You're a Mean One, Grinch Alert

[paft.livejournal.com]

Robert Jeffress:

Well, you know every year people bemoan the War on Christmas and I thought, “Let’s do something positive about it,” so we created this website, Grinchalert.com, it allows people to go on our website and, uh, if they’ve encountered a business that shuns Christmas they can talk about it and put that business on the naughty list but if they find a business that celebrates Christmas, they can put that business on the nice list. It’s just a fun way to say to businesses and organizations, “You don’t have to bow to political correctness. It’s okay to say, “Merry Christmas…”

John Roberts: What if businesses who are on the naughty list lose customers?... Would it be a good idea to affect people’s business at this season, which can be make or break for some people, and in this economic climate?

Jeffress: John, let me make it clear, we have never even hinted at a boycott…

"Never even hinted at a boycott?" Really? Here’s what Jeffress said on Fox:

Jeffress: One great example in the Dallas area, there was a bank that took down a Christmas tree because they said it would offend customers. Well, there was another bank that got put on our nice list, the Providence Bank, because they put up a nativity scene. The CEO told me yesterday that there were customers changing from the bank that removed the Christmas tree, and they’re flocking to his bank.

Gretchen Carlson: You are not calling for a boycott of any of these businesses….

Jeffress: Oh, not at all, not in any way! You know, there’s a Mexican restaurant you mentioned that was saying Happy Holidays, but our family still goes there every week…

Watch the latest video at video.foxnews.com

So it’s all about reassuring businesses. Honest! It’s all about making them feel nice and safe. He’s not advocating a boycott.

But he’s delighted to share as an example that little story of a bank losing customers because they took down a Christmas tree.

See, here's what mystifies me about this... Jeffress likes the idea of forcing other people and businesses to utter "Merry Christmas" and post signs saying "Merry Christmas" who are uncomfortable doing it. Do the people at "Grinch Alert" really imagine that businesses and retailers intimidated into towing Grinch Alert's line are acting in the spirit of the season?

And here's one more video, especially for the Reverend Mr. Jeffress:

Thanx to Juliebogen

Crossposted at Thoughtcrimes

Comments

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

You don't have to celebrate it to be aware of it. It's the person saying Merry Christmas to you who is celebrating it. It doesn't matter if you celebrate it or not.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

Maybe you need to adjust your hearing then...

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

It's a culture war.

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

"Every president has to have started at least one war in their serving time."

(Dunno where i heard it but it seems true).

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

So, no bullying. Sounds like people are writing about their experiences at various businesses and their opinion about it.

[paft.livejournal.com]

I ignore it because it's obviously a mealy mouthed bit of posturing. It's like someone who says "I don't want to be mean or anything" and then says something ugly.

Saying "no one's calling for a boycott" does not magically make an obvious call for a boycott not a call for a boycott.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

About what.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

Explain how exactly.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

You, as usual, have decided to read into something a belief that doesn't exist. Sorry.

[badlydrawnjeff.livejournal.com]

By shaming them publically for not saying Merry Christmas, and by explicitly saying this is not a boycott movement.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

No, I don't think that. It's a weird metric to be using for determining if the business is Christian, but if that's what some people want to use, that's up to them.

[htpcl.livejournal.com]

But I'm not liberal. How could you like me? (You're liberal, right? Or at least liberal sympathizer. Anything remotely related to... oh well...)

[prader.livejournal.com]

Dear Diary:

12-10-2010. Today I truly have seen it all. A liberal finally met a "boycott" she didn't like. Or something.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

So? What alternative method would you suggest he use to pressure businesses to listen to their customers?

[paft.livejournal.com]

So your claim that he's not trying to force people to do something is bogus.

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

"The either-or dichotomy fails to make the complete way into my brain."

I'm with you there.....I've never seen a company Christmas party yet that had a religious theme to it. I'm pretty much a "fundie" but I have never had a problem attending Haunakah (sp) parties (basically non-religious) or even Seders (very religious, usually).

Oh well, I'm sure there are people that get offended if you are just polite, either thinking you are being sarcastic, or are afraid of them. In other words there are people who seem to be looking to be offended.

[gunslnger.livejournal.com]

I've never, in my life, had anyone bark at me for saying "Merry Christmas."

Other people have.

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

On most occasions when someone has been somewhat, lets say, irritated, by me being polite, they've probably assumed i'm just a weak sissy who's scared of being controversial.

After a couple of exchanged sentences they've changed their mind.

I've seen such people who "insist on being offended" as i call it. Not a nice sight. In most cases it ends up me saying "Oh well, whatever" and leaving them fuming behind...

[airiefairie.livejournal.com]

What is this Festivus that everyone keeps talking about? Sorry for the non-American question.

[paft.livejournal.com]

That's all you got?

Pathetic.

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

What in the world do you base such an outrageous statement on?? Fox News????
paft's post???? 2 people who got upset at you for not saying Merry Christmas??

Honestly if you would have even said most of the Christians you know are like that, I would accept it (altho not everyone around here is as accepting of anecdotal evidence as I am :D) but "good majority, bowing down"???? Nope, don't see it.

[paft.livejournal.com]

Obviously rarely.

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

Let's face we are both just nice people.

(I think that qualifies as quote of the year...altho it may be a bit self serving no?)

[prader.livejournal.com]

Garbage in, garbage out.

[abomvubuso.livejournal.com]

LOL you propose your own comment for DQ? :D