The clothing retailer Gap Inc. is creating yuletide buzz with its latest television ads. But is it the kind the company wants?
Apparently inspired by dance sequences from Disney’s High School Musical, as well as Fox’s Glee, Gap launched a colorful holiday campaign with catchy and inclusive lyrics that include such lines as “Tis the time to liberate … Go Christmas, Go Hanukkah, Go Kwanzaa, Go Solstice” and “Happy Do Whateveryouwannakah!”
It’s all a very cheery, politically correct affair, except that anyone who’s been paying attention the past few Christmases knows that them there are fightin’ words for the American Family Association and other Christian groups that have made it an annual tradition to call out any company that appears to be watering down “Christmas” in its holiday marketing.
This year’s boycott by the American Family Association targets Gap Inc. Brands, including Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy, for stripping the “Christ” out of “Christmas.” The call is out for people to avoid shopping at Gap stores through November until Christmas Day. You can find out more at boycottgap.com.
“It’s not just a winter holiday,” says AFA president Tim Wildmon. “Until Gap proves it recognizes Christmas by using it in their newspaper, radio, television advertising, or in-store signage, the boycott will be promoted.”
Indeed, the AFA has even created a “Naughty or Nice” list to highlight companies that are using Christmas in their promotions and those that are not.
So, what do you think? Are these kind of boycott efforts justified? Do we need to hold retailers accountable for how they treat Christmas in their ad campaigns?
I think it’s sad that any Christian organization would waste time and money on pressing for a boycot of Corporate America for “watering down” Christmas. These corporations are not Christian. They want to apeal to all Americans, not just Christian people. If you want to boycott Corporate America, why not do it for issues that matter like unfair labor practices, here and abroad or any number of deceptions in the name of increased sales or undue influence on our nation’s leaders that leasd to a system that enslaves most American’s in debt….and so much more.
I agree.
I agree with the previous comments in general, but I also like the idea of being able to know which companies are not ashamed to use the name Christmas. Like most people, I’m going to spend a lot of money on Christmas gifts, so why not spend it at businesses that share my beliefs or at least respect the true meaning of the season enough to say it out loud in their advertising?
Is it not Christ that is the base object of the current “holiday” season on or about end of December from which retailers have come to profit ? We cast votes with dollars. Boycotts are an option of capitalism. I’m sure there is not one that doesn’t vote according to their value system at some point. I’m thankful to have useful information, I’ll take it from there. Merry Christmas.