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

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

"being anti-union is anti-worker's rights"

Really? One equates the other? Or is this another sweeping generality?
I have found that in some trades a small union shop can not exist. Conversely I know of large companies that have both union and a non-union divisions. (anecdotal I am being :D)

[nikoel.livejournal.com]

Whole Foods is anti-union. They're hardly a small shop.

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

But are they anti worker?
My point is one does not necessarily imply the other.

[nikoel.livejournal.com]

Considering that most all of the grocery stores in the United States are unionized, I would say so.

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I'm not really following the logic.

Do they pay way under "scale" and not pass on the savings to their customers?
Do they force people to work there? (granting some people do out of necessity)
What is the advantage of working at a union grocery store for a couple of extra bucks if you are forced to work less hours, thereby making less money?
(and not getting enough hours to qualify for some benefits)

[nikoel.livejournal.com]

Are you not familiar with what unions do? Yes, the pay and benefits are better and the employees are protected from wrongful firings. I personally do not shop at Whole Foods because of their anti-union position.

Also, I would say the savings is definitely not passed down to the customers considering their prices are quite high.

[geezer-also.livejournal.com]

"Are you not familiar with what unions do?"

Actually yes. I belonged to a union a loooong time ago.
I have also owned a business (actually I still do).

A couple of comments: As a generality when one goes from piece work/merit pay/commission to an hourly rate due to unionizing actual wages tend to go down, not up. (examples on request ;) )
In Calif. "Wrongful termination" can't be fought regardless if a business is union or not, granted it's more difficult.
Not all unions are created equal.

On a slightly lighter note (I can only be totally serious for just so long, sorry): I wouldn't shop there because the prices are so high, and (I understand) you really don't always get what you think you are paying for.
Union or non-union doesn't come into it at all for me.

[jerseycajun.livejournal.com]

This takes much for granted, and in doing so you have excused yourself from doing diligence to connect the two halves of your point.