I wrote a note to Focus on the Family last week – they just responded:
Thank you for your e-mail.
It was good of you to share your thoughts on our “Stand for Christmas” campaign. We’re on the same page in many ways — it’s not words, names, or commercial practices that ought to occupy our primary attention at this time of year, but rather the true meaning of the season.
That said, given that most Americans favor the use of the word “Christmas” and celebrate this special day, we feel it’s important to let businesses know that consumers care about this subject. It’s a matter of showing respect for the Christmas tradition and recognizing that Americans aren’t just exchanging gifts to mark a non-descript “Winter Holiday.”
Granted, many people don’t view Christmas from a Christian perspective, and we’re not trying to mandate that businesses acknowledge Christmas. Nevertheless, if a corporation makes the decision to exclude the word “Christmas” from their stores and ads, then why shouldn’t we as Christians be allowed the choice in return to take our business elsewhere? In doing so, we may be able to make a point and impact future corporate decisions.
Some people we’ve heard from maintain that a better course of action would be to simply refrain from any participation in the modern “materialistic mania” that Christmas largely has become in our culture. There may be something to this observation. At the same time, the giving of gifts has long been a traditional aspect of the celebration of Christmas, and we see no reason to stop that practice completely.
Thanks again for writing. While we cannot address all your concerns, we hope this response provides you with a clearer understanding of our purpose. Merry Christmas!
Jordan Solomon
Focus on the Family Action
I already understood some of their perspective, but I didn’t really feel like this is what was presented on the website.
What do you think?