The American Family Association, the self appointed protectors of all things christian (note lower case "c"), had decided that in order to protect the sanctity of Christmas, we Christians should boycott the GAP. Their offence? An apparent refusal to use the word "Christmas"! Oh, the horror!
The boycott is part of our ongoing campaign to encourage businesses, communities and individuals to put Christ back in Christmas. The boycott runs from November 1 through Christmas Day.
For years, Gap has refused to use the word Christmas in its television commercials, newspaper ads and in-store promotions, despite tens of thousands of consumer requests to recognize Christmas and in spite of repeated requests from AFA to do the same.
The AFA is getting blasted (rightfully so), by everybody. The LA Times says very pointedly:
It would be easy to get sidetracked into debating the merits of the War on Christmas. Why, for example, is the phrase "Happy holidays" so insufferable to Christian fundamentalists, but not the vulgar, surfeiting exploitation of Christ's name to sell smokeless ashtrays, dessert toppings, Droid phones and trampolines? I'm not a theologian but I think the Gospels are pretty clear that Jesus was no fan of merchants.
A very valid question, don't you think?
Buddy Smith (what a great name!) says this about the fatwa (great word, huh? Not mine, got to give credit to the LAT for that one):
I interpret Gap's decision as a warning sign to Christians to get out there and tell people about Jesus Christ,
Therefore, instead of telling people about Jesus Christ, you denigrate His name by advocating a boycott? Makes perfect sense to me.
They'll know we are Christians by our boycotts, sanctimonious piety, and self-righteous judgment.
Lord, save me from your followers!
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