View from the choir

I am a Catholic layperson and Secular Franciscan with a sense of humor. After years in the back pew watching, I have moved into the choir. It's nice to see faces instead of the backs of heads. But I still maintain God has a sense of humor - and that we are created in God's image.

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Forget the Wal-Mart boycott: Donohue is dancing

November 11, 2005
WAL-MART CAVES; BOYCOTT ENDS


Catholic League president Bill Donohue commented today on Wal-Mart’s decision to yield to the league’s demands:

"Yesterday, I said the Catholic League’s boycott of Wal-Mart would proceed until the company a) rendered an apology b) withdrew its insane statement regarding the origins of Christmas and c) revised its website. When I left the office last evening, none of the three demands were met. When I checked news reports this morning, and Wal-Mart’s website, all three were met.

"Wal-Mart spokesman Dan Fogleman released a statement last night saying, ‘We sincerely apologize to any person or organization that was offended by the inappropriate and inflammatory comments made by this former associate.’ Fogleman was referring to the objectionable remark offered by a Customer Service employee, Kirby, who started the entire controversy by sending the insane statement regarding the origins of Christmas to a female customer. Alas, Kirby has been fired. As for our third demand, Wal-Mart has now adjusted its website so that when a customer types ‘Christmas’ in its search engine, it no longer gets, ‘We’ve brought you to our ‘Holiday’ page based on your search.’ Now the customer is taken directly to a site named ‘Christmas.’

"Wal-Mart says it is not going to change its policy of encouraging employees to say ‘Happy Holidays’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas.’ This is dumb, but it was never part of the Catholic League’s complaint. We only trigger boycotts when we’ve been grossly offended.

"This is a sweet victory for the Catholic League, Christians in general, and people of all faiths. And it means that Wal-Mart can now enter the Christmas season without this cloud hanging over it."

Gee - such a monumental struggle. Right up there with St. George and the Dragon.

It's good to know the Catholic League is right on top of Christmas slights.

Now if we could show the League that some of the workers and businesses Wal-Mart's actions hurt year-round have Catholic connections, maybe Mr. Donohue will say something on their behalf.

1 Comments:

Blogger Laura(southernxyl) said...

I would like it if I could just do my shopping without having to listen to "O Little Town of Bethlehem" with a rock beat.

11:22 AM  

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