What's This All About?

For the past several years, I've become more and more tired of the systematic purging of the word "Christmas" from Christmas. I have thought of writing a blog for the last couple of years, but haven't been sufficiently motivated.

That changed last Thursday while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC. I'll give credit to NBC on their web description as "Heralding the start of the Christmas season". However, the commentators were altogether different.

When Santa Claus appeared in the last float of the parade, one commentator said that Santa Claus "signalled the beginning of the HOLIDAY SEASON."

Really? Which holiday is it that has a Santa Claus? Could it be Christmas?

I don't mind when the "Holiday Season" term is truly used to describe the period of time from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day. But when it is used solely as a substitute (which is the vast majority of the time) for the specific word Christmas that offends me. I'm actually surprised that the anti-Christmas Nazis have not made it improper to say "Santa Claus" in a goverment building, since "Santa" means Saint.

I also am offended by stores that ignore the fact that Christmas shopping supplies a huge chunk of their annual revenue, instead pandering to some PC-crazed wingnut.

So, for the next 25 days, I will be posting daily blogs with my opinions on a number of Christmas issues. I'll also update a list of stores I have a high opinions of, and those for which I harbor a low opinion. You could call it my Merry Christmas scorecard.

Here's my first Christmas Scorecard:

The Christmas Spirit:
To be listed in "The Christmas Spirit" category, a store must acknowledge and appreciate Christmas shoppers.

Being an outdoors person, the first two are easy:

Cabellas: This outdoor store has about everything you could imagine for camping, boating, fishing, and hunting. And, they have a CHRISTMAS SALE, not a holiday sale, and actually say Merry Christmas!

Bass Pro Shop: Another outdoors store, Bass Pro has pretty much everything Cabellas does, including a superior Christmas Spirit!

Walmart: Christmas sales, Christmas decorations, and Christmas Spirit. Thank you Walmart!

The Humbug:
The Humbug list comprises businesses that would make Scrooge proud. The Political Correct attitude is in full swing.

Old Navy: For many years, I bought my daughter a fairly substantial gift certificate to Old Navy for Christmas. Then I heard they would not let their employees mention Christmas. I went in to buy the gift certificate, and the clerk said "Happy Holidays" I smiled and said "and Merry Christmas!" She told me she wasn't allowed to say "Merry Christmas."

Then I perused their web site. Sure enough, there is no mention of Christmas, and very, very intentional excision of the word where it would normally go. For example, you are advised to do your "holiday shopping" (which holiday would that be, Christmas?) at Old Navy, where you can find something for "everyone on your list" (which list would that be, a Christmas list?)

We're also advised that the "holiday shopping season has begun" (uh..which holiday is it that we purchase gifts for? Is it Christmas?). Please....I want to barf.

By the way, the parent of Old Navy also owns The Gap and Banana Republic.