Question re: (false) War on Christmas

[unpossibles]

I started wondering about something.

The economy is still pretty solidly in the crapper - yeah it's a bit better, but still pretty bad. Because of this (and other reasons), people will generally not do much shopping because they can't afford it or are saving for worse times.

Am I crazy to wonder if perhaps the whole War on Christmas meme (which has been around for 50+ years, but seems to really hit full steam this year and actually get national press air time) is to cover for the lower expenditure on shopping?

Both sides are being helped:

1 - the War on Christmas will explain away the lower profits for some stores (when in reality they've probably had lower profits all year and from people of all religions)

2 - the smaller profits make the War on Christmas people seem like a larger group than it is. In other words, when retailers see their lower profits and hear the flack from the fundies, might they assume that more people are boycotting them than actually are and knuckle under to them?


I'm just wondering. And I am not implying some HUEG CONSPEERICY!!1!, just that the timing works well and wondering.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. I think it is part of a larger agenda

There is a war against the ACLU and liberals. This is just like the claims that we had too many activist lawyers filing unnecessary lawsuits. I believe they brought the ACLU into that one too.

[unpossibles]

4. good point. And also the old smokescreen to take attention away

from the occupation, the 100's of cases of impropriety from the GOP (Delay, Abramoff, etc.), Bush's plummetting approval ratings, and of course to make the ACLU/Left look bad.

The funny/sad part is that the ACLU, contrary to right-wing popular belief, has probably defended the rights of Christians and all Americans much more than it has attacked said rights.

[NanceGreggs]

2. I think you may have a point there ...

... what we're seeing is the economic 'implosion' caused by this Administration and its policies.

The economy, despite their statements to the contrary, is in bad shape. People have less money to spend on Christmas, it costs more just to drive around from store to store due to gas prices, heating costs are going through the roof, and most people are still worried about the possibility of losing their job in the new year. All of those factors cause shoppers to be more cautious with their holiday spending.

After all of the bragging about how GREAT the economy is doing, there's going to have to be some 'viable' explanation, after-the-fact, for why sales are down at what is traditionally a big spending time for consumers across the country.

[bigfootme]

3. Interesting theory indeed

And something that I hadn't thought of yet. That's what I love about coming here to read.

Recently I was caught up in a debate on this topic. The woman with whom I was debating, if you could call it that seemed incapable of reading my reply of how I couldn't see the harm in wishing others Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or whatever your preference was. That answer got me from point A to ground Zero in a flash. She is normally fine but right at this time is in some kind of religious frenzy and began preaching to me and soon it was as if I were the Grinch that stole Christmas.

She is now off on a mission to question all employees of her local retailers to see just who does or does not wish her a "Merry Christmas".

Oh well, some people just have too much time on their hands, and not enough common sense it appears.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. The alternative is just not exchanging pleasantries

with people. I am so sick of this crap. Don't they see the larger picture here of people eventually being afraid to talk to each other for fear they may inadvertently offend?

BTW, Welcome to DU :hi:

[bigfootme]

6. Thanks for the welcome.

Glad to be here.

Like you I too am pretty sick of this so called war on Christmas silliness. I think people are just looking for something to be offended by. In fact, some people are just not happy until they seek and find misery and that is what Bush has provided them. How ironic is that?