Wal-Mart - safe haven in the war on Christmas

The American Family Association called Thursday for a Thanksgiving weekend shunning of Target stores, saying the chain was refusing to allow the phrase "Merry Christmas" on in-store promotions and advertising.

"I don't know where they're coming from," Target spokeswoman Carolyn Brookter replied. "We have no such policy on Christmas. You can see it in our stores."

At one local Target, in Colma, most of the in-store advertising offers a generic "Gatherround." One of the few advertising mentions of the C-word is above a Christmas card rack that says, "Celebrate Christmas."

That's not good enough for American Family Association President Tim Wildmon, who wants to see "Merry Christmas" signs displayed prominently "if they expect Christians to come in and buy products during this so-called season."

And he isn't worried if they offend people who aren't Christian.

"They can walk right by the sign," Wildmon said. "It's a federal holiday. If someone is upset by that, well, they should know that they are living in a predominantly Christian nation."

Where's Wildmon shopping next weekend? "Wal-Mart," he said.

That chain was briefly the target of a boycott called by the Catholic Rights League after an employee described Christmas in an unflattering way in a company e-mail. The employee has since left and the boycott is off, though the Catholic Rights League still criticizes Wal-Mart for tellings its employees to say, "Happy holidays."

Let's take a peek inside the celebration of the birth of Christ at Wal-Mart by american uplifted by a national day of Thanksgiving, shall we?

Yesterday, before dawn, when the sensible Whos down in Whoville were still asnooze, the valiant, the thrifty, the brave, the desperate, the greedy, and the addicted to shopping, lined up outside stores and malls across America, visions of bargain-priced laptops and exorbitant but rare Xbox 360s dancing in their heads. At a Wal-Mart near here hundreds gathered behind a rope waiting anxiously until a clerk pronounced the Christmas season underway with, according to one shopper, these festive words:

"On your mark. Get set. Kill each other."

Then, reports Tony Lystra of the Times Herald-Record:

The crowd rushed to the back of the store, hoping to snatch up what customers called a dismally scarce supply of cheap laptops, portable DVD players and cell phones.

Jessica Redner, 31, of Middletown, said she saw several women pushed to the floor.

"You can't stop to help them, because you're the next one down," she said.

As a 300-pound man pinned Redner's small frame against a cash register, employees began screaming expletives at the crowd, she said. And the crowd shouted back at them – and at each other.

Yesterday afternoon, Redner said her arm still bore a scrape from the debacle.

"It's disgusting," she said of her experience.

John Becht, 36, of Mount Hope, was also in the crowd, pinned in a corner. Employees, who looked frightened and bewildered, began hurling DVD players into the crowd, he said.

I think we can all see the connection between this Christmas scene and the original one

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
Luk 2:2 ([And] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
Luk 2:3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
Luk 2:4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
Luk 2:5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Luk 2:6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
Luk 2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
Luk 2:8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Luk 2:9 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.
Luk 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Luk 2:12 And this [shall be] a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Luk 2:14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luk 2:15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Luk 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
Luk 2:17 And when they had seen [it], they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
Luk 2:18 And all they that heard [it] wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
Luk 2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered [them] in her heart.
Luk 2:20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

I know I can't think of a more appropriate way to celebrate itinerant agricultural workers being the first to hear that the Son of God was born in a stable because His family was in town to render unto Caesar than trampling your fellow man to get cheap consumer crap manufactured by preteens not making a living wage in the third world (the old "suffer the little children" strategy). I'm sure Jesus is really peeved that his name isn't brought into this more often.

Bonus Sermon on the Mount points for physically intimidating the employees whose sub-living wages (as well as the Medicaid healthcare their children depend on) subsidize those low, low prices.

Focus on the Family indeed. Clearly not Joseph's.