User:CIS/WOC
< User:CIS
The "War on Christmas" (culture)
[edit]A circa 21st century debate concerning the "censorship" or "avoidance" of the term 'Christmas' when explicitly referring to the Christmas Day holiday. With first usage of the term "war on Christmas" being documented in 1999, this current Christmas debate is rather new. Specifically, usage of the greeting "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas", or simply usage of the term "holiday" in place of "Christmas" is what is occurring. This action is considered uncalled for, and even appalling, considering that 96% of US citizens celebrate Christmas.[1][2]
Example Companies using the term 'Christmas':
- Walmart Stores, Inc. (USA) — Has been using "Christmas" since a 2006 reform.
- Kmart (USA) — Has started using "Christmas" in 2006, after public outcry toward other companies in 2005.
- Macy*s — Has officially declared its usage of "Christmas" since 2004.
- KOHL's Department Stores — On the "Christmas" bandwagon since 2005.
Example Companies NOT using the term 'Christmas':
- Best Buy Corporation (USA & Canada) — Has said saying "(Merry) Christmas" is offensive, and does not offer mention of the term ANYWHERE, and I mean ANYWHERE in their promotions/releases.
- CNET.com — Although not a big–box retailer, CNET.com has made exclusive attempts to abolish Christmas, holding a "Holiday Countdown" to December 25 with only mention of "X days left". In addition to this secularism, when their employee James Kim died on a family trip, they offered "hope and wishes" for him, omitting the word "prayer", they say, because they were "...not a religious company".
- Gap, Inc. — Owns Old Navy, Banana Republic, which are all under the "no Christmas" policy, omitting the word even in shipping deadlines for Dec. 25.
- United States Postal Service — Has a "holiday page" with shipping deadlines to "get it there on time", with no explicit mention of "Christmas", or even "December 25", although employees claim these dates are for Dec. 25. Offers stamps for Eid, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and Christmas, but the Christmas stamp with the Madonna and Child is at the bottom of the page, apart from the rest.