure groups like the American Family Association, I will take your decision into consideration when I shop for products sold by Gap, Inc. stores in the future.

By the way, I also applaud you for your opposition to sweatshop labor, as evidenced by your social responsibility program. Keep up the good work!

Happy Holidays,
(klook)

[trixie]

15. Here is my revised letter from their site - hee hee

Dear Chairman Fisher:

Thank you for thinking of everyone this holiday season and not just a few. As a non-religious person I find it refreshing.

[klook]

18. My thoughts exactly!

Thanks. :toast:

[BlueJazz]

13. The Article says.......

..."The fact that their censoring the use of Christmas might offend Christians seems to be of no importance".


Geez..EVERYTHING offends some Christians.

[TommyO]

14. Is Christmas a holiday?

If so, why is "Happy Holidays" so god-damned offensive to these idiots?

edited to add: I'll be sure to call the AFA during their normal operating hours to express the very same sentiment.

[Richard D]

16. That was fun!

Dear Chairman Fisher:

I am supportive and happy that Gap censors the word Christmas in your in-store, online and printed advertising in an attempt to include all Americans in this holiday season.

Since I do not observe Christmas and find falsely cheery clerks parroting "merry Christmas" at me, your actions make it easier to purchase holiday gifts in your stores.

I will support Gap because of this decision and will shop there and at your associated stores because you were brave enough to take this stand that includes all Americans in this holiday season, not just Christians.

Sincerely yours,

[SemperEadem]

17. There's something Wildmon forgot

"Gap wants you to do your Christmas shopping with them, but they don't want to mention the Reason for the season."

The reason for the season is not to go out and spend yourself crazy and put yourself in a financial hole it'll take 6 months to dig out of, either. Instead of launching boycott campaigns against businesses that won't do what he wants, he needs to take a crash course in the whole reason why the season exists--and to remember that this country allows all religions, not just the christians.

If he was a good christian, he wouldn't be in a store buying anything--he would sell all he had to follow Jesus. Doubt that is going to happen with him.

[kineneb]

20. reason for season

is Emperor Aurelin's declaration of Dec. 25th as "Natalis solis invicti" in 274 C.E.; Dec. 25th is also near the end of the Saturnalia festivities.

http://www.roman-emperors.org/aurelian.htm

The early Church couldn't get the Romans to stop their celebrations, so they incorporated them into the liturgical year. Jesus was most likely not born in the middle of winter.

Goodie for the Gap and Old Navy. Besides, there are other holidays besides Christmas during The Holiday Season.

[trof]

24. Godless heathens!

[earth mom]

26. I love the Gap...and need a sweater for my kid for the "Holidays"!

:evilgrin: