Government

2004 Capitol Grounds
Holiday Tree

"The 1968 Christmas tree was made from two white pines from Finxburg, Maryland, and was 30 feet tall..." Oops!  Architect of the Capitol website probably accidentally used the term Christmas tree and really meant to say "holiday tree." After all, the Architect, Alan Hantman, insisted that the tree is for all people and therefore should be called the holiday tree.

A GrinchList visitor from New York commented to the Architect that "It's not a holiday tree! It's a Christmas tree and all the politically correct phrases or jargon you come up with will not change that!"  Their communications' officer indicated that it is the "peoples tree" and people should celebrate it how they see fit. A phone conversation with the secretary to the Architect indicated it's better to have a "holiday" tree as opposed to nothing at all. Can you say PC...

Eva Malecki
Communications Officer emalecki@aoc.gov
202-228-1793

Even a "giving tree" is offensive!

King County, Washington

County executive Ron Sims sent a November memo to all King County employees required that all workplace holiday celebrations remain "religion-neutral." The memo referred to naming the celebration a  'Holiday Celebration' or 'Winter Celebration'; using general greetings such as 'Happy Holidays' or 'Holiday Greetings'.  Mr. Sims simply didn't want people wish him a Merry Christmas!

Local chiropractor Sidney Stock and his wife, Jennifer, protests Christmas tree in Bellevue City Hall according to King County Journal.  Never mind that City spokeswoman Barbara Ramey said the mostly unadorned Season of Sharing tree, as it is called, is designed to encourage people to donate gifts and cash for needy families. ``It doesn't make a bit of difference. No matter if it's called a giving tree or anything else, it is associated with a Christian holiday,'' said Sidney Stock, who describes himself as both an atheist and a committed Jew.

After a three-year absence, Winterfest is back to Wichita, Kansas.  However, it drew controversy rather than joy.  Jessica Johnson, the city's marketing director, led a task force that organized Winterfest 2004. The task force decided to name the Christmas tree a "community tree" to respect the diverse religious makeup of Wichita and to unite the community.  Huh?

The Kansas newspaper ran a correction for mistakenly referring to a "Christmas Tree" rather than a "Community Tree" at the Wichita Winterfest celebration.  Well, Wichita Mayor Carlos Mayans at least was willing to do the right thing and said that next year's Winterfest celebration will include the lighting of a Christmas tree. "God is God, and a Christmas tree is a Christmas tree," he said.

George Kolb
City Manager gkolb@wichita.gov

Carlos Mayans
City Mayor CMayans@wichita.gov

Public Schools

Board President O'Leary's Statement on Policy 2270 "Religion in the Schools"

The South Orange/Maplewood school district has banned playing the instrumental Christmas carols, songs mentioning Santa Claus are subject to the ban, as well.  The school board tried to kill Christmas.  According to the Newark Star-Ledger, Columbia High School brass ensemble would not be playing Christmas carols even though they were not going to sing the lyrics.  The superintendent, Peter P. Horoschak said "Rather than try to respond to all the various religions and try to balance them, it's best to stay away from that and simply have a non-religious tone to them and have more of a seasonal tone." The music drew some complaints from residents, said Horoschak, but not an onslaught.  Furthermore he said that printed programs for holiday concerts "must avoid graphics which refer to the holidays, such as Christmas trees and dreidels." In the South Orange/Maplewood School District, they celebrate a generic "holiday."  The Board of Education is the governing body of the South Orange - Maplewood School District with responsibility for developing policy.

Peter P. Horoschak Superintendent
973-378-9630 
Fax: 973-378-9464

Renee Pollack
Principal
973-762-5600 x1019
Columbia High School
17 Parker Avenue,
Maplewood, NJ  07040
 

The New York City school system excluded Christians from inclusiveness, in the name of sensitivity!  New York City school banned religious symbols .... oh wait! The NYC school banned Christian-themed nativity scenes while simultaneously authorizing Jewish menorahs and Islamic crescents in public school hallways and classrooms. NYC school's discriminatory policy against Christian led to a court fight.  So, the 2003 Becket Fund's "Ebenezer Award" goes to New York School System. 

Plano Texas School District bans Christmas colors!  The school winter break parties cannot even use green and red colors.  Since when do we live in a country where we don't even have freedom to use colors of our choice for parties?!  Furthermore, students are prohibited from exchanging candy canes and pencils with religious messages on them, or writing “Merry Christmas” on greeting cards to U.S. soldiers!  We wonder what kind of "leadership" there is within Plano Texas school district. 

A hearing was scheduled on December 16, 2004 regarding a Plano School District policy that  bans religious expression from the classroom.  The federal judge, Paul Brown, ruled that Plano schools must allow students to hand out whatever religious messages they want at winter break parties!  Sanity did prevail.

Dr. Doug Otto
Superintendent,
dotto@pisd.edu 
469-752-8122

Mustang school official, Superintendent Karl Springer ordered removal of Christian symbols and music from Lakehoma elementary school's holiday program because of legal concerns.  But he conveniently left in portions of the program that featured traditions such as Kwanzaa and Chanukah.  Springer's preemption measure is a typical result of ignorance and fear when no challenges have been filed against the school district. We should advise Springer to review the Twelve Rules of Christmas.

Karl Springer,
Superintendent
Mustang Public Schools
springerk@mustangps.org
405-376-2461

IU Law School put out a new "winter scene" in replacing Christmas tree after a professor and a couple of non-Christian students voiced objections in 2003. According to IU School of Law Dean that legally, the school could've kept that tree ... more, more, more,

We found a little more information about Professor, Florence Wagman Roisman, who said "To honor one religion and not honor others is exclusionary. This is unacceptable at a place that presents itself as inclusive of all people.”  ... more

We welcome IU Law School students to inform us what this year's decoration is (if any).

ACLU, etc.

Public schools and ACLU play scrooge this Christmas

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

The ACLU promotes the Bill of Rights as it's defense for  utilizing fear tactics.  The ACLU challenges anything related to Christianity as First Amendment violations, yet refuses to challenge non-Christian religious  representations in public spaces - yet they claim to be the voice of civil liberties.

12/15/04 BBC News - Cuba threatens Christmas (sounds like Fidel Castro has something in common with ACLU?!)
12/14/04 TheRant - How the ACLU stole Christmas Again
12/13/04 Townhall - Christmas Censors
12/4/04 WorldNetDaily - Group to sing carols in front of ACLU office
12/1/04 Pardon My English - Christmas at the ACLU
11/24/04 FrontPageMagazine - Public Schools and the ACLU Play Scrooge this Christmas
11/24/04 WorldNetDaily - 700 lawyers ready to fight ACLU lawsuits
11/23/04 Washington Times - ACLU and holiday spirit
11/16/04 WorldNetDaily - ACLU loses Christmas case: Rhode Island City
11/16/04 Renew America - ACLU scrooged!
11/21/03 WorldNetDaily - Students Threatened by Christmas?
12/03 Liberty Counsel - Don't Let the ACLU "Grinch" Steel this Christmas
12/22/03 - ACLU of Rhode Island Sues on Behalf of Town Resident's Objection to City Hall Religious Display
12/14/03 Blessed Cause - How the ACLU Stole Christmas
12/11/03 Christianity Today - Censoring Christmas
12/10/03 NewsMax - The Anti-Christmas ACLU
01/02/03 -Cortez Journal - Rabbi Spero: ACLU vs. Christmas

915 15th Street NW, 6th Floor, Washington DC 200005
media@dcaclu.org

Find your local ACLU contact:  http://www.aclu.org/Affiliates/

Similar to the ACLU, they have told us that they cannot challenge public schools' policies that recognize non-Christian religions, yet their site and organization's mission is to challenge the free exercise of Christianity in public spaces.

Rob Boston of Americans United for Separation of Church and State told CNSNews.com that schools should be careful about accepting advice from the Alliance Defense Fund.

Denver Parade of Lights

A church group can't march in the Holiday Parade because the parade organizer, Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP), say Christmas carols may be offensive to others, however, homosexual American Indians, Chinese lion dancers, and German folk dancers were welcome.

The president of DDP, James Basey, said their policy is to not include religious messages in the parade in the interest of not excluding any group - even those who don't celebrate anything in December...

The Marketing VP of DDP, Susan Rogers, indicated that they try to be sensitive to a very diverse community and the parade is occurring during a season when many other cultures are celebrating other holidays as well.  Since Chinese lion dancing was part of the parade, can anyone figure out when the Chinese New Year was moved up two months?   

"We want to avoid that specific religious message out of respect for other religions in the region," spokesman Michael Krikorian said. "It could be construed as disrespectful to other people who enjoy a parade each year." Disrespectful?!

Its website apologize to any who were confused or offended by what they heard or read about the Parade of Lights or the Downtown Denver Partnership.  Yes, we are offended and confused!!

Susan Rogers
VP of Marketing & Events
susan@downtowndenver.com

A Holiday Tradition
With a New Twist
 

Light Up Night 2004 in Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership

Sparkle Season?!  A Holiday Tradition With a New Twist?
...more, more, and more

At the Light Up Night 2004, Duquesne Light company turned on the Mellon Square animated display and illuminated snowflakes along city streets in addition to the "holiday tree."

When our GrinchList visitor asked City of Pittsburgh why they used "holiday" in just about every instance in place of "Christmas." Dolores Hanna from the Mayor's office responded that "We have had many difficulties with the ACLU concerning holidays in the past and find this the best route for the finances of the city."   Pittsburgh bowed to the fear of legal challenges and gave up the notion of self determination.

City of Pittsburgh: Online Form

Mayor Tom Murphy
412-255-2626
Fax: 412-255-2687

Dolores Hanna, Supervisor
Mayor's Service Center
Office of the Mayor
412-255-2621
dolores.hanna@city.pittsburgh.pa.us

Retailers

Support Salvation Army

The GrinchList visitor from NY nominated Target the 2004 "Grinch Award."

Salvation Army bell ringers are unwelcomed at Target, Toys R Us, Kohl's department stores, Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Circuit City, and Home Depot etc. The number of retailers that ban Salvation Army bell ringers from their doors is growing while they are adopting the blanket no-solicitation policies. American Family Association urged 2.3 million people to shop  elsewhere in protest of Target's policy.

In responding to GrinchList visitor, Ms. Jennifer Hanson from the Target Executive Offices wrote "one of our goals has always been to provide our guests with a distraction-free shopping environment in which to shop." Our GrinchList visitor commented that if Christmas
shoppers avoided Target altogether, think of how much less distraction there would be for the few shoppers who remain.  Target posted its no  solicitation policy online.

Home Depot has never allowed any solicitations.  "We don't even let Girl Scouts sell cookies." said spokeswoman, Kathryn Gallagher.

Despite the growing of scrooges, you can still find the red kettle at many retailers. Visit Salvation Army's 2004 kettle locations. 

Kohl's Department Stores
Community Relations Department
262-703-7000
Fax: 262-703-7115
N56 W17000 Ridgewood Dr.
Menomonee Falls, WI 53051

Toys “R” Us
Susan McLaughlin
mclaughs@toysrus.com
201-599-8090

Best Buy
Contact Website
Corporate Headquarters
P.O. Box 9312
Minneapolis, MN 55440-9312

Home Depot
770-433-8211
Kathryn Gallagher
Public Relations
public_relations@homedepot.com

Circuit City
Steve Mullen
steve_mullen@circuitcity.com
804-527-4817

Barnes & Noble
Mary Ellen Keating
Senior VP, Corporate Comm. & Public Affairs
mkeating@bn.com
212-633-3323

Home Depot representative, Jeanette Godbee made a request to change the contact phone number of its corporate office, 770-433-8211 in October, 2004. I'm sure Home Depot has heard from many of you. Unfortunately, Ms. Godbee did not indicate if Home Depot will respect millions of their customers who do celebrate Christmas this year.  We did observe that homedepot.com uses Holiday and Christmas interchangeable this year - but their stores are another story...

GrinchList visitor from Knoxville, TN told Home Depot that they deleted Home Depot from their places to shop because Home Depot deleted "Christmas" from their vocabulary. Home Depot Customer Care Department representative, Jennifer, responded with a e-mail message, "As many religions celebrate at this time of year, we chose the word "holiday" to be inclusive of all our customers and the more than 300,000 Home Depot associates who provide service to them.   We appreciate your comments."

Another GrinchList visitor from Atlanta, GA, who is a vendor to Home Depot and spends eight hours per day in 16 stores commented that Home Depot's denial of Christmas goes further than substituting the word Holiday for Christmas. According to her, Home Depot was playing holiday music, not Christmas music. "As I started paying attention to the music being played, I realized that it was all secular holiday music.  Every store I visited played the same music and not once was a Christian Christmas carol played. I find it disturbing that Home Depot is quite willing to make as much money as possible from selling items for Christmas gifts, but is unwilling to acknowledge Christmas."

GrinchList visitor from New York complained to Home Depot; Phyllis from homedepot.com customer care department gave a standard PC answer: "we chose the word holiday to be inclusive of all our customers and the more than 300,000 Home Depot associates who provide service to them."

Kathryn Gallagher
Public Relations
public_relations@homedepot.com
 

In Bloomingdale's, you can only find the "holiday" spirit in Bloomingdales but mention of Christmas is nowhere to be found.

Macy's brands most of their Christmas paraphernalia under the "Holiday Lane" brand. Hence the Christmas department: "Holiday Lane." Christmas is no where to be found. They recognize Hanukkah with its own section.

In responding inquiries from our GrinchList visitor, Queensbury, NY, Carol Sanger who is VP of Corporate Communications & External Affairs responded:
"We realize that this is an important issue to some, and we respect their views. There are, however, many diverse cultures represented in American society today whose views we also recognize and respect. Phrases such as "season's greetings" and "happy holidays" embrace all of the various religious, secular and ethnic celebrations that take place in the November/ December period. Because these expressions of good will are more reflective of the multi-cultural society in which we live today, they tend to be used more and more frequently across all segments of society.  In fact, few if any national retailers or businesses now take a different approach to celebrating the season.  It is regrettable that an attempt to bring all people together in peace and love at this time of year is being perceived as offensive by some when clearly the intent is just the opposite. Nevertheless, we are proud of our commitment to diversity, and we believe this is a tradition worth embracing during all the seasons of the year." 

This is the first time someone has gone so far as to cover holidays in November. Perhaps someone should remind Carol what holiday provides 40% of their bottom line in December...

"While shopping at Macy's I noticed that they have gift cards that say "Happy Holidays" and "Happy Hanukkah", but none that say "Merry Christmas".  I suppose it's possible they sold out of the "Merry Christmas" gift cards, but they seemed to be well stocked on all of the
others." said a GrinchList visitor. 

Public Relations:
212-705-2434 
Customer Service:
212-355-5900 
Marketing:
212-224-7630 

Bloomingdale's
Public Relations:
212-705-2434 
Customer Service:
212-355-5900 
Marketing/Advertising:
212-224-7630 

Macy's
Karen Sakai
Macys.com Press Relations:
415-422-1105

Macy's West
Press Relations:
415-393-3455

Macy's East:
Elina Kazan
Director of Publicity
212-494-4624

The Discovery Store still made it to 2004 GrinchList.  It carries "holiday ornaments." They indicated that they did not want to offend those who don't celebrate Christmas under their limited corporate mantra of diversity and multiculturalism. What's more, they indicated that calling a holiday ornament a Christmas ornament might create an unwelcoming environment for those who don't celebrate Christmas.

Although we observed improvement this year in the stores in the Washington, DC area, Crate&Barrel still sells  "holiday" ornaments.  Their catalog and web site do mention Christmas for some merchandise items.

Microsoft's Shopping Network Features the Holiday Gift Guide with a "Hanukkah" gifts link for jewelry, menorahs & decor, gourmet gifts, etc...While they use the term "holiday" for ornaments and decoration that are related to Christmas.  Only after you spend time searching, you would find gifts that have Christmas reference.  What are they afraid of?

In responding to a GrinchList viewer's email regarding the apparent removal of Christmas, Sally from MSN eShop Customer Support wrote:
"Hello xxxx,
Welcome to MSN shopping customer support.
We deeply regret for any inconvenience caused to you with MSN shopping. We would also like to thank you for your feedback. Thanks for the time you have taken to send us the feedback. At MSN Shopping, we are committed to giving you the best shopping experience on the web, and we love hearing from our customers about your experiences and thoughts. We always appreciate the customers for sending positive/negative feedback which helps us in improving the site. We value your feedback and we are honored to have you as our customer.  xxxx, once again thank you for contacting MSN shopping. If you have any queries with MSN shopping, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are at your service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Thanks for your interest in MSN shopping. Have a nice day and Merry Christmas."

Can you be more generic than that?!

Holiday Decor

Walk into the "Holiday" section of this department store where you will find the brand "Home for the Holidays" for most of the ornaments and Christmas items.  Most of the Christmas paraphernalia has been branded with  names such as "Holiday Lights" and "Holiday Garland."  The only hint you get from this section of the store that shoppers are shopping for Christmas is derived from the background Christmas music.

In 2003, the only thing turned out if you search its web site using the word "Christmas" is Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  How ironic!

So, what about this year?  You can find 6 results, but Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas is no longer available online.

Living with Pets at Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanza

We received many nominations of PETsMART for the GrinchList last year.  You mainly referred to the TV commercial where Joey the puppy celebrates his first "holiday" as a happy couple was busy putting Christmas presents under the Christmas tree. Everything in the commercial is related to Christmas, but they never mentioned the word Christmas.  Complaints about PETsMART stores last years came from GrinchList visitors from all over the country.  A GrinchList visitor from Contra Costa County, California commented, "the local store had signs of HAPPIER HOLIDAYS, FELIZ NAVIDAD, HAPPY KWANZAA, HAPPY HANUKKAH, but no mention of CHRISTMAS."

This year, one GrinchList visitor from San Francisco Bay Area updated us on a local store that is now acknowledging all holidays they can think of in December!  We also found that is the case on the website.  PETsMART's website now includes Christmas in addition to Hanukkah, and Kwanza. Maybe your speaking out does make a difference for this year, after all. We will keep PETsMART on our watch list for now.

PETsMART stores contact:
storehelp@petsmart.com
800-738-1385 ext. 2518
19601 North 27th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85027

Commercials use Christmas imagery but only reference "holidays."

The same can be said about Radio Shack: Commercials use Christmas imagery but only reference "holidays."

No mention of Christmas - but plenty of advertising for the Christmas season.

A GrinchList viewer from Texas sent us an email last year about JCPenney's commercial:  "First, I'd like to thank you for what you are doing.  You are addressing something that has bothered me for at least a few years now, and I really appreciate all your time and efforts toward spreading the word about this double standard. As much as I like to shop at JCPenney, it seems the company could fall under your Grinch List because of their unwillingness to acknowledge the "holiday" as Christmas!  In a recent television ad, they even use a part of what sounds to be the 'Jeremiah was a Bullfrog' song (the part that says, 'joy to the world') instead of using the REAL 'Joy to the World.'  I presume their reasoning would be the same as all these companies claim--not to offend anyone.  How disheartening and disappointing. If businesses do not want to acknowledge this 'winter holiday' as what it is--CHRISTMAS--then they should not try to profit from extra sales at Christmas time.  Seems that profiting would be a contradiction to their business ethics, but apparently they see it otherwise."