Only two short years ago, the fledgling Chrismukkah.com was at the center of the season's hottest holiday controversy after William Donahue's infamous New York Catholic League shot the opening salvo in the "War on Christmas" by denouncing Chrismukkah in a series of nationally distributed press releases:
“We are deeply concerned about the spiritual misrepresentation of a newly created ‘holiday’ called Chrismukkah... Chanukah and Christmas celebrated during the same period should not be fused into some cultural combination that does not recognize the spiritual identity of our respective faiths. Copying the tradition of another faith and calling it by another name is a form of shameful plagiarism we cannot condone. Frankly, those who seek to synthesize our spiritual traditions may be well intended, but they are insulting both of us simultaneously."
Catholic League Press Release
Well, a lot's changed in two years. This season, (under pressure from the Catholic League and other fundamentalist organizations), WALMART put the Christ back into shopping. Walmart axed the too secular "Happy Holidays" as it's official greeting and replaced it with (gasp!) "Merry Christmas."
Yet, in Cyberspace it's a whole 'nother Walmart. I was pleased to learn that Walmart is selling my new mish-mash holiday book on Walmart.com, but their enthusiasm for Chrismukkah didn't stop with there. If you Google "Chrismukkah" you'll see that Walmart is now evangelizing "Chrismukkah" through an aggressive ad campaign promoting themselves as the official Chrismukkah site! Here's a cut and paste of their Google ad:
Wal-Mart Official Site
Chrismukkah
97-cent Shipping. Get Ahead!
www.walmart.com
This year, Walmart's Chrismukkah celebration seems to be under the radar of the Catholic League, who posted a McCarthyesque request that true believers turn in those who would abuse Christmas. This from their website:
"Every December sees its fair share of "Grinches," those retailers, schools, websites, towns and municipalities who refuse to acknowledge Christmas as part of the "holiday season." These Christmas kill-joys are all around.
This Christmas, the Catholic League, Father Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R. and the other Franciscan Friars of the Renewal have joined up to put the spotlight on these folks. Should you notice one of these Grinches, please let us know. You may submit the details either by faxing the Catholic League at 212-371-3394, writing to us at 450 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10123 or by e-mailing Catholic League
We encourage readers to let the Catholic League know of your outrage over Walmart's Chrismukkah blasphemy.
Labels: Catholic League, Chrismukkah, Walmart, War on Christmas
