Is it alright to agree with stores saying Merry Christmas because they know saying it will make them more mone

Question

I asked this yesterday... http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ApWkNEpktXI6xiHIZrkN7sTsy6IX?qid=20061204103159AAK7z3K

So I am wondering that since a few people agreed that saying Merry Christmas is a market tool... Do you think that it's alright for them to say Merry Christmas as a marketing tool? Using the birth of Christ to sell crap?

Answer 1

well i dont know anyone who doesnt celibrate holidays in some way ... even if it is just respecting others
so why shouldnt shop keepers be wishing people merry Christmas ... i am sure apart from the money ( which they would make anyway ) ... they most likely celibrate also

Answer 2

I don't really care one way or the other about that.

Listen, the market is the market, economics are economics, and the bottom line is the bottom line.

If you think that this has *ANYTHING* to do with the religious sensibilities of corporations or any sensitivity to religious pluralism, then you don't understand corporate America.

When religious groups apply pressure through protest on issues like this one, the corporation looks at the possible profit loss.

And so, when there's enough pressure put on a corporation to have their employees say "Merry Christmas" rather than "Happy Holidays", it's not a victory for Christianity, although they'll claim that it's "righteous" or some other crap like that. The protesters have not awakened any religious feeling in the people who make those decisions, and there hasn't been some sudden recognition that Christianity is the true religion. It's a very carefully calculated decision based on who the corporation's market is and how much money they may lose unless they cave in.

In other words, I don't think that the "rightness" or "wrongness" of using "Merry Christmas" as a marketing tool is a germane question.

If you feel that strongly about it, you can start applying pressure to have these places NOT have their employees say "Merry Christmas" because you object to the practice of "using the birth of Christ to sell crap". And if enough people who the corporation thinks is their market agree with you, they'll change it.

Answer 3

I am not here to judge their motives. I don't want 'Merry Christmas' taken away for any reason. If they are using it to gain wealth, then God will judge their heart. As for me, I will say Merry Christmas wherever I go.

Also, I took my daughter to a store the other day, she is almost five, and they had it all going on. The trees, the lights, the music, the toys, the decorations......and the look on her face, and the feeling I had in my heart as we looked at all of that stuff and shared that moment was priceless.
So, whether they are using it as a marketing tool or not, I don't care! I enjoy the hustle and bustle and frenzy of it all.
It is all about perspective. We know what the truth is in our hearts and we carry that truth with us wherever we go..

Answer 4

I think that living in America in the age of attempted political correctness, it is proper to include everyone. "Happy Holidays" includes all of the numerous holidays celebrated in December. Besides, Christmas itself was based on the pagan holiday. People should stop being so self righteous and just say "Happy bloody holidays". God forbid someone should acknowledge a non-christian holiday in America, as if it proves Christianity is fake. It does nothing of the sort!
Enough of my rant. To answer your question. I think everything about Christmas these days is about marketing and going through the yearly ritual of feeling obligated to give gifts. The spirit of things seems to be slipping away, sadly. It's truly a shame.

Answer 5

It all boils down to how each individual perceives it. I perceive the marketing as ensuring that vast amounts of people are kept employed and can put food on their family's tables. Marketing is necessary for this and, while marketing and anything else has its negatives, there are also positive reasons as well. Especially given that christmas season is a major source of revenue for many stores.

Answer 6

No. But nobodyhas to respond in kind. You may simply choose to say Happy holidays or happy Channukah or Happy Kwanzaa or whatever, Merry solstice, etc. if you wish. Or simply ignore it if you are that sensitive that you get offended when someone wishes you a Merry Christmas.

Answer 7

The only thing I don't like about it, is it is sure not the holiday that everyone is celebrating. And how are you supposed to feel if it's not you'res?

If you're Jewish, who is there to say Happy Hanuka to you? It's Hanuka important, too?

Or how about Happy Winter Solstice? Or Merry.

It feels like yet another way to enforce the Christian idea of the holiday. And I think people are gonna get resentful of that. I don't blame em'.

Answer 8

By authorizing their workers to say "Merry Christmas", they are doing a service to the workers and the customers who speak with them.

Jesus had a similiar question asked of Him. Maybe it will help:

Mark 9:38-41

38 "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."

39 "Do not stop him," Jesus said. "No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward.
(from New International Version)

Answer 9

No matter what words they use they are using the same holiday (Christmas) to cash in, so I don't think it makes a difference.

Answer 10

Christ on a pogo stick here people! First you're ticked because people won't say it and now you're ticked because people will? Come on!