We all know Macy's from the 1947 Christmas movie classic"Miracle on 34th Street" and the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade, but Macy's is now the focus of a boycott campaign protesting the department-store chain's replacement of "Merry Christmas" with more politically correct greetings. A group called the Committee to Save Merry Christmas says Macy's and its umbrella Federated Department Stores have ignored several requests that "Merry Christmas" signs be returned and that its advertising acknowledge the time-honored phrase. POWERBLOG has discovered that Macy's and its affiliated stores have been systematically removing references to "Christmas" over the past several years. Federated Department Stores, Inc., operates more than 450 stores in 34 states under names such as Bloomingdale's, Bon-Macy's, Burdines-Macy's, Goldsmiths-Macy's, and Rich's Macy's. In the Pittsburgh area they are Lazarus-Macy's.
3 comments:
It doesn't bother me too much that Macy's won't ackowledge Christmas. I
don't expect a secular organization to do so, especially in today's
litigious society. What bothers me is the rampant consumerism among
Christians.
Companies like Macy's shouldn't be making millions of dollars off this
or any holiday. The gift-giving at Christmas has gotten way out of
control. Christians are far too greedy and attached to the "things" of
this world. I understand the importance of expressing our love and
appreciation for friends, family, and neighbors, but I think Christians
could find better ways to spend money at Christmas. Remember Matthew
25? There are many who are hungry, thirsty, naked, sick, imprsioned,
and/or lonely. The millions we waste on frivolities could be used to
help them. Christ calls us to give until it hurts. This is unlikely to
go over well with some people, but Jesus knew that when he told us that
we must hate our families to follow Him. There are countless other
verses fom Scripture that I'm sure you know that call followers of
Christ to reject the impermanent things of this world and embrace the
permanence of the Lord's kingdom.
Eric
Past Christmases I probably would not have cared what any merchant, parade or group did regarding Christmas. However, this is my first Christmas as a Christian and I feel very differently. If a merchant can't display Merry Christmas, the store should be open on Christmas. And Easter. No holiday sales. No special window displays. No decorations of any kind in the store. Certainly the stores will not sell Christmas cards, wrapping paper, trees and decorations, no special table ware, no seasonal attire and most definitely no toys! NO SANTAS!! There should be no "holiday" pay or overtime for working either, since obviously, if Christmas cannot be mentioned, it is just another day. The same goes for governments. If Christmas can not be mentioned or celebrated on government property, ALL employees should work, including the mayor/city counsel, garbage collectors, judges, etc. and offices should be open for business as usual. No Christmas tree means no Kwanza candles, no menorah. No office parties, no community parades, no special luncheons or Christmas cookies, no grab bag, no decorations, etc. I'm waiting for someone to petition to change Bethlehem, PA to Sparkle, PA or something equally idiotic. Just as people say, Don't do the crime if you can't do the time, Don't celebrate the day if you can't include Christ.
Pat Scott
Before we Christians get too hyped up over that trend, perhaps we should stop first and look at our own practices related to the season, and what they really have to do with Jesus in the first place. I think we would find that there is a lot that is part of this time of the year that has little or nothing whatsoever to do with Jesus, so maybe we should consider dropping some of those "Christmas" designations. I grew up in Japan, a culture with practically NO Christian influence, yet the Japanese have latched on to "Christmas" in many ways, but they don't have a clue about Jesus.
Consider what we do in our culture:
We have parties at this time of year where folks from the office get together and have a good time, eat too much, gossip, get drunk, and we call those "Christmas" parties. Where is Jesus in those?
We place a high priority on "Christmas" shopping for family and friends, and spend an inordinate amount of money on people who already have more stuff than they can ever use, spoiling our children, while millions are going hungry. Where is Jesus in that?
We say it's about Christ, but most of us Christians (with the exception perhaps of the more liturgical Catholics) will NOT celebrate his birthday by being in his house, but instead will choose to be with family and can't be bothered with going to church. (Yea, we go on Christmas Eve, but how about on Christmas Day -- especially when it falls on Sunday as it will next year?) Where is Jesus in that?
We go to great lengths to put up our "Christmas" decorations which often include thousands of lights which draw upon valuable resources of energy, while there are those who can't afford the cost of energy to stay warm. Where is Jesus in that?
We like to play and listen to "Christmas" music, much of which has nothing to do with Jesus but is more about Frosty the Snowman or riding sleighs through the winter woods. Where is Jesus in that?
I will not deny that there are many sincere people of Christian faith for whom this time of year does include special worship and service to others in the name of Jesus, but we American Christians are so culturally indoctrinated to think that "Christmas" is about all that other stuff, when it really isn't. So maybe we should just let the pagans have their "holiday season" or "Sparkle Season", and if Christians want to indulge in some of that as Americans, fine. But if we're going to get anxious and worked up about the use (or lack of use) of the term "Christmas" let's be really sure what that term means. It's about Jesus, isn't it?
Rev. Harper Brady
Concord Presbyterian Church
Economy Boro, Beaver County
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