Religious groups turn a tidy profit on the "War on Christmas"

[Andy9o8 3]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2006/12/24/groups_turn_profit_defending_christmas?mode=PF

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Groups turn profit defending Christmas
By Stephanie Simon, Los Angeles Times | December 24, 2006

LOS ANGELES -- The "War on Christmas" has never been so profitable.

For the fourth year running, conservative Christian groups have spent much of December mobilizing against what they see as a liberal plot to censor Christmas. But this year, it's more than a cause. It's a huge fund-raiser.

The American Family Association, a conservative activist group, has rung up more than $550,000 in sales of buttons and magnets stamped with the slogan "Merry Christmas: It's Worth Saying."

Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit law firm affiliated with the religious right, has taken in more than $300,000 with its "Help Save Christmas Action Packs." The kits include two buttons, two bumper stickers, and "The Memo That Saved Christmas," a guide to defending overt religious expression, such as a nativity scene in a public-school classroom.

Also for sale through conservative websites: Christmas bracelets, tree ornaments and lapel pins intended to send a defiant message to those who would turn December into a multicultural mix of winter parties, seasonal sales, and Happy Holidays greetings.

Christmas warriors can also download -- for free -- lists that rank retailers as either "naughty" or "nice," depending on how often their ads refer to Christmas rather than a generic holiday.

"You're seeing people really wanting to take this battle forward," said Mat Staver, the president of Liberty Counsel, based in Orlando, Fla.

With minimal advertising on Christian radio stations, Liberty Counsel rang up more than 12,000 orders for a glossy copy of the legal memo (which is also available online for free). The minimum donation to get a packet was $25; many supporters kicked in more.

Tim Wildmon, president of the American Family Association, said he was delighted with the revenue from "War on Christmas" merchandise, which supplemented the ministry's $13 million annual budget. All 500,000 buttons and 125,000 magnets were sold out by early December. "It was very successful for us," Wildmon said.

In fact, the fund-raising went so well that the religious right plans to branch out. Next up: The war on Easter.

[NCclimber 0]

And it's all tax-free!

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[JohnRich 4]

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Groups turn profit defending Christmas

They need money with which to defend their expression of Christmas against those who would eliminate it. And like-minded people voluntarily make those purchases and donations to help out with that cause.

So what's the problem?

It's no different than any other advocacy group which fights for their personal causes.

[Andy9o8 3]

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Groups turn profit defending Christmas

They need money with which to defend their expression of Christmas against those who would eliminate it. And like-minded people voluntarily make those purchases and donations to help out with that cause.

So what's the problem?

It's no different than any other advocacy group which fights for their personal causes.

My problem with it is it's a fabricated issue that does not exist. It's a wedge issue, i.e., a non-issue issue created solely for the sake of stirring shit, just like gay marriage, or school prayer, or flag burning. There's no problem to fix, except on the airwaves of FoxNews. There SURE as hell isn't a problem that needs money thrown at it. They're getting rich off this shit, waxing oh-so sanctimonious for public consumption, and then laughing their asses off all the way to the bank. These charlatans should (to borrow a phrase) take two to the chest.

[JohnRich 4]

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My problem with it is it's a fabricated issue that does not exist. It's a wedge issue, i.e., a non-issue issue created solely for the sake of stirring shit, just like gay marriage, or school prayer, or flag burning. There's no problem to fix, except on the airwaves of FoxNews. There SURE as hell isn't a problem that needs money thrown at it. They're getting rich off this shit, waxing oh-so sanctimonious for public consumption, and then laughing their asses off all the way to the bank. These charlatans should (to borrow a phrase) take two to the chest.

It is a fact that certain groups and people are trying to suppress Christmas displays. The news stories are all over the place every season. If Christians want to fight back against those efforts, that is their right to speak up. It's also their right to voluntarily donate their money to whomever they choose.

Do you feel the same way about liberal organizations which do fund-raising for the benefit their own social causes?

Yeah, I singled out liberal organizations for that question, because all of your examples above were conservative issues. So I was wondering if you have some kind of bias against conservatives...

[Andy9o8 3]

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Do you feel the same way about liberal organizations which do fund-raising for the benefit their own social causes?

Of course not. Good must triumph over evil.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

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It is a fact that certain groups and people are trying to suppress Christmas displays.

Is there?

I am very aware of organized efforts pro Christmas, but not so aware of organized efforts to eliminate Christmas.

[steveorino 7]

WWJD?

buy a bracelet?

steveOrino

[n23x 0]

Nah, he'd light 'em on fire and send 'em to hell!

.jim

"Don't touch my fucking Easter eggs, I'll be back monday." ~JTFC

[NCclimber 0]

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It is a fact that certain groups and people are trying to suppress Christmas displays.

Is there?

I am very aware of organized efforts pro Christmas, but not so aware of organized efforts to eliminate Christmas.

If you did some research, you might see that there are regular efforts to restrict/suppress public celebrations of Christmas in this country.

"The educated ones know this, and the ignorant ones are, well, ignorant. We shouldn't let our lives revolve around ignorance, should we?"

Thanks, Kallend.

[billvon 3,132]

>If you did some research, you might see that there are regular efforts
>to restrict/suppress public celebrations of Christmas in this country.

OK. So ante up. List the organized efforts to eliminate christmas.

[SpeedRacer 1]

1) The Grinch and his little dog.

Speed Racer
--------------------------------------------------

[pajarito 0]

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1) The Grinch and his little dog.

2) Ebenezer Scrooge

[jakee 1,610]

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1) The Grinch and his little dog.

2) Ebenezer Scrooge

Stalin.

Shit, no - He was the last generation's bogey man!

Do you want to have an ideagasm?

[JohnRich 4]

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>If you did some research, you might see that there are regular efforts
>to restrict/suppress public celebrations of Christmas in this country.

List the organized efforts to eliminate christmas.

He didn't claim "organized". Are you trying to alter the definition to suit your purposes?

Here's a google list for you to peruse, which reveals many of the "regular efforts" which he mentioned: Ban Christmas

[Vallerina 2]

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So what's the problem?

There is no problem. Christians everywhere can sell buttons that say, "I'm bringing Christmas back," and I'll be ecstatic for them as long as my tax money isn't used to buy crosses and my town hall doesn't display a nativity scene. All I want for Christmas is the separation of church and state!!!

There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning

[JohnRich 4]

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All I want for Christmas is the separation of church and state!!!

You've come a long way from "my two front teeth".